Haren Named Opening Day Starter

Athletics manager Bob Geren announced that righty Dan Haren will start against the host Mariners on Opening Day, April 2. Geren wouldn't divulge the rest of the rotation, but that, too, appears obvious -- assuming righty Esteban Loaiza's shoulder doesn't give him any more trouble and lefty Joe Kennedy hangs onto the No. 5 spot (battling Brad Halsey).

Haren pitched Sunday against the Angels, Loaiza is scheduled to face the Padres on Monday, Rich Harden works Tuesday, righty Joe Blanton on Wednesday and Kennedy on Thursday. That's the order in which they'll likely work to start the regular season. The A's like the idea of splitting up Haren and Harden because they have similar, hard-throwing styles.

Haren started 34 games for the Athletics last year going 14-13 with a 4.12 ERA and 1.21 WHIP. He pitched 223 innings and recorded 176 K's.
Source: MLB.com