Aaron Harang -- Reds' hurler heads to mound for opening day

Aaron Harang will pitch the opening day game for the Reds against the Mets.
Reds ace Aaron Harang will be pitching the opening day game against the New York Mets.

It's a tough opener for Harang, as the Mets are 30-17 on opening day, and have won their last three consecutive games.

From the ESPN game preview:

Sheffield will be available for pinch-hitting duty as New York faces Cincinnati's Aaron Harang (6-17, 4.78), who's trying to bounce back from a subpar 2008.

The veteran right-hander put on weight and hurt his arm last season, but has lost 33 pounds and appears to be back in form. He won 16 games and posted an ERA under 4.00 each of his previous two seasons.

Harang is 2-1 with a 5.85 ERA in four starts against the Mets. He leads a rotation that Cincinnati is counting on to provide plenty of quality starts with much of the power gone from its lineup.