One month after signing with the Colorado Rockies, right-hander Kyle Kendrick is moving to the front of the rotation.
Kendrick will draw the Opening Day start April 6 against the Brewers in Milwaukee, the team announced Wednesday.
Left-hander Jorge De La Rosa, the winningest pitcher in Coors Field history, will start the Rockies’ home opener April 10 against the Chicago Cubs.
Kendrick signed a one-year, $5.5 million deal with the Rockies on Feb. 4. The 30-year-old veteran went 10-13 with a 4.61 ERA in 32 starts for the Philadelphia Phillies last year, nearly identical to his 10-13, 4.70 ERA mark in 30 starts the season before.
Over eight major league seasons, all with Philadelphia, Kendrick has a 74-68 record with a 4.42 ERA in 226 games (185 starts). He has never made an Opening Day start.
De La Rosa, 33, finished 14-11 with a 4.10 ERA in 32 starts for Colorado last year. In his career, including the past seven seasons with the Rockies, he has a 45-14 record with a 3.98 ERA in 81 games (76 starts) at Coors Field.
De La Rosa was slowed this spring due to a groin ailment, and he is due to appear in a Cactus League game for the first time Friday against the Oakland A’s.