The Washington Nationals have announced that Max Scherzer will start for the club on Opening Day.

Washington will open the season on April 6 against the New York Mets.

"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. There are bigger and better things I want to check off."

Scherzer will be making his first Opening Day start after signing a seven-year, $210 million deal. Stephen Strasburg had pitched the last three for the Nationals.