There was certainly some question as to whether Michael Wacha would open the season as part of the St. Louis Cardinals' five-man starting rotation. 

Wacha, 25, is coming off a disastrous 2016 campaign that saw him post a five-plus ERA and 1.48 WHIP in 27 appearances (24 starts). Some expected him to potentially act as a long man for the team. 

That's no longer going to be the case. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny announced on Sunday that Wacha will be a part of the team's rotation. This comes just a month after it was reported that top prospect Alex Reyes suffered a UCL injury and might have to undergo Tommy John Surgery. That opened up a spot in the rotation for Wacha. 

Here's a guy that's one year removed from posting a 17-7 record with 153 strikeouts in 181.1 innings en route to earning an All-Star appearances. Wacha will surely be one to keep an eye on from a fantasy perspective early in the season.