The more Blake Snell thinks about beginning the season against Justin Verlander and the Houston Astros, the more excited Tampa Bay's ace gets about a rare Opening Day matchup between a reigning Cy Young Award winner and the runner-up.
"I can't wait for it," Snell said, looking ahead to Thursday's opener at Tropicana Field.
It would be the first career Opening Day start for Snell — 21-5 with a 1.89 ERA a year ago.
Since the Cy Young Award was first presented in 1956, there have only been two reigning winners who faced the runner-up on Opening Day the next season, with both instances occurring in 1979.
With Snell and Verlander set to face each other, as well as NL Cy Young winner Jacob deGrom and the Mets battling Max Scherzer and the Nationals, the number could grow to four Thursday.
Fine forecasts
A year after a bunch of early snowouts and 54 total postponements — the most since 1989 — no blizzards are on the radar. It could be rainy in Kansas City and perhaps Oakland, but it's supposed to be sunny at Dodger Stadium and several other sites.
