PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello will get his first career Opening Day nod, a decision Red Sox manager John Farrell said he made before Spring Training began.
"Porcello's going to start Opening Day, [Chris Sale] will go in Game 2," Farrell announced before Wednesday's game against the Rays. "After that, let's see how we get through camp."
The Red Sox will open the regular season at home against Pittsburgh on April 3. Sale, acquired in a trade from the White Sox, will make his Red Sox debut April 5 against the Pirates.

It will be the first Opening Day assignment for the 28-year-old right-hander, who went 22-4 last season with a 3.15 ERA. Porcello started the fourth game last April in his second season with the Red Sox, following David Price, Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly.
Despite the All-Star status of Sale and Price, another former AL Cy Young winner, Farrell said the selection of Porcello was not difficult.
"We had three candidates that were certainly worthy and capable," Farrell said. "I think there's a lot to be said for the year Rick had previously, the leader that he's become on our team and the dependable pitcher that he is. There were some brief discussions about other things in the winter time ... but as I mentioned to David Price and others, we need to get deeper into camp; this conversation will happen at the appropriate time. But I felt like if everything played out with no issues, Rick was going to be the guy."

Price, who went 17-9 last season and led the AL in starts (35) and innings (230), is attempting to come back from a sore elbow and might start the season on the disabled list.
Sale went 17-10 with a 3.34 ERA in his seventh season with the White Sox. Boston acquired him Dec. 6 in exchange for four prospects.
Farrell noted that his three top pitchers have a lot in common.
"First of all, they're all very athletic and let's face it, the bottom core of pitching is [being] athletic and being able to repeat your delivery," he said. "They have that."