Pirates manager Clint Hurdle announced Tuesday starting pitcher Francisco Liriano will start Opening Day (April 6) against the Reds. It will be the second straight year Liriano starts on opening day for Pittsburgh.
Hurdle also announced Tuesday starting pitcher Gerrit Cole will start the second game of the season and A.J. Burnett will finish off the three-game series before Pittsburgh moves onto a three-game series at Milwaukee.
Hurdle added Vance Worley or Jeff Locke, who are competing for the final spot in the team's rotation, will start the fourth game of the season and Charlie Morton will start the fifth game. Hurdle said splitting up Burnett and Morton was important because they have similar pitching styles.