By Steven Luker
MLB Opening Day Probable Pitchers
Milwaukee Brewers VS. Mets
Freddy Peralta VS. Jose Quintana
First things first let go over Freddy Peralta who is returning to the Brewers for another season and the Brewers are without Corbin Burnes. Peralta last season was 12-10 with an ERA of 3.86 with the Brewers. Peralta will also be making his first opening day start for the Brewers and also for the first time in five years that Milwaukee’s Opening Day starter won’t be Burnes or Woodruff.
Jose Quintana is taking the mound for the New York Mets after a late start last season due to having rib surgery to start the 2023 season and came back after the all star break having a record of 3-6 with ERA of 3.57. This will be Quintana’s second opening day start and his first since 2017 when Quintana was with the White Sox.
Los Angeles Angels VS. Baltimore Orioles
Patrick Sandoval VS. Corbin Burnes
This will be Patrick Sandoval first Opening Day start of the season and he is a local person for the Angels and growing up not that far to Angels Stadium. Sandoval’s record last season was a 7-13 record and with an ERA of 4.11 for the Angels.
A newly acquired pitcher for the Orioles Corbin Burnes who will be making his Orioles debut this season. This was after the Orioles got Burnes from the Brewers. This is Burnes third consecutive start as an opening day starter. Burnes’ record last season for the Brewers was 10-8 with an ERA of 3.39.
Atlanta Braves VS. Philadelphia Phillies
Spencer Strider VS. Zack Wheeler
This will be Spencer Strider first Opening Day ending the streak of three games that Max Fried has started for Opening Day. Strider last season was 20-5 with an ERA of 3.86 for the Braves.
Zack Wheeler will be taking the ball for the Phillies and is fresh from his extension that was a three year deal worth 126 million dollars. This is Wheeler’s first opening day start. Wheeler last season had a 13-6 record with an ERA of 3.61. A Phillies Fan Alan J. says “Zach Wheeler will start the 2024 season with the challenge of facing baseball’s lone 20 game winner in 2023, Braves ace Spencer Strider. The shadow of the huge contract he signed during the off season may weigh heavy on the Phillies ace through this season and beyond.”
Washington Nationals VS. Cincinnati Reds
Josiah Gray VS. Frank Montas
This is going to be Josiah Gray first Opening Day start for him as a Nationals and his career. Josiah Gray last season was 8-13 with ERA of 3.91. A loyal Nationals fan that goes by PokemonPat he states, “I don’t mind it Gray was one of the best starters for the nats last season.” This is a fan point of view with this pitcher.
Frankie Montas is going to be the Reds Opening Day starter after missing a majority of the 2023 season due to a required arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder; he came in relief last season and pitched an inning and third for the Yankees. He signed a deal with the Reds this season. For a one year deal.
San Francisco Giants VS. San Diego Padres
Logan Webb VS. Yu Darvish
This is Logan Webb second Opening Day start in his career and the first since 2022. Last season for Webb he was 11-13 with an ERA of 3.25 last season.
This also is going to be Yu Darvish second Opening day start, his first since the 2017 season. Darvish recently pitched when the Padres went to South Korea to face the Dodgers and he went 3.2 innings pitched with three strikeouts. Last season Darvish went 8-10 with an ERA of 4.56.
St. Louis Cardinals VS. Los Angeles Dodgers
Miles Mikolas VS. Tyler Glasnow
This is Miles Mikolas third start for opening day and Mikolas is 0-2 in Opening Day starts and is looking for his first win for an Opening Day game. Mikolas last season was 9-13 with an ERA of 4.78.
The Dodgers are sending Tyler Glansow to make his second game of the season his first start was in South Korea when they faced the Padres to open the MLB regular season. Glasnow was acquired by the Dodgers in a trade from the Rays for RHP Ryan Pepiot and OF Jonny DeLuca to the Tampa Bay Rays for CF Manuel Margot and cash. The Dodgers immediately extended Glasnow for five more years immediately after the trade. This will be Glasnow’s third opening day start of his career. Last season Glasnow was 10-7 with an ERA of 3.53.
Toronto Blue Jays VS. Tampa Bay Rays
José Berríos VS. Zach Efin
This will be José Berríos second Opening Day start in his career. In his last outing on Opening Day he recorded only one out against the Rangers. Berríos record last season with the Blue Jays is 11-12 record with ERA of 3.65.
This is going to be Zach Eflin first Opening Day start for him after his first season for the Tampa Bay Rays finishing the season with a 16-8 record with ERA of 3.50.
Minnesota Twins VS. Kansas City Royals
Pablo López VS. Cole Ragans
Pablo López is making his first opening day start for the Twins and is facing off against the Kansas City Royals. Twins Fan Chad Snyder said, “He’s gotta be the Twins horse this year. As good as a year as he had last year (especially the last couple months of the season/post season where he went 8-2 with an ERA in the mid 2’s), he’s going to have to be better this year with the loss of Gray and Maeda to free agency. I read a really good article from the Athletic the other day written by Dan Hayes. He struggled early last season and changed the way he threw his sweeper last May (ironically against the Angels). It changed his season. Throwing the pitch harder made it move more, giving him a really good out pitch that helped contribute to his career high 234 strikeouts. I think for the Twins to have any chance this year, he’s going to have to win 15+ games given the uncertainty of the starting staff. The bullpen should be solid once they get over this injury bug that’s hit them in spring training. That should help his mindset knowing he can throw some out pitches earlier in the game (maybe getting tired a bit earlier) but with the understanding he has a strong pen that should help hold leads.” Last season Pablo López was 11-8 with an ERA of 3.66.
