(KSDK Sports) - The mystery of who will open the 2013 Spring Training games schedule is over. Today Cardinals manager Mike Matheny announced that rookie Trevor Rosenthal will get the start on the mound on Saturday against the Miami Marlins. Rosenthal will be followed by Cardinals 2012 first round draft pick Michael Wacha in the innings that follow.
As expected for the first outing of the year, Rosenthal and Wacha will each be on pitch counts. "Around two innings and around 40ish pitches," said Matheny.
With both Chris Carpenter out for the year and a spot already opened with the departure of Kyle Lohse, Rosenthal is in a three way competition with Joe Kelly and Shelby Miller for a role in the Cardinals starting rotation.
He burst on the Cardinals radar last season with his debut as a reliever. He finished the season with an 0-2 record but a solid 2.78 ERA with 25 strikeouts in just over 22 innings pitched.