Gallardo To Start Opening Day; Who Will Replace Greinke?

After Zack Greinke decided to play a seemingly harmless game of pick-up basketball and break one of his ribs, eliminating him from contention for the Opening Day start, Yovani Gallardo will be the man for the second straight year.

Manager Ron Roenicke says that Yo will be the starter in Cincinnati on March 31st. This news wasn't the biggest surprise to Brewer Nation after the Greinke developments. Gallardo has done nothing to lose this title but most people felt that Greinke would be in there most likely. The other newly acquired arm Shaun Marcum will start the next game in Cincy on April 2nd.

Without Greinke the Brewers are weighing their options for the guy who will start behind lefties Randy Wolf and Chris Narveson for the April 6th game at home against Atlanta.

One choice is long-time Brewer minor leaguer Tim Dillard, another is former Brewers #1 overall pick Mark Rogers and other long shots would be top prospects Wily Peralta and Amaury Rivas.

My vote is for Mark Rogers. He hasn't made a start this spring because of shoulder tightness but says he'll be ready by the day the Crew would need him. I've been a big fan of Rogers since he came up last September and made a few appearances, albeit short appearances, but he looked real good.

The season isn't won or lost in the first month of the season, but I pray that this broken rib doesn't linger all year.

-Mikko