Flaherty to start season for Cardinals against Reds

Jack Flaherty is getting the ball on opening day for the St. Louis Cardinals.

St. Louis manager Mike Shildt said Saturday the 24year-old Flaherty will start the season opener March 26 at Cincinnati. It will be the right-hander’s first opening day start and comes after he finished fourth in NL Cy Young Award voting with a closing surge last season.

“It’s one of those things you work for and you want it,” Flaherty said.

The nod comes one season after Flaherty pitched the home opener for the Cardinals.

“It’s cool,” Flaherty said. “Just happy I get the ball first, get the first chance to go out and kind of set the tone for the season.”

Red Sox

Boston named Jerry Narron as bench coach under interim manager Ron Roenicke. The 64-year-old Narron has spent 32 years as a player and coach and was previously Boston’s bench coach in 2003. Narron was also Roenicke’s bench coach when he managed Milwaukee for parts of five seasons from 2011-15.

Braves

Cole Hamels rejoined Atlanta just in time for the spring opener. Hamels signed an $18 million, oneyear deal with the Braves this offseason but told the team just before camp started that he was experiencing shoulder discomfort. “I know I’m behind the 8-ball,” he said. “But once I knock [the inflammation], I know I’ll be able to be the best pitcher I can and put up good numbers.”

Cactus League

Six games scheduled for the Cactus League were wiped out by heavy rain in Arizona. Flash flood watches were issued for the area, leading to opening day postponements or cancellations for Royals-Angels, Angels-White Sox, Reds-Indians, Brewers-Rangers, Diamondbacks-Rockies and Mariners-Padres.