David Ross Confirms Opening Day Starter Will Be Yu Darvish or Kyle Hendricks

Whew, Rick Morrissey can breathe easier knowing David Ross isn’t conducting business as usual on the North Side. The Sun-Times scribe was a little concerned about the possibility that Ross would tab his good buddy to start Opening Day in a ballpark that could feature even fewer Brewers fans than usual when the Cubs come to visit.

The Cubs manager confirmed prior to Wednesday’s game that either Yu Darvish or Kyle Hendricks would be taking the bump at Miller Park or AmFam Field or whatever it’s called. There was never any doubt it’d be one or the other, but Ross was plenty blunt so as to make things clear for the folks in the back who haven’t been paying attention.

“I just think you slot them in 1-2-3, for me,” Ross said of his top starters (quote via Jordan Bastian). “It’s just, ‘Who’s a better pitcher?’ Jon’s at a point in his career where, for me, Yu and Kyle have thrown better. Not to say that I ever don’t have any confidence in Jon. Obviously, I’ve got a ton of confidence in Jon.

“It’s just, you put you best foot forward to start the season, and I think Yu Darvish or Kyle Hendricks are a tick above Jon right now.”

Ross went on to further solidify the back end of the rotation by saying Tyler Chatwood is “right on track to start the season as the fifth starter.” That situation hasn’t changed since the start of spring training as Chatwood has proven he’s fully capable of holding down the spot. Alec Mills gave him a strong run, but was already slated to pitch in relief against the Padres as of at least Tuesday afternoon in what appears to be preparation for his primary role as a long reliever and swing starter.