Orioles’ Chris Tillman Named Opening Day Starter Against Red Sox

After a breakout 2013 season, right-hander Chris Tillman has been named the Opening Day starter, Baltimore Orioles manager Buck Showalter announced Monday.

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Tillman will take the mound against the world champion Boston Red Sox on March 31 at Camden Yards. The 25-year-old emerged as the staff’s ace last season, going 16-7 with a 3.71 ERA in 33 starts. Although the O’s could have elected to go with right-hander Ubaldo Jimenez, who the team signed in February, Tillman will get the call to kick off the 2014 season while Jimenez will start the second game of the season against the Red Sox on April 2, according to the Baltimore Sun.

“Any time you get the chance to get that kind of opportunity it’s a big deal,” Tillman said, via the Baltimore Sun. “Number one, it’s an honor, it’s exciting. At the same time, it’s important for the team to get us started in the right direction, the season going the right way. I think we are all just excited to get this thing going.”