Blue Jays select ace right-hander Alek Manoah as opening-day starter

DUNEDIN, FLA. The Toronto Blue Jays have selected ace righthander Alek Manoah as their opening-day starting pitcher for the coming Major League Baseball season. Manoah, 25, was a finalist for the American League Cy Young Award last season after posting a 16-7 record with a 2.24 earned-run average and 180 strikeouts over 31 starts. The 6-foot-6, 285-pound native of Homestead, Fla., was scheduled to start in the Blue Jays’ preseason game against visiting Philadelphia on Friday. He entered the game with a 1-2 record, 3.77 ERA and 15 strikeouts in 141⁄ 3 innings over four starts this spring. Toronto opens the season next Thursday in St. Louis. The Blue Jays played the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.