The Washington Nationals, as expected, confirmed right-hander Max Scherzer as their Opening Day starter.
Nationals first-year manager Dusty Baker was asked again Sunday who would start on the mound for the opener against the Braves in Atlanta on April 4.
“He was Opening Day before I got here,” Baker said at spring training in Viera, Fla. “You just want me to name him.”
Scherzer, who signed a seven-year, $210 million contract before last season, will be making his second consecutive Opening Day start. He lost the first game last season to the New York Mets at Nationals Park.
The 31-year-old Scherzer finished 14-12 with a 2.79 ERA and 276 strikeouts over 228 2/3 innings in 33 starts last year.
Scherzer became the sixth pitcher to throw two no-hitters in a season — against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 20 and in his final start against the Mets on Oct. 3.