UPDATE (Feb. 28, 9:45 a.m.): Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced Clayton Kershaw will make his sixth consecutive Opening Day start.
As pitchers and catchers have reported for Spring Training over the last couple of days, snippets of news pertaining to not only big league camp, but also the 2016 regular season have trickled out.
After concluding a three-game Freeway Series at the end of March and into April, the Los Angeles Dodgers will travel to Petco Park to open their 2016 slate against the San Diego Padres on April 4.
San Diego is looking to rebound from a down year last season as they underperformed and failed to meet the expectations placed on them as they finished a disappointing 74-88.
The Padres fired Bud Black during the 2015 season and will be led by former Arizona Diamondbacks third base coach Andy Green.
And of course the Dodgers replaced Don Mattingly with former Padres bench coach Dave Roberts.
While the Dodgers have not yet officially named their Opening Day starter — expected to be Clayton Kershaw — Green announced Tyson Ross as San Diego’s starter for the season opener, via the Padres’ Twitter account:
For the first time in his career, @TysonRoss will be the starting pitcher for #SDOpeningDay! pic.twitter.com/BSuLjeIJyK
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) February 19, 2016
Ross finished last season 10-12 with a 3.26 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 112 ERA+ and 1.30 WHIP in a career-high 33 starts. He was 4-9 with a 3.70 ERA and 1.24 WHIP in 16 home starts in 2015.
The right-hander was an All-Star in 2014 and features an electric combination of a sinker, cutter, fastball and slider. Ross made two starts against the Dodgers last season, putting up noteworthy outings without earning a win.
In the two outings, the 28 year old allowed a combined 11 hits, three earned runs, walked five and had seven strikeouts in 12 innings pitched. For his career, Ross is 0-6 with a 2.67 ERA and 1.28 WHIP in 10 games (eight starts) against the Dodgers.
