TAMPA, Fla. — New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi thinks Chien-Ming Wang will get his chance to be the opening day starter this season.

Wang was slated to pitch the 2007 opener, but he was sidelined with a hamstring injury during spring training. He is lined up to get his start March 31 against Toronto.

"Real good chance he'll be our opening day starter this year," Girardi said today.

Wang has won 19 games in each of the last two seasons.

"You expect people to get better every year," Girardi said. "I saw a vast improvement in his slider last year. Continue to work on that. You can continue to develop your changeup. Continue to locate better. Just become a complete pitcher. He's pretty good right now. He's pretty polished."