Surprise, Ariz. ? Bruce Chen, who led the Kansas City Royals in wins the past two years, will be the opening-day starter on April 6 at the Los Angeles Angels. Manager Ned Yost made the announcement Tuesday after Chen had his best spring training outing in a 9-7 victory over Milwaukee, holding the Brewers to three runs and seven hits in six-plus innings, while striking out six and walking one.

Chen, a 34-year-old left-hander, went 12-8 with a 3.77 earned-run average in 25 starts last year and is 24-15 the past two seasons.

Yost said right-hander Luke Hochevar, the 2011 opening-day starter, and left-hander Jonathan Sanchez, who was acquired in an offseason trade with the San Francisco Giants, would start the second and third games in the Angels series.