Chris Sale is set to make his first Opening Day start for the Boston Red Sox.
The ace left-hander was chosen by new manager Alex Cora to start the season opener March 29 against the Tampa Bay Rays. He will oppose Chris Archer.
Cora said he informed Sale about the Opening Day assignment after his start Monday against the Phillies.
"I told him after the game yesterday, and he's like, he was cool and excited about it," Cora said. "But he wasn't excited about his performance [against the Phillies]. "I told him, 'Hey, tomorrow you run the bases, start getting ready, and you got Game 1 and Game 6 [an interleague start against the Miami Marlins]."
Sale is coming off a stellar first season for Boston, going 17-8 with a 2.90 ERA. He finished second in Cy Young voting. That award's previous winner, Rick Porcello, started the 2017 opener for Boston.
Cora said Tuesday that David Price and Porcello will follow Sale in the rotation. Lefty Brian Johnson is expected to start the team's fourth game, while a fifth starter has yet to be named.
Price would be in line to start the home opener against the Rays on April 5.