Tyler Mahle will start Opening Day for the Cincinnati Reds

Tyler Mahle will start the 2022 season opener for the Cincinnati Reds, the team announced Wednesday.

It will be the first Opening Day start for Mahle, a 29-year-old right-hander who was a seventh-round draft pick in 2013 and made his big-league debut with the Reds in 2017. He had his best season a year ago when he was 13-6 with a 3.75 ERA in 33 starts.

Mahle will be the seventh different pitcher to start Opening Day for the Reds in the last eight seasons.

Luis Castillo made his second Opening Day start a year ago after earning the start in 2019. Sonny Gray started the opener in 2020.

The other recent Opening Day starters for the Reds were: Homer Bailey (2018); Scott Feldman (2017); Raisel Iglesias (2016); and Johnny Cueto (2012-15).

The Reds open the season on April 7 in Atlanta and will celebrate Opening Day in Cincinnati on April 12 against the Cleveland Guardians.