Strasburg to start Nats' opener

Stephen Strasburg had a 1.50 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 24 innings after returning late last season from injury.

AP

VIERA, Fla. (AP) -- Stephen Strasburg has been picked by the Washington Nationals to make his first opening-day start, on April 5 at the Chicago Cubs.

Nationals manager Davey Johnson made the announcement Tuesday, a day after the 23-year-old had his best outing of spring training. He allowed one run and two hits in five innings against the New York Mets, striking out three and walking one.

Newcomer Gio Gonzalez will follow Strasburg in the rotation, starting April 7 in Chicago. Johnson didn't reveal the rest of his rotation, but it currently is lined up to have right-hander Jordan Zimmermann pitch the third game, followed by right-hander Edwin Jackson. If healthy, right-hander Chien-Ming Wang would be the fifth starter.

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