Spring Training Approaches: MLB Teams Announce Opening Day Starters
As Major League Baseball (MLB) gears up for the 2025 season, teams are beginning to announce their Opening Day starters. This annual event, often steeped in significance despite only counting for a single game, is a pivotal showcase for teams to set the tone for the season. As rosters evolve with injury updates and trades, the following provides an overview of confirmed and anticipated starting pitchers as spring training progresses.
Opening Day Starter Highlights
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Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Burnes is expected to take the mound as the Opening Day starter against the Chicago Cubs. Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Young winner, secured a $210 million contract in the offseason, marking a notable investment for the team.
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Oakland Athletics: After a tumultuous track record of six different starters in the last seven years, Luis Severino is favored to start this year, making his Opening Day debut following a three-year, $67 million contract.
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Atlanta Braves: Reigning NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale appears set to start as the Braves face the San Diego Padres. Sale has been a reliable ace with a 2.38 ERA last season and led the league with 225 strikeouts.
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Baltimore Orioles: With Corbin Burnes leaving as a free agent, Zach Eflin is poised to start against the Toronto Blue Jays. Eflin, who had a successful stint with a 2.60 ERA for Baltimore last year, was acquired from the Rays at the trade deadline.
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Boston Red Sox: Garrett Crochet is likely to take the mound, having earned All-Star recognition last season. The Red Sox will kick off their season in Texas against the Rangers.
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Chicago White Sox: With Garrett Crochet traded, veteran Martín Pérez could be announced as the starter, marking his first Opening Day appearance in a 14-year career.
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Cincinnati Reds: Hunter Greene, who finished eighth in NL Cy Young voting, will start against the San Francisco Giants, making this his second consecutive Opening Day start.
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Cleveland Guardians: Tanner Bibee, who excelled in his debut season, is set to replace the injured Shane Bieber as the Opening Day starter when the Guardians face the Kansas City Royals.
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Tampa Bay Rays: Shane McClanahan is expected to make his third Opening Day start, returning from Tommy John surgery ready to face the Rockies.
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Los Angeles Dodgers: The team is set to open the season against the Cubs in Tokyo, with rookie Yoshinobu Yamamoto expected to be the starter.
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New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole, the 2023 AL Cy Young winner, looks to start against the Milwaukee Brewers as he aims for his fifth consecutive Opening Day.
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Philadelphia Phillies: Aaron Nola has stepped back from the Opening Day starting position, handing the honors over to Zack Wheeler, who enters the season with an impressive track record.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Last year’s Andrew McCutchen picked up two Opening Day starts, but Paul Skenes, the first overall pick in the 2023 draft, is anticipated to take the ball on Opening Day after a stellar rookie season.
Significance and Future Outlook
Opening Day is more than just the season’s first pitch; it represents an opportunity for teams to showcase their strategic choices, introduce key acquisitions, and energize fanbases. As teams finalize their rosters and navigate pre-season injuries, these decisions can lay the groundwork for subsequent success or challenges throughout the season.
The anticipation surrounding Opening Day starters reflects the ongoing evolution of team compositions and the strategic influence of individual players. The excitement surrounding these announcements serves to engage fans, generating enthusiasm for the season ahead as players aim to secure their legacies, particularly in a sport steeped in tradition and performance history.
As baseball prepares to launch its 2025 season, fans will continue to follow updates closely, eager to see how these pitchers will shape their respective teams’ journeys. This year’s Opening Day not only has the potential to set early narratives for the season but also opens discussions on player performance and managerial decisions that could influence standings as the year progresses.
