TAMPA, Fla. – With Yankees ace Gerrit Cole out for the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery earlier in the week, lefthander Carlos Rodon will get the Opening Day nod for the Yankees on March 27. Manager Aaron Boone made the announcement before Friday night’s Grapefruit League game against the Phillies at Steinbrenner Field.

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Clay Holmes — a former Yankees closer — was named the Opening Day starter for the Mets on Friday. “He earned it,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “We like what we’re seeing. I know it’s a small sample size, but it’s very encouraging.”

Holmes has made all of four big-league starts, all of them as a rookie with the Pirates in 2018. He shifted to the bullpen in 2019 with Pittsburgh, eventually flourishing into an All-Star closer with the Yankees. He’s made an even 300 relief appearances since his last start.