CINCINNATI -- Chris Archer started preparing for the Cardinals’ lineup a few days ago, after his final outing of Spring Training. But Monday has been on his mind for months.

Archer will start the Pirates’ home opener at PNC Park, taking the mound against St. Louis. This offseason, he and Pittsburgh general manager Neal Huntington set Monday, April 1, as a target date for his season debut shortly after Archer underwent surgery to repair a bilateral hernia on Nov. 27.

“I’ve been thinking about April 1 since Nov. 28. I’m ready to do this thing,” Archer said. “I’m ready to get out there in front of the fans and pour all my energy into it.”

The 30-year-old right-hander headed back to Pittsburgh before Sunday’s game at Great American Ball Park against the Reds, ensuring he’d get a full night’s rest before his first pitch at 1:05 p.m. ET on Monday. The energy and anticipation won’t be anything new for Archer, who made four straight Opening Day starts for the Rays from 2015-18, but that hasn’t dampened his enthusiasm for Monday.

“I’m extremely excited. I’ve done it in the past, but it’s been different circumstances,” Archer said. “This is for a new city, representing a lot. I love putting on that black and gold. I can’t wait to see it scattered all throughout PNC [Park].”

Archer connected quickly with the sports scene in Pittsburgh after being acquired from Tampa Bay via trade on July 31. He bought a Steelers jersey at the airport and wore it to PNC Park on his first day in the city. His Pirates debut felt like an event, considering the verve in the ballpark that night. He attended games at Heinz Field last year and he’s hoping to catch a few Penguins games at PPG Paints Arena next month.

“He’s continued to build upon that connection, the black and gold connection, the baseball fanbase, his appreciation for the way they’ve shown up and supported him in his starts,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “The home opener is meaningful. It always will be meaningful. I think he’s grasped the importance of that. Looking forward to it.”

“I see the love. I see the passion,” Archer said. “I want to reciprocate that on many different levels.”

It starts with picking up where he left off last season on the mound. Archer had a rough August, putting together a 6.45 ERA in five starts, then bounced back with a 2.70 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 30 innings over his final five outings. Archer stuck with the changes he made in September -- abandoning his windup and trusting catcher Francisco Cervelli with his expanded arsenal -- and carried them into the spring.

“The key is just staying within myself, trusting my ability, trusting my stuff plays and trusting my teammates also,” Archer said.

Rotation reset

Saturday’s rainout forced the Pirates to adjust their starting pitching plans, but they kept Archer and Jameson Taillon in line to start against the Cardinals this week.

Right-hander Jordan Lyles will join the rotation and make his season debut on Thursday at PNC Park when the Pirates host the Reds. Joe Musgrove, who was originally scheduled to start Sunday at Great American Ball Park, will now make his first start of the season on Friday at home. Musgrove was available out of the bullpen behind starter Trevor Williams on Sunday, coming in to the game in the seventh inning and retiring all six batters he faced.

“This is the best way, we feel, to help Jordan get up and running and still keep the other guys in play with opportunities to pitch somewhat regularly,” Hurdle said. “It’s about getting everybody in the best position possible through the first two weeks, to get some consistency and some routine built up.”

The Pirates will need to make a roster move to activate Lyles from the injured list. They broke camp with eight relievers while Lyles was working his way back from a late-spring bout with right side discomfort.

Home opener info

The Pirates are encouraging fans to be in their seats at PNC Park on Monday by 12:30 p.m. ET, when broadcaster Greg Brown will begin a pregame ceremony. Gates open at 11 a.m.

The club will recognize Steve Blass, who is in his 60th season with the Pirates and his final year in the broadcast booth, and pay tribute to 1960 National League MVP Dick Groat. Left fielder Corey Dickerson will receive his first Gold Glove Award from former Pirates outfielder Andy Van Slyke.

The Pirates will honor first responders from the Tree of Life synagogue shooting, and four Pittsburgh police officers -- Timothy Matson, Dan Mead, Anthony Burke and Mike Smijda – will throw out the first pitch. Victory Brinker, a 6-year-old opera singer from Latrobe, Pa., will perform the national anthem.

Huntington critical of anonymous scout

Pirates general manager Neal Huntington defended his players and blasted the anonymous scout or scouts who made critical comments about the Pirates -- Josh Bell, specifically -- in Sports Illustrated’s season preview. The scout made several unprompted remarks about Bell to Sports Illustrated, saying Pittsburgh’s first baseman “can’t play” and is a “big lump” without “the ability to get better” while labeling him as the Pirates’ most overrated player.

Huntington felt that those comments, along with similar anonymous quotes about other players like the Phillies’ Odubel Herrera, were unfair and racist in nature.

“Unfortunately, so much of the information from the anonymous scouts appears to be based on archaic, racist stereotypes,” Huntington said. “The white players tended to be labeled as ‘gritty,’ ‘smart’ and ‘tough.’ Minority players seemed to be labeled as physically talented but maybe not the most talented, or they had their work ethic or motivation repeatedly questioned. So much of it, unfortunately, seemed to be based on archaic, racist stereotypes, which don’t have a place in our game … That preview just reinforced that they still exist and there still is a lot of work to do to rid those, not only from our game, but ideally from our society."