Blue Jays name Stroman Opening Day starter

Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo announced Wednesday right-hander Marcus Stroman will start Opening Day against the Detroit Tigers on March 28.

"He's ahead of his schedule right now with everybody else and he's pitching well," Montoyo said, according to Sportsnet.

It will be the second time in the 27-year-old's career he's started for the Blue Jays on Opening Day. He last did so in 2016 against the Tampa Bay Rays when he pitched eight strong innings in a 5-3 victory.

Montoyo opted for Stroman over fellow right-hander Aaron Sanchez, who hasn't allowed a run in 8 2/3 spring innings.

"Sanchez is pitching really well, but he started a little bit later," Montoyo explained. "Stroman is the right guy. He's pitching great, too."

In eight spring innings, Stroman's allowed two earned runs and four hits while striking out seven.

He made 19 starts for the Blue Jays last season, posting a 4-9 record with a 5.54 ERA across 102 1/3 innings. Despite the losing record, Stroman's 3.91 FIP wasn't much higher than his career average of 3.62.

Since debuting with Toronto in 2014, the diminutive hurler's 60.0 ground-ball percentage is tied for the fourth highest in baseball and his 11.9 WAR is tops among Blue Jays starters, according to FanGraphs.

During his five-year career, Stroman owns a 41-34 record with a 3.91 ERA over 665 innings pitched.