The Kansas City Royals will see Cole Ragans make his first Opening day and last season Ragans was 7-5 with 29 games pitched and 12 of them are starters. Royals Fan Jeremy Lemmon says, “The Royals will have maybe the helping hand with him pitching.”
Detroit Tigers VS. Chicago White Sox
Tarik Skubal VS. Garrett Crochet
This will be Tarik Skubal first opening day start of his career and coming off an injury that he had last season before the All Star Break. Skubal finished last season 7-3 with an ERA of 2.80.
For the White Sox it was originally Dylan Cease but that changed when the White Sox sent Cease to the Padres so now the White Sox scrambled to name a new starter and the new one they have named is Garrett Crochet as the Opening Day starter. Crochet who spend most of his time in the bullpen for the White Sox he will be moving from the pen to the rotation and his stats are 0-2 with ERA of 3.55 in 12 games he spend most of the season recovery from Tommy John Surgery where he missed the whole 2022 season and then he had Left shoulder inflammation a month after his first time being active from the DL for 2023.
Pittsburgh Pirates VS. Miami Marlins
Mitch Keller VS. Jesús Luzardo
This will be the first time for the Pirates starting a pitcher consecutive years for Opening Day since Francisco Liriano from 2014-2016 season. This will be Mitch Keller second consecutive Opening Day start this comes after Keller signed a five year contract extension worth 77 million. Mitch Keller last season was 13-9 with an ERA of 4.21 last season.
This will be Jesús Luzardo first opening day start and is another local player pitching for his local team for opening day. A quote from Jesús Luzardo states “I remember my dad taking me out of school a couple times, specifically to come here [to Jupiter] for Spring Training, and then for Opening Day,” Luzardo said. “It’s kind of nostalgic for me to think about, and I know my dad and my mom as well, they’re super excited, and it brings back memories for them.” Luzardo last season was 10-10 with an ERA of 3.58.
New York Yankees VS. Houston Astros
Nestor Cortes VS. Framber Valdez
Nasty Nestor who is called by Top Fan Rivalry founder Bill Perkins calls Nestor Cortes due to the stance Nestor Cortes has this will be Cortes first opening day start. Last season for Cortes he was 5-2 with an ERA of 4.97. Cortes missed the rest of the 2023 season due to a Left rotator cuff strain.
Framber Valdez will be making his third consecutive Opening Day start in his career and according to Bleacher Brothers presenter PlayActionReal aka Jeff he states that “Framber cut his hair.” He also stated “Valdez doesn’t have his catcher anymore, he went to the White Sox and is going with Maldonado was a great catcher that knows all the hitters.” Framber Valdez last season was 12-11 with an ERA of 3.45.
Chicago Cubs VS. Texas Rangers
Justin Steele VS. Nathan Eovaldi
Justin Steele will be making his first opening day start and will begin the career for Craig Counsell, the new Cubs Manager to start the season. A couple Cubs fans have some thoughts with Justin Steele being the starter the first one is Bryan Gryka he states, “Steele gonna finish in the top 5 in the Cy Young this season.” Another Cubs fan Patrick Springer said “He’s the first home grown talent I can remember being an opening day starter in years. After the 2016 championship, the Cubs spent a ton of time and energy on developing homegrown pitching talent. Justin reminds me of Jon Lester. He’s a grinder who has earned the opening day start. Personally, I’m excited to see morel and Busch in the starting line-up.” Justin Steele last season finished 16-5 with an ERA of 3.06.
The defending champions Texas Rangers will host the Cubs and they will be sending Nathan Eovaldi to the mound, another local person the first since Nolan Ryan to pitch for his hometown team.Eovaldi last season was 12-5 with an ERA of 3.63 and was 5-0 in the postseason last year for the Texas Rangers.
Cleveland Guardians VS. Oakland Athletics
Shane Bieber VS. Alex Wood
This will be Shane Bieber fifth consecutive start on opening day and it ties the franchise record; he ties Corey Kluber and Stan Coveleski for starts on opening day. Shane Bieber last season Bieber was 6-6 with an ERA of 3.80.
Alex Wood is getting his first ever Opening Day start and he just moved across the bay this offseason from San Francisco to Oakland. Wood last season was 5-5 with an ERA of 4.33.
Colorado Rockies VS. Arizona DiamondBacks
Kyle Freeland VS. Zac Gallen
This will be Kyle Freeland first opening day start for him and last season he wanted to look away from it after finishing the season 6-14 with an ERA of 5.03.
This also will be Zac Gallen first opening day for him and he is looking forward to repeating his season dominance from last year for Diamondbacks. Last season Gallen went 17-9 with an ERA of 3.47.
Boston RedSox VS. Seattle Mariners
Brayan Bello VS. Luis Castillo
This will be Brayan Bello first opening day and is probably the youngest Opening Day starter out of the whole bunch at the age of 24. Last season Bello was 12-11 with an ERA of 4.28 for the RedSox.
Luis Castillo will be getting the ball for the Mariners and this will be Castillo second Opening Day start and all being with the Mariners for him. Last season Castillo was 14-9 with an ERA of 3.34. Last season on his first opening day start he was the first pitcher in franchise history to toss 6.0+ scoreless innings while allowing 1-or-fewer hits on Opening Day.