Braves' Teheran to make 2nd straight Opening Day start

Atlanta Braves pitcher Julio Teheran will make his second straight Opening Day start when he takes the mound April 5 against the Miami Marlins, manager Fredi Gonzalez announced Friday.

Teheran, 24, continued to emerge as one of the best young pitchers in the majors last season, throwing a career-high 221 innings with a team-leading 186 strikeouts and 2.89 ERA.

Teheran, who pitched six innings of two-run ball in last year's opener, said he's embracing the role of staff ace.

"That's the place I want to be for the rest of my career," he said of the Opening Day assignment. "I'm glad to be there for the second time. That's the place you want to be. You don't want anybody to take it from you."

The Braves right-hander has been slow to find his rhythm this spring, however, having entered Friday's start with seven earned runs in 8 1/3 innings.