McCarthy Named Dodger Starter for Opening Day

VERO BEACH, Fla. — It’s an honor that has been entrusted to Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, Orel Hershiser and Fernando Valenzuela, Claude Osteen and Don Sutton.

All have been opening-day starting pitchers for the Dodgers.

Monday afternoon, the Dodgers added another name to that list: Tom McCarthy.

McCarthy, 33, who spent last season pitching for the Mexico City Reds and has pitched only one complete game since 1986, was told before Monday’s game against the New York Mets that he will be the opening-day starter April 3 against the Florida Marlins in Miami.

“It’s a great honor,” McCarthy said. “I mean, the last time I was anybody’s opening-day starter was when I pitched for Charlotte against Ottawa in ’93. I guess I’ve come a long ways, huh?”