Kevin Gausman on opening day start: "I'll try to set the tone"

Orioles right-hander Kevin Gausman seems to be finding the right balance of completing his preparation for tomorrow's opening day assignment, while at the same time realizing how exciting and special the day will be for him.

While Jim Palmer and Mike Mussina have made the most opening day starts on the mound as Orioles with six each, Gausman's first is Monday afternoon against Toronto. Chris Tillman threw the first pitch in 2014-2016.

"To have this honor, I'm very happy," Gausman said this afternoon. "There were a lot of guys before me that did it. Guys like Mussina, Jim Palmer, Tilly. I'll try to set the tone and just try to feed off the environment. It will obviously be rocking and it's going to be fun.

"I think I can speak for everyone of us - we're ready to get going. We have a lot of guys returning and feel really confident. I'm excited to see (Dylan) Bundy as a starter from Day One. We are excited and ready to go and looking forward to just continuing to grow."

Gausman's 2016 stats showed a 9-12 record and ERA of 3.61, which was 13th in the American League among qualifying pitchers. But in the second half, he dialed it up a notch, going 8-6 with a 3.10 ERA.

From Aug. 23-Sept. 14, Gausman had a stretch where he went 4-0 with an ERA of 0.82 and 32 strikeouts over 33 innings.

"I think I just became a better overall pitcher," he said. "I think I pitched more than I ever have, really, in my life. Was throwing pitches I wasn't once comfortable throwing, like 2-0 sliders and things like that. I felt confident and was throwing well, so I felt confident enough to throw those pitches. That is one thing this spring I tried to do: not throw my fastball too much and have a good percentage for each one of my pitches, and I think that helped me to learn how to throw a slider this spring."

Gausman did not have strong numbers last year in three starts versus Toronto, going 0-2 with a 7.04 ERA. He allowed six homers in 15 1/3 innings.

As it turns out, the Orioles begin this year against the team that ended their 2016 season in Rogers Centre. But this is no revenge game.

"No, it's the first game of the season," Gausman said. "We're not thinking about the last game of last year. Just go out and try to throw strikes and kind of establish the way we are going to pitch this year. I think each one of us got better as the season went on, especially myself. So trying to figure out why that is and try to hit the ground running this year."

It would be big if the Orioles can get off to a good start. They play their first 11 games and 24 of 27 through May 4 against American League East foes. It's going to be a big April of division play.

"Anytime you play in the division, those are the games that matter," Gausman said. "Buck (Showalter) talked to us the other day about games in April. How they can be the difference in playing in October."

Gausman was very good at home last year, going 6-2 with a 2.67 ERA. He allowed two runs or less in eight of his 12 Camden Yards starts.

"I think everyone of us loves playing here," Gausman said. "I seem to always pitch better here than on the road. I don't know why that is, but I just feel confident and comfortable here. Our crowds, especially the bigger ones, are awesome. I was here in 2014 in the playoffs. This place went crazy. I was here for Delmon Young's double, obviously. This place can be super loud and I love playing here."