With Carter Capps (elbow) beginning the year on the disabled list, Maurer will officially begin the season as the club's closer, The San Diego Union-Tribune's Dennis Lin reports.
The 26-year-old was considered the favorite to win the job to open the season, so no surprises here. While this news makes him a cheap source of saves early on, Capps isn't expected to be sidelined for long, and he could take over the job at some point after his return, but that would have to coincide with some sort of ineffectiveness from Maurer. The veteran posted a 3.09 ERA with 13 saves after taking over as closer last season, so if righty can handle the role early on, then there is a possibility that he runs with the job all season.