Monday’s starter, if kept on an every 5th day cycle, would next pitch on Saturday, March 28, and then again on April 2 and then on April 7–which is Opening Day for the Brewers.
Yovani Gallardo, who manager Ken Macha once stated was not a likely candidate for the Opening Day nod due to his age (not to mention squaring off against reigning NL Cy Young award winner Tim Lincecum), pitched on Monday and is now aligned perfectly to pitch against the Giants on Opening Day.
Gallardo threw 98 pitches on Monday, another sign that they are bringing him up to speed for Opening Day. Gallardo fell apart late, however, winding up allowing 6 ER’s in the 3rd through 5th innings, after pitching two scoreless innings. Gallardo now has a 5.30 ERA over 18 2/3 innings of work in Cactus League, while Dave Bush leads the team among projected starters in both IP at 20.0 and ERA at 2.70. Bush last pitched on Saturday, allowing just 1 hit and 2 ER over 6 IP, and could be held back until Saturday to be aligned for the Opening Day start.
Of course, Macha may want to give his Opening Day starter a few extra days rest prior to the Opening Day start…regardless, Macha has not yet announced his decision…look for clues, however, in who starts when over the next week.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
