MLB.com’s Joe Frisaro reports Florida Marlins manager Fredi Gonzalez has set his early Grapefruit League rotation. SP Anibal Sanchez will start against the Washington Nationals Thursday, March 4, before being relieved by SP Rick VandenHurk. SP Chris Volstad will start against the New York Mets Friday, March 5, with RP Hayden Penn following him. SP Josh M. Johnson will face the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, March 6, before being relieved by RP Clay Hensley. On Sunday, March 7, SP Sean West will face the Cardinals, with SP Andrew Miller relieving him. SP Ricky Nolasco will make his Grapefruit League debut against the Nationals Monday, March 8, while RP Ryan Tucker faces the Mets the same day. During their first time around, the starters will throw approximately 35 total pitches or pitch about two innings each.
Our Instinct: Josh Johnson, Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez, Sean West, and Chris Volstad will open the 2010 as the starting rotation. Johnson and Nolasco are top 25 starters, while Sanchez, West, and Volstad make for decent end of rotation option in fantasy leagues.
