Looking for an edge to start the season, Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella has decided to go with his home-field advantage by naming Brazelton his Opening Day starter.

But the information had to be pried out of Piniella prior to Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

"I'm leaning toward Brazelton starting the season," Piniella said. "That's fair. I'm leaning toward Brazelton because of his home record last year -- because of the way he pitched at home."

Then Piniella paused.

"You know, I said I'm leaning that way," Piniella said, "but we can lean other ways as well. You want me to name him the Opening Day starter? All right, he's going to pitch Opening Day -- there you go.

"Brazelton has had the most success at home. The person who gets the start on Opening Day will start three times during the first homestand. From that standpoint, it makes pretty good sense."

Brazelton went 3-4 in 2004 against Toronto, Oakland and Baltimore, the Devil Rays' opponents during their first homestand. For the season, he went 6-8 with a 4.77 ERA in 21 starts. But the right-hander's home record showed a completely different pitcher. When pitching in Tropicana Field, Brazelton went 6-3 with an ERA of 2.90 -- the third-best home ERA in the American League.

The 24-year-old from Tullahoma, Tenn., also provided one of the Devil Rays' season highlights during a June 25 start against the visiting Marlins. He pitched 7 2/3 no-hit innings before Mike Lowell doubled to break up the party. Brazelton picked up the win in Tampa Bay's 2-0 victory, and he matched Tony Saunders for the longest stretch to start a game without allowing a hit by any Devil Rays pitcher.

Piniella, who reluctantly named Brazelton the Opening Day starter, doesn't want the idea to have the wrong effect on the right-hander.

"I just don't want -- because I named him [the Opening Day starter] -- I don't want him to back off," Piniella said. "You know what I mean?"

Brazelton started against the Tigers on Wednesday, and he allowed two runs on five hits in four innings of work.

"It's a dream come true. It's a really big honor," said Brazelton of the news. "I'm just proud that Lou has the confidence in me to give me that title."

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Two summers ago, Brazelton suffered through a demotion that saw him get optioned to Class A Bakersfield from the Devil Rays.

"It's been a crazy ride [since then]," Brazelton said. "Two years ago, a lot of people thought I was done, as far as my career. ... Now, to be Opening Day starter for the Devil Rays, it's very special."

Brazelton got the news once he reached the dugout after Wednesday's outing.

"After I came out, [Devil Rays pitching coach] Chuck Hernandez came over and told me -- which was actually great, because Chuck Hernandez [then the Devil Rays' minor league pitching instructor] was the first face I saw off the plane in Bakersfield," Brazelton said. "At the lowest end of my career, Chuck Hernandez was there. Now, the best day of my baseball career, it's an honor to me that Chuck -- who at Bakersfield told me, 'Hey kid, it's OK' -- he's the first guy to tell me I'm the Opening Day starter."

Brazelton knows the assignment comes with responsibility.

"I'm honored to be the Opening Day starter, but it lets me know I need to step it up even more to stay on that level," Brazelton said. "I feel like I'm at the bottom of that level. OK, I'm the Opening Day starter, but I'm not Pedro [Martinez] or Roy Halladay yet. In the same sense, I've got to keep working hard to stay at that level and keep getting better."

Brazelton likes the fact he's a home-field advantage, but he'd like to become a road warrior as well.

"Last year, I didn't win any games on the road," Brazelton said. "I don't think that's going to be an issue this year."