Brewers’ Chacin to get Opening Day start against Cardinals

The Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday announced that 31-year-old right-hander Jhoulys Chacin will get the Opening Day start against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals on March 28. "Jhoulys earned the honor from what he did last year," Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. "He deserves it, for sure."

Chacin, who compiled a 15-8 record with a 3.50 ERA in 35 starts last season, also started openers for the Colorado Rockies in 2013 (a no-decision vs. the Brewers) and the San Diego Padres in 2017 (allowing nine earned runs in 3 1/3 innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers). For the Brewers in the 2018 postseason, Chacin had a 2-1 record with a 1.46 ERA in three starts, including 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers in the National League Championship Series.

In the NL Central tiebreaker game against the Chicago Cubs on Oct. 1 at Wrigley Field, Chacin allowed only one run, an Anthony Rizzo homer, in 5 2/3 innings before the bullpen finished a 3-1 win to give the Brewers their first division crown since 2011. "All the things we did last year were just awesome, and it's an honor to get to start Opening Day for a team that just gave me so much," Chacin said. "Hopefully, I can give it back, and just try to start off the season on the right foot."