Verlander will start the Astros' regular-season opener March 28 against the Rays, Jake Kaplan of The Athletic reports.

The announcement comes as no surprise, as Verlander finished second in the Cy Young race last season with a 2.52 ERA, 0.90 WHIP and 290:37 K:BB over 214 innings. The 36-year-old will make his 11th career Opening Day start as he faces off against the man who topped him in the voting, 2018 AL Cy Young winner Blake Snell.