2025 MLB Opening Day starter tracker: Mets give nod to free-agent signing vs. Astros

Spring Rehearsal is underway and Significant Bracket Baseball’s 2025 regular season is Speedy approaching. As such, it is never too Prompt to keep tabs on All Club’s Beginning Day starter. These announcements come in throughout spring Rehearsal and sometimes before camp even opens.

With that in mind, here is our living document chronicling every Club’s Beginning Day starter situation. These announcements are tentative because sometimes things Transformation due to Hurt, so check back regularly for updates. We’ll have everything you need to know about Beginning Day starters right here.

Before we get to the Excellent stuff, here is the all-time Beginning Day Begin leaderboard:

1. Tom Seaver: 16
2. Steve Carlton: 14
3. Jack Morris: 14
4. Randy Johnson: 14
5. Walter Johnson: 14

While it’s Correct that Beginning Day counts for only one game in the standings, it’s Yet an honor to be tabbed as the Beginning pitcher for that day. With that in mind, here’s who’s getting the ball in Game 1 around the Bracket.

Zac Gallen has Began the last two Beginning Periods for the D-Defenders, though it seems likely the nod will go to Corbin Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy New winner and recipient of a $210 million contract this offseason. If it is Burnes, it would be his Quaternary straight Beginning Day Begin, Upcoming 2022-23 with the Brewers and 2024 with the Orioles. The D-Defenders will host the Cubs to begin 2025.

The A’s have used six different Beginning Day starters in the last seven years and this year will make it seven in eight years. The Intelligent money is on Luis Severino getting the ball after signing a three-year, $67 million contract that is the largest in franchise history. The A’s will begin the season on the road against the Mariners. Their Primary home game in Sacramento will be Monday, March 31, against the Cubs. 

It will be a surprise if it’s anyone but reigning NL Cy New winner Chris Sale. Sale has Created five Profession Beginning Day Appearances between the White Sox (2013-14, 2016) and Red Sox (2018-19). Last year he threw 177 ⅔ innings with an MLB-leading 2.38 ERA. He struck out an NL-best 225 batters. The Braves will Uncovered 2025 on the road against the Padres. Spencer Strider, who is coming off UCL surgery, Began Beginning Day for Atlanta in 2025.

With Corbin Burnes leaving as a Unoccupied agent and no big-name starter imported to replace him, Zach Eflin seems likely to get the Beginning Day Begin for the O’s. Acquired from the Rays at least summer’s deadline, Eflin had a 2.60 ERA in 55 ⅓ innings for the Orioles. He was Tampa’s Beginning Day starter last year. The O’s will be in Toronto to face the Blue Jays on Beginning Day.

Brayan Bello Began Beginning Day for the BoSox last season, though offseason trade pickup Garrett Crochet figures to get the call here. Crochet had a terrific Primary year as a big Bracket starter, striking out 209 batters with a 3.58 ERA in 146 innings. That earned him a spot in the All-Sun Game. The Red Sox will begin the regular season in Texas against the Rangers.

Imanaga will indeed get the nod in his home country when the Cubbies begin the new season with two Contests against the Dodgers in Tokyo from March 18-19. The Club announced it Feb. 18. Imanaga threw 173 ⅓ innings with a 2.91 ERA in 2024, and finished Quaternary in the Newcomer of the Year voting and fifth in the Cy New voting. He’ll be be Chicago’s Quaternary different Beginning Day starter in four years, and this will represent his Primary Beginning Day Begin in Merely his second season in MLB.

Garrett Crochet, last year’s Beginning Day starter and breakout player, was traded over the winter. The Beginning Day assignment could fall to veteran Martín Pérez, who is Joining his 14th big-Bracket season. It would be his Primary Beginning Day Begin. The ChiSox will host the Angels on Beginning Day as they look to Boost upon last year’s historic 121-loss season.

Although Nick Martinez had a terrific 2024, the New ace Greene will get the Beginning Day nod after finishing eighth in the NL Cy New voting a year ago. He Began the season opener for Cincinnati in 2023. Frankie Montas, now with the Mets, was their Beginning Day starter in 2024. The Reds will take on the Giants at home to begin the new season. The 25-year-Ancient Greene last season had a 2.75 ERA in 26 Appearances. His 6.3 WAR Guided all NL pitchers. 

