Clint Hurdle has announced today that A.J. Burnett will be his Opening Day starter when the Pirates take on the Chicago Cubs on Monday, April 1st at PNC Park. He has also announced that Wandy Rodriguez will get the start in game two on Wednesday night. After that, the rest of the rotation has yet to be decided.
In his first season with the team last year, Burnett went 16-10, 3.51 in 31 starts, with 180 strikeouts in 202.1 innings. The wins total was the highest by a Pirates pitcher since the 1991 season. It will be the first Opening Day start for Burnett, who be pitching in his 15th season.
Rodriguez came over to the Pirates in late-July and went 5-4, 3.72 in 12 starts and one relief appearance.