James Paxton, Carlos Carrasco matchup worthy of opening day

It’s a pitching matchup fit for opening day.

Only it’s Game 2 – and after an off day.

Saturday afternoon at Safeco Field will see Cleveland right-hander Carlos Carrasco go up against Mariners left-hander James Paxton.

The case could be made those pitchers are No. 1A starters, not No. 2s.

Carrasco went 18-6 with a 3.29 ERA last season when he led the American League in victories and finished fourth in the Cy Young voting (teammate Corey Kluber, who started the opener Thursday, won the award).

Indians manager Terry Francona named Kluber the opening day starter early in spring training.

“You know what, though? Other guys could do it,” Francona told MLB.com at the time. “I mean, shoot, in the playoffs last year we put Trevor (Bauer) first and Kluber second and Trevor pitched a heck of a game. Carrasco is one of the top handful of guys in the league. But I think when you’ve got a guy (Kluber) who’s won the Cy Young a couple times … it’s an easy choice.”

Paxton became the Mariners’ No. 1 starter last season, when longtime ace Felix Hernandez was sidelined by injuries and pitched fewer than 100 innings.

Despite making just two appearances in spring training, King Felix got the call Thursday for his 10th consecutive opening day start, pitching 5 1/3 scoreless innings as the M’s won, 2-1.

Paxton, who went 12-5 with a 2.98 ERA last season and was named the AL’s Pitcher of the Month in July when he won all six of his starts, said earlier this week he had no problem with Hernandez starting Game 1.

“I think it’s great,” Paxton told The Seattle Times. “I’m happy that he’s feeling so good. I know he hasn’t thrown a ton (in) camp, but the times he has been out there, he’s been very strong. He looks great. I think he’s excited about making that start. I think everyone else here is excited about having him get on the mound.”