Guthrie, Hendrickson to start openers

For Jeremy Guthrie and Mark Hendrickson, Saturday was unforgettable. And it had nothing to do with the rain in Florida that wiped out four games.

The Baltimore Orioles chose Guthrie to start on opening day, giving the prestigious assignment to a pitcher with just 26 major league starts and seven wins.

The Florida Marlins decided to go with Hendrickson, who has a 5.01 career ERA and was signed in January to provide depth for an injury-ravaged rotation.

Guthrie, a rookie in 2007, moved to the front of the rotation when the Orioles traded ace Erik Bedard to Seattle.

"The guy certainly showed us what he can do last season. He's had a tremendous spring," manager Dave Trembley said before the Orioles and Marlins were rained out in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. "I think it's the right thing to do. I think it sets up the rest of the rotation the best possible way."

Guthrie will start at home against Tampa Bay on March 31.

A year ago, Guthrie fought his way onto the Orioles' staff after being claimed on waivers from Cleveland during the offseason. A first-round pick by the Indians in 2002, Guthrie moved into the Baltimore rotation by May, finishing the year at 7-5 with a 3.70 ERA in 32 appearances, including 26 starts.

"It's a great honor ... to have the confidence of (Trembley), and I felt the same from my team, from my teammates — that they feel if I'm out there, we have a chance to win," Guthrie said.

The 28-year-old, who struck out 123 in 175 1-3 innings in 2007, was 6-5 with a 3.44 ERA as a starter, and allowed two or more runs in only three of his first 17 starts last year.

Right-hander Daniel Cabrera, left-hander Adam Loewen and right-hander Steve Trachsel, signed to a minor league contract with a spring training invitation, should be part of the starting five. The fifth starter's job is still up for grabs between right-hander Matt Albers and left-hander Brian Burres, or the Orioles could round out the rotation through a trade or waiver claim.

"I'm not close to it at all ... I'm going to wait until I say it," Trembley said.

In the other clubhouse, manager Fredi Gonzalez announced that Hendrickson would start the Marlins' season opener March 31 against the New York Mets at Dolphin Stadium.

"He pitched terrific in spring training and he's our veteran guy," Gonzalez said. "The way he's pitched in spring training, he deserves it."