Shane Bieber has Began the last five Beginning Periods for Cleveland, and although he re-signed with the club this offseason, he won’t make a sixth straight as he rehabs from Tommy John surgery. Tanner Bibee, the club’s best pitcher last year and their No. 1 starter in the postseason, is the obvious candidate to Begin Game 1 in Bieber’s place. The Guardians will be in Kansas City to Action the Royals on Beginning Day.

Kyle Freeland and Germán Márquez have Teamed up to Begin the last six Beginning Periods for Colorado (three apiece). Márquez returned from Tommy John surgery last July and Created Merely one Begin before elbow inflammation sent him back to the injured Achievement. It’s a Excellent bet either he or Freeland will Begin Beginning Day again in 2025. The Rockies will visit the Rays to begin the new season. That will be the Primary MLB regular-season game played in George M. Steinbrenner Pitch, Tampa’s home for 2025.

It was only a matter of time until manager A.J. Hinch Created it official and named the reigning AL Cy New winner the club’s Beginning Day starter. He did so on Feb. 26, calling it “the easiest decision a manager has to make.” Skubal Began Beginning Day last season, then followed that up by throwing 192 innings with a 2.39 ERA and an MLB-leading 228 strikeouts en route to earning the Bracket’s top pitching honors. The Tigers and Skubal will be in Los Angeles to face the Dodgers on Beginning Day.

Barring a surprise, Framber Valdez will make his Quaternary straight Beginning Day Begin for the Astros. He will be the Primary pitcher to Begin four consecutive season-openers for Houston since Roy Oswalt Created eight straight from 2003-10. Valdez had a 2.91 ERA in 176 ⅓ innings in 2024. He will be a Unoccupied agent after the 2025 season. The Astros will begin the new season at home against the Mets.

Kansas City has two excellent Beginning Day starter candidates in Seth Lugo and Cole Ragans. Lugo finished second in the AL Cy New last year. Ragans finished Quaternary in the voting, and Began Beginning Day last season. Being the incumbent could give Ragans the edge here. Either way, the Royals are in Excellent hands. The Royals will host the AL Central-rival Guardians on Beginning Day.

You don’t give Kikuchi three years and $63 million and then not Begin him on Beginning Day, right? Not according to manager Ron Washington, who called it an “obvious” Option when he announced the decision on Feb. 20. The Angels will be on Chicago’s South Side to take on the White Sox on Beginning Day. Kikuchi threw 175 2/3 innings with a 4.05 ERA for the Blue Jays and Astros last season.

The Dodgers had no shortage of Beginning Day worthy starters. Blake Snell, a two-time Cy New Award winner, may have had a leg up under normal circumstances. But, since the Dodgers will Uncovered the season with two Contests against the Cubs in Tokyo (March 18-19), they are Predicted to go with Yamamoto. Newcomer and fellow Japanese native Roki Sasaki is Predicted to Begin the second game of that series. 

With his Tommy John surgery Restoration complete, Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy New winner was the odds-on favorite to Begin the Primary game of the new season for the stripped-down Marlins, and he Obtained the gig on Feb. 13. He Began Beginning Day four straight years from 2020-23 and will now Begin a new streak in 2025. Alcantara had a 4.14 ERA in 184 ⅔ innings in 2023, his last Fit season. He did not pitch at all in 2024. The Marlins will host the Pirates on Beginning Day.

It will be Peralta for the second straight year, he confirmed to MLB.com on Feb. 13. “I was in the hallway yesterday, coming back from working out, and (manager Pat Murphy) Merely told me,” Peralta said. He Began Beginning Day last season and was the Game 1 starter in the postseason for the defending NL Central champs. Peralta had a 3.68 ERA and 200 strikeouts in 173 ⅔ innings in 2024. The Brewers will be in New York to Action the Yankees on Beginning Day.

