DUNEDIN, Fla. – J.A. Happ has started 228 games in the big-leagues, but never before on opening day. That’ll change on March 29, as manager John Gibbons officially named Happ the Toronto Blue Jays‘ opening day starter Tuesday.
Aaron Sanchez gets the ball for the second game of the season followed by Marco Estrada, Marcus Stroman and Jaime Garcia.
“Happ, since we’ve brought him back, he’s really, really been good,” Gibbons said. “He’s just a reliable guy. He’s going to go out there and nine times out of 10 he’s going to give you a chance to win. That’s all you can ask for. He’s really turned into a good workhorse for us. He’s one of those guys you look forward to the days he pitches.”
Happ posted a 3.53 ERA over 145.1 innings last year, his fifth total season with the Blue Jays. He becomes the club’s fifth different opening day starter in the last five years, joining Marco Estrada (2017), Marcus Stroman (2016), Drew Hutchison (2014) and R.A. Dickey (2013).
“It’d be great,” Happ said Monday. “I’d be honoured to take the ball.
Happ had been a candidate to start on opening day 2017 after going 20-4 with a 3.18 ERA the previous season, but the Blue Jays went with Estrada instead. Stroman had been lined up to start the 2018 opener, but a bout of shoulder inflammation will delay his season debut until April 1, the fourth game of the season.
Happ threw six innings against the Pirates Sunday, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out five. He threw 84 pitches in what will be his longest outing of the spring.
“He was sharp,” Gibbons said afterwards. “I thought the ball had good life on it, good action. He was really commanding the inside part of the plate with some strikeouts. Typical Happ.”
Happ will make one more spring start, and he expects to dial back his pitch count to ensure that he’s fully rested for the season opener against the Yankees. Luis Severino will start opposite Happ for New York, and he’ll be followed in the rotation by Masahiro Tanaka, Sonny Gray and C.C. Sabathia.
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