Back in late February, St. Louis Cardinals manager Oli Marmol named Sonny Gray, the organization’s star free-agent signing, their Opening Day starter.
He was actually one of the first skippers to announce his starter for the first game of the season.
Gray, however, suffered a hamstring strain and won’t be ready on time for the Opening Day gig.
Marmol had to adjust on the go, and decided to name Miles Mikolas as the recipient of the honor, per the team on Twitter.
Taking the ball for Opening Day in LA: Miles Mikolas!#ForTheLou pic.twitter.com/aSOdvs93xI
Mikolas is not as talented and dominant as Gray can be, but he has proven to be an excellent, durable pitcher in his second MLB stint.
He made his MLB debut in 2012 with the San Diego Padres.
After a stint with the Texas Rangers in 2014, he went overseas to build himself a career in Japan.
He transformed himself into a better pitcher in the NPB, where he posted a brilliant 2.34 ERA with the Yomiuri Giants from 2015 to 2017.
The Cardinals took a chance on him in 2018, and he has posted a 3.78 ERA in five seasons.
He was a bit off in 2023, though, with a 4.78 ERA, but he offers a rubber arm in a time in which most starters don’t even surpass 170 innings.
Of the four 162-game seasons he has pitched in St. Louis, he has surpassed 200 innings in three and checked in at 184 frames in the other one.
Mikolas won’t strike out 200 batters per season, but he will give you close to 200 respectable innings and that is all the Cardinals are asking from him.
Well, that and put the team in a position to win on March 28.