SARASOTA, Fla. - Don't read too much into it, but manager Buck Showalter has chosen Brad Bergesen to start the first exhibition game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Feb. 28 in Bradenton.
Chris Tillman will follow Bergesen to the mound. They'll each go two or three innings.
Showalter will mostly use his relievers for the intrasquad game that will be played the previous day at the Ed Smith Stadium complex.
Jeremy Guthrie is expected to be the opening day starter at Tropicana Field, which is why I warn against reading too much into Bergesen's assignment.
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