It's been a long time since the Rangers have run out a repeat as their Opening Day starter.
On April 4 when they open the season at home against the Mariners, that streak will continue.
It's no surprise who is getting the nod, as the Rangers announced on Wednesday that it will be Cole Hamels taking the ball in perhaps the least surprising turn of events this spring.
Hamels follows a long line of Opening Day starters in recent years, a list that doesn't include Yu Darvish, who would've gotten the nod last season if not for his elbow surgery.
That list does include Kevin Millwood, who started Opening Day for four straight seasons with the last coming in 2009. After that, it was Scott Feldman, C.J. Wilson, Colby Lewis, Matt Harrison, Tanner Scheppers (wait, what?) and Yovani Gallardo.
Hamels will square off with Seattle ace Felix Hernandez a week from Monday and face a Mariners team that gave him some issues last year as he faced them four times in his 12 regular-season starts with the Rangers. The first three were just OK. His last one lasted seven innings and he fanned 12 with no walks.
