CLEARWATER, Fla. -- It's not official, but expect Jeremy Hellickson to be the Phillies' Opening Day starter.
Hellickson opened for the Phillies last year.
"He's probably got the best chance to be our Opening Day starter," Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said Monday afternoon at Spectrum Field. "I'm not going to definitely announce it because anything can happen during the spring."
Hellickson, 29, went 12-10 with a 3.71 ERA in 32 starts last season. During the offseason, he accepted the Phillies' qualifying offer, which awarded him a one-year, $17.2 million contract. Right-hander Jerad Eickhoff seemed like another candidate to get the nod. He went 11-14 with a 3.65 ERA in 33 starts.
"You'll be able to guess without me announcing anything," Mackanin said.