Cahill to start Opening Day for Angels

TEMPE -- Angels manager Brad Ausmus wouldn’t comment on Mike Trout agreeing to a record extension because it’s not official yet, but he did reveal on Tuesday that right-hander Trevor Cahill will start on Opening Day against the A’s on March 28 in Oakland.

Cahill and fellow veteran right-hander Matt Harvey were in the mix, as lefties Tyler Skaggs and Andrew Heaney have both been bothered by injuries this spring. Skaggs has been dealing with left forearm fatigue, but will be ready for the start of the season, while Heaney will open the year on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. The order of the rotation will be Cahill, Harvey, Felix Pena, Skaggs and Jaime Barria.

"We were kind of juggling the injuries and we weren't sure,” Ausmus said. “Ultimately, I felt Cahill was the best fit."

Cahill, who joined the Angels on a one-year deal worth $9 million this offseason, has been the lone veteran starter this spring who hasn’t dealt with an injury, as Harvey was out for three days early in camp with a glute strain. Cahill also has plenty of experience in Oakland, as he pitched with the A's from 2009-11 and again last season. He has a career 3.01 ERA in 61 starts at the Oakland Coliseum and was the Opening Day starter for the A's in 2011.

"That plays into it somewhat,” Ausmus said. “He's made a start there before. He's made an Opening Day start there. It does line up Harvey for Opening Day in Anaheim [on April 4 against the Rangers]."

Cahill, 31, said he’s excited for the honor and noted it’s the first time he’ll be pitching in Oakland as a visitor. Cahill is coming off a solid year with the A's, posting a 3.76 ERA in 21 appearances (20 starts), reaching 110 innings in a season for the first time since 2014.

"Any time you can pitch the first game of the season, it's special," Cahill said. "I think the biggest thing is, as we all know, it's one of many and not worth any more than any of the other ones. My goal is to go out there and pitch like I normally do and don't try to do too much."

Heaney making progress

While Heaney won’t be ready for the start of the season, he has been throwing since Sunday without any issues. The Angels are hopeful it’ll be much like last season, when Heaney missed the first two weeks of the season with a similar injury, only to return on April 13 and lead the club with 30 starts.

"He's been throwing a couple days now in a row, feeling good," Ausmus said. "So he's progressing. He'll have to build back up. It's not like it's just going to be 10 days."

Upton homers in debut, Cozart 1-for-3

Left fielder Justin Upton, playing in his first Cactus League game of the spring after missing time with right knee tendinitis, walked in his first at-bat in the first inning and crushed a solo homer off right-hander German Marquez in the third inning of Tuesday's 9-7 win over the Rockies. Upton had been playing in Minor League games since Thursday and said that his timing has been getting better.

"It was good to catch up to a fastball," Upton said. "It was a big league pitcher out there and he throws a good fastball, so to be able to square it up is a good sign. I’m just trying to get back up to speed and catch up with the rest of the guys. But I’m pretty confident I’ll be ready."

Zack Cozart also played in his first game since March 1 after sustaining a left calf strain and went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in the third. Cozart played shortstop, but didn't see any action in the field.

"I physically feel great," Cozart said. "I feel like I”m ready to start the season, for sure."

Up next

Skaggs (1-1, 9.64 ERA) will make his first Cactus League start since March 5 on Wednesday, when the Angels travel to face the Indians at Goodyear Ballpark at 6:05 p.m. PT, airing on MLB.TV. Skaggs threw 50 pitches in a Minor League game on Friday and is expected to throw roughly 65-70 pitches on Wednesday. He’s not expected to fully stretched out to 100 pitches before his first start of the year, but if all goes to plan he’ll be ready for the start of the season. Ausmus said there is a chance Trout plays in Goodyear, but he also could play in a Minor League game instead.