The Durham Bulls today announced 2008 Bulls Pitcher of the Year Mitch Talbot will be the team's opening day starter as Durham hosts the Norfolk Tides on Thursday, April 9th at 7:05 PM. Talbot will be followed by LHP David Price on Friday, RHP Wade Davis on Saturday, LHP Carlos Hernandez on Sunday and LHP Jason Cromer on Monday.
Talbot has back-to-back, 13-win seasons for the Bulls but will be starting his first opening day for Durham this season. The right-hander was 13-9 in both of the last two seasons for Durham, but saw his ERA drop from 4.53 in 2007 to 3.86 in 2008. In 161 innings last season, he allowed only 35 walks against 141 strikeouts.