Hamels expected to start Rangers’ season opener

Barring an unexpected development, left-hander Cole Hamels will be the Texas Rangers’ starting pitcher on Opening Day.

"We'll announce this next week, who everyone knows will be Opening Day," manager Jeff Banister said Saturday before the finale fo the Big League Weekened. "I at least like to let these guys get to their third time around before we start making all those announcements. Heaven forbid you have to retract your announcement."

The Rangers will likely have three left-handers and two right-handers in their rotation, and lefties will likely fill the first two spots before Colby Lewis starts the third game of the season.

Either Derek Holland or Martin Perez will follow Hamels, and the odd man out will follow Lewis and be followed by a righty in the fifth spot. Jeremy Guthrie, Chi Chi Gonzalez and Nick Martinez, all righties, are the front-runners for that slot.

The season opener is scheduled for April 4 against Seattle at Globe Life Park.

This story was originally published March 19, 2016 at 12:48 PM with the headline "Hamels expected to start Rangers’ season opener."