[bigboydan]

Oswalt selected as Astros' opening-day starter

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) - Roy Oswalt will start the Houston Astros' opener against Florida on Monday.

The 28-year-old right-hander, coming off his second straight 20-win season, will start his fourth straight opener.

Manager Phil Garner said Wednesday that Andy Pettitte, Brandon Backe and Wandy Rodriguez will follow Oswalt in the rotation. His fifth starter is undecided, but rookie Taylor Buchholz and Fernando Nieve emerged as front-runners during spring training.

Oswalt's 40 wins over the past two seasons led the major leagues. He is trying to become the first pitcher since Tom Glavine (1991-93) to win 20 or more games in three consecutive seasons. Oswalt is the first pitcher to win 20 games on consecutive seasons since Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling for Arizona in 2001 and 2002.

Oswalt, picked as MVP in last year's NL championship series, is 83-39 in 155 career appearances. His 3.07 ERA and .680 career winning percentage rank first in franchise history. His four straight opening-day starts will be one short of the franchise, shared by J.R. Richard (1976-80), Mike Scott (1987-91) and Shane Reynolds (1996-2000).

[Illusion]

He's their best starter, no shocker here.

[bigboydan]

well, you do have to give Phil Garner some credit for this move. because, he didn't just give Roy the start about a month or so ago.

[Willie Bee]

He's been the man the last two years as well, though that was mainly a marketing move on the part of Drayton McLane. You know it's going to be a packed house just about everywhere on Opening Day, so they've had Rocket pitching Game 3 the last couple of years to beef the crowd up for those games as well.

It was pretty much a given Roy O would be the man this year coming out of chute #1.

[Illusion]

When is Clemens gonna make up his mind? Is there a deadline set?