Today is April 4 and a year ago Ivan Nova was preparing to spend most of the season in the International League. Tonight he takes the mound for his eighth career start and will be facing a lineup featuring four lefties and two switch-hitters, meaning there will be at least six at-bats to left-handed hitters when he faces the following lineup:

1 - Denard Span CF

2 - Tsuyoshi Nishioka - 2B

3 - Joe Mauer - C

4 - Justin Morneau - 1B

5 - Delmon Young - LF

6 - Jim Thome - DH

7 - Jason Kubel - RF

8 - Danny Valencia - 3B

9 - Alexei Casilla - SS

In his brief time as a major league (42 innings), Nova has allowed three home runs and 10 walks to left-handed hitters.

Nova's season debut is certainly not based on a brief track record against left-handed hitters, but more upon the 20