Max Scherzer will start on opening day (updated with Williams, Scherzer)

VIERA, Fla. - Who will start opening day? That's the question that's been surrounding the Nationals ever since they stunned the baseball world by signing right-hander Max Scherzer.

The wait is over. Nationals manager Matt Williams has announced he'll give Scherzer the ball on April 6 against the Mets at Nationals Park. I'm sure Williams was looking forward to finally revealing his opening day starter, considering he's had to answer daily questions about it.

The 30-year-old has never started on opening day in his seven major league seasons, not even last season after winning the 2013 American League Cy Young Award. Instead, it was another highly decorated pitcher, Justin Verlander, who got the call for the Tigers a year ago.

Scherzer, maybe bitter for being passed over in Detroit, downplayed the opportunity when I asked him after his last exhibition outing if it was important to start opening day.

"No, it really doesn't mean anything," Scherzer said. "Going out there and winning ballgames and competing in October, that's what means the most. That's the only thing that matters. Opening day is more publicity than anything."

Over the past two seasons in Detroit, Scherzer posted a staggering 39-8 record with a 3.02 ERA. The Nationals surprised most by signing Scherzer to a record-setting seven-year, $210 million contract in January, adding another power arm to an already powerful rotation.

Former AL MVP and Cy Young winner Verlander had a different feeling about the role when I told him about Scherzer's position after yesterday's game.

"It's an honor," Verlander said. "It's something that's exciting. You want to be out there on opening day. I do agree with the sentiment as in once it's one time through the rotation then it's just your fifth day. But there's something special about opening day being out there for that first game of the year - all the hope, all the aspiration for the season."

Update: Scherzer changed his sentiments a bit after finding out Williams was going with him.

"It's going to be real exciting," Scherzer said. "It's a great honor to be able to start opening day, especially for this club and especially on this staff. But at the end of the day, it's just Game 1. We have 162 of these things and hopefully we can play as well as we can for the entire season."

Right-hander Stephen Strasburg has started the last three opening days for the Nats. Jordan Zimmermann is coming off a no-hitter in the final regular season game and a stellar performance in Game 2 of the National League Division Series. So it was understandable that Williams wrestled with the decision.

'It's a difficult one, but a good one at the same time," Williams said. "We have really good, quality starting pitching. I can tell you this: To a man, the guys that are actually throwing the baseball, they don't much care about it. They just want the ball every fifth day and to win."

Scherzer finally admitted that he was surprised when he didn't get the call to pitch opening day for the Tigers last season, especially coming off his Cy Young season.

"But that's over," Scherzer said. "This is this year. My intentions are here on the Nationals. I'm just excited to be a part of this team and what we're going to do in 2015."

Meanwhile, Williams was please to give the two-time All-Star his first opportunity to start the season.

"He's really matured into one of the most dominant pitchers in our game," Williams said. "We're happy to announce him for opening day. He's confident. We're confident in him, so he'll toe the slab for us the first game of the season."

Scherzer said he has never looked at the assignment like a milestone he needed to accomplish in his career.

"There's bigger and better things I want to check off," he said. "Starting an All-Star game, yeah, that's way bigger than starting opening day. In my experiences, the playoffs are more intense than anything I've ever seen in the regular season. I've started Game 1 in the playoffs. That's something special."