American League
East
Tampa Bay Rays: Shane McClanahan
This would be Tyler Glasnow but he's still in the recovery process. We'll see Tyler early this season however. McClanahan is coming off an impressive rookie campaign in which he started 25 games pitching to a 3.43 era. He racked up 141 strikeouts in just 123.1 innings pitched. He was impressive after the All-Star break pitching to a 2.84 era in 12 starts.
Boston Red Sox: Nathan Eovaldi
Chris Sale is the name everyone expects here but his time with the Red Sox has been ravished with injuries. Eovaldi put together a solid season in 2021, he made 32 starts for Boston pitching 182.1 innings to the tune of a 3.75 era. He's had consistency issues but when he's on the flamethrowing righty is up there with the best of them.
New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole
This will be Cole's third straight Opening Day start since inking his $324 million dollar contract. Cole's performed well to open things up for the Yankees, through 2 opening day starts he's allowed just 3 ER in 10.1 innings pitched. He won his 2020 Opener and received no decision in 2021.
Toronto Blue Jays: Jose Berrios
The Blue Jays acquired Berrios at the trade deadline last year and inked him to a 7 year deal last November. He's been a staple of consistency in the league since he's found his footing. He pitched 12 games with Toronto in 2021 going 5-4 with a 3.58 era. Toronto gets a nice lift with Rogers Centre returning to full capacity this year.
Baltimore Orioles: John Means
John is one of the few bright spots on this young Orioles team. He opened the season for them last year and threw 7 1 hit innings against Boston. The big lefty owns a career 3.82 era in 4 seasons with Baltimore. He's the only reliable arm in the Orioles starting rotation.
Central
Chicago White Sox: To Be Announced
Cleveland Guardians: Shane Bieber
Indians turn to their Ace to open for the third straight year. In his two previous opening day starts he went a total of 12 innings with a 2.25 era while racking up an impressive 26 strikeouts.
Detroit Tigers: Eduardo Rodriguez
Rodriguez signed a 5 year contract with Detroit this off-season after a down year, he pitched to a 4.74 era across 32 appearances in 2021. He didn't play in 2020 but the Tigers hope to capture his 2018 and 2019 form that saw him pitch to a 3.81 era. He's making his first career opening day start.
Kansas City Royals: Zack Greinke
Zack returns to KC to open things up 12 years apart from his last Opening day start for the organization that drafted him out of High School in 2002. At 38 years old he's not quite what he used to be as he's diminished quite a bit from his Cy Young form but he's a reliable starter.
Minnesota Twins: Joe Ryan
Twins turn to rookie Joe Ryan for Opening Day. He has just 5 big league starts under his belt from last season. He pitched 26.2 innings with an era of 4.05. He had an impressive WHIP of .79, the long ball hurt him last year.
West
Houston Astros: Framber Valdez
Verlander is coming off of Tommy John surgery and Houston looks to ease the 39 year old future hall of famer back into things so the lefty gets the nod. Valdez cemented himself as a quality starter last year, he started 22 games pitching to a 3.14 era over 134.2 innings. Framber missed the beginning portion of the season last year recovering from finger surgery.
Seattle Mariners: Robbie Ray
Newly acquired Robbie Ray takes the mound for Seattle. He was the American League Cy Young winner with the Blue Jays last season. In 32 starts he went 13-7 with a 2.84 era across 193.1 innings pitched. He racked up 248 strikeouts and allowed just 52 walks.
Oakland Athletics: To Be Announced
Los Angeles Angels: Shohei Ohtani
Ohtani gets his first career opening start for the Angels after winning the MVP in 2021. He pitched to a 3.18 era across 23 starts and 130.1 innings pitched last season. He combined that with 46 homeruns and a .964 OPS from the plate which made him an obvious MVP.
Texas Rangers: Jon Gray
Newly acquired Jon Gray gets the opening day bid after signing a 4 year $56 Million dollar deal this off-season. Jon went 8-12 over 29 starts and 149 innings pitched with a 4.59 era in 2021. Rangers hope the move from Coors field and that high altitude gets him back to the sub 4 era he's shown in the past.
National League
East
Atlanta Braves: Max Fried
Max Fried opens things up for the defending World Series champs for the 2nd time in a row. He struggled in the first half of last year but he was the leagues best pitched in the second half. He went 11-3 with a 1.78 era on route to a World Series championship.
Philadelphia Phillies: Aaron Nola
This marks Nola's fifth straight opening day start for the Phillies. He had a down year in 2021, after 4 straight seasons with a sub 4 era he posted a 4.63 era across 32 starts. Philadelphia hopes he regains his previous form when he was one of the best pitchers in the National League.
New York Mets: (Jacob Degrom) INJURY
The best pitcher in baseball was scheduled to go for the NYM but shoulder tightness leaves him doubtful.
Miami Marlins: To Be Announced
Washington Nationals: To Be Announced
Central
Milwaukee Brewers: Corbin Burnes
No surprise that the reigning National League Cy young gets the nod for Milwaukee. He led all of baseball last year with a 2.43 era striking out 234 batters while walking only 34. He pithed 167 total innings, he spent time on the IL last season.
St. Louis Cardianls: To Be Announced
Cincinnati Reds: Tyler Mahle
Mahle gets his first Opening Day start of his young career, he's looking to build on back to back strong campaigns. He made 33 starts last year to the tune of a 3.75 era. He struck out 210 batters in 180 innings and gave the Reds 13 quality starts.
Chicago Cubs: To be Announced
Pittsburgh Pirates: To Be Announced
West
San Francisco Giants: Logan Webb
Logan Webb was a pleasant surprise for SF last year. He filled in for injuries last year and cemented himself at the top of the Giants rotation. This will be his first career opening day start. Webb made 26 starts last year, pitching 148.1 innings with a 3.03 era. SF even turned to him Game 1 of the NL divisional series.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Walker Buehler
This will be Buehlers first opening day start which speaks to the depth the Dodgers have held in their starting rotation. Buehler is one of the best pitchers in baseball and he's coming off a career year. Buehler pitched 207.2 innings last year across 33 starts.
San Diego Padres: To Be Announced
Colorado Rockies: To Be Announced
Arizona Diamondbacks: To Be Announced
Last Updated 4/1/22
