The biggest open secret in A's camp is a secret no more.

Brett Anderson will be the A's opening day starter, and as his reward the left-hander gets a Game 1 matchup with Seattle ace Felix Hernandez April 1 in the Coliseum.

Anderson has known about it for a couple of days, and all of the other starters had been assuming the 25-year-old would be the man. He is, after all, the only one of the eligible candidates who wasn't a rookie last year.

And while he only pitched in six games in 2012 year, those were six games in the heat of a pennant race after coming back from Tommy John-style ligament replacement surgery.

``We think he will be successful for us,'' manager Bob Melvin said in making the announcement. ``We feel he's the man to lead off for us.''