Dodgers Tab Clayton Kershaw as Opening Day Starter

We already knew who would be on the mound for the Giants when they kick off their title defense on March 31, now we know who Tim Lincecum will be facing.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly announced Clayton Kershaw will get the ball for L.A. in the first game of the season. It may seem a little early to make such an announcement, even if Kershaw is the obvious choice, but Mattingly has actually been sitting on the news for a while.

"Probably the day after I found out I was going to manage (I made the decision)," Mattingly said. "This kid loves the challenge, and I would line him up against anybody."

In fact, Kershaw said the skipper spoke to him about the prospect before the end of last season when it became clear Joe Torre wouldn't be back in the dugout this season.

"He just asked me if I thought I would be ready for it," Kershaw said. "There hasn't been any official word, but we have talked about it, so I'm not surprised. It's exciting, and it's great to know I have a date to prepare for and that I'm going to get Lincecum. ... It's definitely a sign of acknowledgment and recognition from your manager that he feels you are worthy of that title."

As mentioned above, Kershaw's a pretty obvious choice. The left-hander went 13-10 with a 2.91 ERA in his third season. He struck out 212 batters in 204 1/3 innings and finished 10th in the National League in ERA+ for the second straight season. At 23, he's more than ready to be the ace of a rotation and Mattingly's decision confirms that promotion.

He should have a decent rotation behind him this season. Ted Lilly is back for a full year in Dodger blue, Jon Garland has joined the effort and the steady Hiroki Kuroda and Chad Billingsley remain as members of the rotation. As the Giants proved last year, a strong rotation can be the easiest route to glory, and it's a lesson the Dodgers seemed to learn quite well.