By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Despite being in only his second full week with the Philadelphia Phillies, having signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the club on March 12, it appears that right-hander Jake Arrieta will hardly miss any time to start the 2018 regular season.
Following the Phillies' 4-1 road victory over the Detroit Tigers on Saturday, manager Gabe Kapler announced that Arrieta's 2018 regular season debut will take place on Sunday, April 8, in a 1:35 p.m. start against the Miami Marlins at Citizens Bank Park.
The April 8 contest will be the club's eighth game of the season, suggesting they will go with a four-man rotation in the first go-around. The Phillies will start the season March 29-31 away against the Atlanta Braves, April 2-4 away against the New York Mets, and April 5 and 7-8 home against the Marlins.
In his 2018 Grapefruit League debut against the Tigers on March 22, Arrieta allowed a pair of runs (both earned) on three hits, a home run to Miguel Cabrera, and no walks while striking out two batters. Arrieta struck out his first opposing batter on three pitchers to start the outing. The right-hander will surely get one more spring look before camp breaks on Tuesday.
