THREE of the guys stepping up to the mound this Opening Day all hail from the same high school: Harvard-Westlake. Who are they? Aside from graduating from the same school, all three were first round draft picks. They are:
- Jack Flaherty– Picked up in 2014 by the Cardinals, he was the 34th overall selection. He also finished fourth in the National League Cy Young Award voting in 2019, and he has snagged a 3.37 ERA in four seasons.
- Max Fried– In 2012, Fried went seventh overall to the Padres. In 2020, he finished fifth in the NL Cy Young race, but since his debut, Fried has gone 7-0 with a 2.25 ERA.
- Lucas Giolito– Also in 2012, Giolito went 16th to the Nationals and he’ll start for the White Sox against the Angels in Anaheim...about 50 miles from his alma mater this Thursday. He’s recorded a 3.43 ERA in the past two years, and aside from tossing a no-hitter last August, he’s earned American League Cy Young votes each year.