7 years agoFor the first time in his big league career, Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Ivan Nova will take the mound on Opening Day on March 29 against the Detroit Tigers. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle made the announcement on Wednesday, adding that Jameson Taillon would take the ball for the club in their home opener. Last season, Nova went 11-14 with a 4.14 ERA in 187 innings, striking out 131 and walking 36. Although he was fantasy relevant in the second half of 2016 and the first half of last season, Nova tanked after the All-Star break in 2017 (5.83 ERA). His low walk rate (6.6 percent for his career) will keep his WHIP respectable, but without overpowering stuff (17.3 percent career strikeout rate) and a mediocre team around him, he doesn't bring much to the table in most fantasy formats. He'll likely go undrafted in most leagues.--Matt Wilkes
Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette