Hamels to Start Spring Opener

It’s official: according to Ryan Lawrence, Cole Hamels will start the Grapefruit League opener against the Houston Astros this Saturday, with speculation running rampant that Hamels will also be pegged the Opening Day starter. Pitching coach Rich Dubee believes he will use Hamels, Roy Halladay, and Cliff Lee in the opening series against Atlanta, with a preference to splitting his lefties according to Matt Gelb. In addition, Gelb reports that Hamels, Halladay, Lee, Kyle Kendrick, and John Lannan are all slated to pitch in order starting Saturday, with Halladay squaring off against Justin Verlander on Sunday.

Adam Morgan and Ethan Martin will start for the opposing sides of Friday’s intersquad game and the following are anticipated pitchers for the rest of the week, courtesy of Gelb:

Friday (Intrasquad): Adam Morgan, Ethan Martin, Cesar Jimenez, Jonathan Pettibone, Mauricio Robles, Kyle Simon and Justin Friend.

Saturday vs. HOU: Cole Hamels, B.J. Rosenberg, Zach Miner, Jeremy Horst, Michael Schwimer and Justin De Fratus.

Sunday at DET: Roy Halladay, Rodrigo Lopez, Antonio Bastardo, J.C. Ramirez, Jake Diekman and Joe Savery.

Monday vs. DET:

Cliff Lee, Tyler Cloyd, Mike Stutes, Phillippe Aumont, Jonathan Papelbon and Raul Valdes.

Tuesday vs. NYY: Kyle Kendrick, Aaron Cook, Chad Durbin, Miner and Horst.

Feb. 27 at MIN: John Lannan, Morgan, Bastardo, Rosenberg, Schwimer and De Fratus.

Feb. 28 vs. ATL: Hamels, Martin, Pettibone and Diekman.

Mike Adams is the only pitcher invited to camp who is not slated to pitch. According to Gelb, this was planned: traditionally Adams requests to throw less in the Spring.