PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- No big surprise: Chris Archer will be the Rays' Opening Day starter.
Rays manager Kevin Cash annointed the right-hander as such following the Rays' 5-5 tie with the Yankees on Thursday afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park.
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Archer will be followed in order by Jake Odorizzi, Alex Cobb, Blake Snell and Matt Andriese.
Cash told reporters that the assignments and order had nothing to do with the early-season schedule.
"No, no matchups," Cash said. "It's just how we put it together. We talked about it briefly. We met with each guy and let them know. They were all good with their schedules leading up to Opening Day. So it worked out well. ... It's pretty much been defined for two weeks now."
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Unlike the 2016 season when the Rays began the season with a four-man rotation due to the number of off-days early in their schedule, they will go with five from the beginning.
"We never considered [a four-man rotation]," Cash said. "We never considered going four pitchers. It was never brought up. Not one time was four starters brought up."
Thursday morning, Archer gave reporters an assessment of where he was at this point of the spring.
"This is definitely the best I've felt in March, and hopefully it translates into a successful six months plus October," Archer said.
Archer went 9-19 with a 4.02 ERA in 33 starts in 2016.
Cash noted that this spring marked the third year of him being around Archer at Spring Training, "and this is hands down the best I've seen him physically. And more importantly, mentally."
"I'm not going to sit and say what he learned and what he didn't learn from last year," Cash said. "I know he came in here in a good spot, very motivated. And he has matured as a pitcher, it seems like."
Odorizzi went 10-6 with a 3.69 ERA in 33 starts in 2016, finishing strong with a 7-1 record and a 2.71 ERA in 14 second-half starts.
"[Odorizzi has] had a solid couple of seasons here," Cash said. "I think he fits the bill there to slide in right behind Arch."