Twins manager Rocco Baldelli named Lopez the team's Opening Day starter Wednesday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: It's pretty early to be naming an Opening Day starter, but Baldelli chose to let the cat out of the bag during an interview on the Inside Twins podcast. Lopez had a relatively disappointing 2024, going 15-10 while posting a 4.08 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 198:41 K:BB over 185.1 innings. His xERA was 3.67, however, and he posted a 2.77 mark in 13 second-half starts.
Pablo Lopez Named Opening Day starter
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli named Lopez the team's Opening Day starter Wednesday, Lexi Schweinert of Twins Radio reports.
Analysis: It's on the early side to be naming an Opening Day starter, but Baldelli evidently saw no reason to wait with Lopez representing an obvious choice. The right-hander's first season in Minnesota was the best of his career, with Lopez collecting a 3.66 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 234:48 K:BB over 194 innings. Minnesota opens its regular season on March 28 in Kansas City.
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