Around the Majors: Opening Day starters

1) The Cubs announced Kerry Wood will be their Opening Day starter.

After 3.66 ERA/8 RSAA and 3.20 ERA/24 RSAA seasons, Wood had a 3.72 ERA/13 RSAA in 22 starts. He has a 3.63 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.31, and 67 RSAA in 164 games.

Wood ranks 5th in NL history (since 1900) for most SO above the league average, through the age of 27–

STRIKEOUTS                      DIFF   PLAYER   LEAGUE   
1    Sandy Koufax                606     1474      868   
2    Christy Mathewson           583     1645     1062   
3    Dizzy Dean                  458     1095      637   
4    Dwight Gooden               452     1686     1234   
5    Kerry Wood                  423     1209      786   
6    Jim Maloney                 393     1302      909   
7    Red Ames                    388      938      550   
8    Van Lingle Mungo            386      988      602   
9    Mario Soto                  384     1123      739   
10   Sid Fernandez               373     1153      780   

2) The Indians announced C.C. Sabathia will be their Opening Day starter.

After 4.37 ERA/4 RSAA and 3.60 ERA/13 RSAA seasons, Sabathia had a 4.12 ERA/9 RSAA in 30 starts. He has a 4.12 career ERA, compared to his league average of 4.53, and 29 RSAA in 126 games.

3) According to the New York Post, the Mets are interested in Devil Rays P Danys Baez. Meanwhile, the New York Times reports the Mets are still interested in Tigers P Ugueth Urbina, but they aren’t eager to deal him, while the Mets aren’t interested in trading Mike Cameron for him.

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