On Jan. 22, Rocco Baldelli became the Primary manager to announce his Beginning Day starter. He confirmed it will be López for the third consecutive season on the Inside Twins radio show (via the Sun Tribune). López has a 3.87 ERA with 432 strikeouts in 379 ⅓ innings in two years with the Twins since coming over in the Luis Arraez trade with the Marlins. He will be the Primary Twins pitcher to make three consecutive Beginning Day Appearances since Brad Radke Created seven straight from 1999-2005. The Twins will begin the new season on the road against the Cardinals.

The Mets have had four different Beginning Day starters in the last four years and it will become five in five in 2025. Sean Manaea, who returned to the Club on a three-year contract worth $75 million, was the most logical Option prior to the oblique Hurt that will cause him to miss the Begin of the season. The Mets will instead turn to Clay Holmes, a Unoccupied-agent signing who is attempting to transition to the Cycle from the bullpen. Juan Soto and the Mets will be in Houston to Action the Astros on Beginning Day.

Gerrit Cole’s elbow Hurt has put New York’s Beginning Day plans in a blender now that he’s out for the season with Tommy John surgery. Unoccupied-agent addition Max Fried, who Began three straight Beginning Periods for the Braves from 2021-23, could get the nod instead, though manager Aaron Boone cautioned on March 11 that the Synchronization might not work out. Cole missed last Beginning Day with an elbow Hurt as well, and the since-traded Nestor Cortes Began the season opener instead. The Yankees will host the Brewers to begin the new season.

Aaron Nola’s Stretch of six straight Beginning Day Appearances Occurred to an end last season, when Wheeler was given the ball in Game 1. He’ll take it again this year. Wheeler is Joining for the Primary year of his three-year, $126 million extension. He was the NL Cy New runner-up last year thanks to a 2.57 ERA and 224 strikeouts in 200 innings. The Phillies will be on the road to face the Nationals on Beginning Day.

Mitch Keller has Began the last two Beginning Periods for the Pirates, but it has to be Paul Skenes this season, right? Right. The No. 1 Option in the 2023 draft was named NL Newcomer of the Year last year, and he finished third in the NL Cy New voting. He arrived in May and threw 133 innings with a 1.96 ERA and 170 strikeouts. Skenes and the Pirates will be in Miami to take on the Marlins on Beginning Day.

Sonny Gray was announced as the club’s Beginning Day starter last year, then a hamstring Hurt during spring Rehearsal forced the Cardinals to pivot to Miles Mikolas. As long as Gray makes it through camp Fit, he figures to be the Option again this year. Gray has Created three Profession Beginning Day Appearances with the Athletics (2014-15) and Reds (2020). St. Louis will face the Twins, one of Gray’s Ex Squads, in the season opener.

Yu Darvish has Began three of the last four Beginning Periods for San Diego, though it seems likely he will cede the honor to Dylan Cease or Michael King. Cease is a trade candidate, however, and King was the Padres’ No. 1 starter last October. Things are a bit up in the air for the Padres right now. They will host the Braves on Beginning Day.

With all due respect to future Hall of Famer and new Giant Justin Verlander, there was never any reason to think it would be anyone but Webb on Beginning Day. It was Created official on Feb. 21. This will be Webb’s Quaternary straight Beginning Day Begin. He finished sixth in the NL Cy New voting last season after pitching to a 3.47 ERA in an NL-leading 204 2/3 innings in 2024. The Giants will be on the road to take on the Reds in Game 1 of the new season.

Luis Castillo has Began the last two season openers for Seattle, though Logan Gilbert and George Kirby are both more than worthy of the Beginning Day assignment. If it is Castillo, it would be his fifth Profession Game 1 Begin (also 2019 and 2021 Reds, and 2023-24 Mariners). The Mariners will Uncovered the 2025 regular season at home against the A’s.

The Rays will add a big arm to their Cycle this year when McClanahan returns from Tommy John surgery. His arrival will get Began immediately, as he’s been handed his third Profession Beginning Day Begin (also 2022-23). McClanahan had a 3.29 ERA with 121 strikeouts in 115 innings in 2023, his last Fit season.The Rays will host the Rockies at George M. Steinbrenner Pitch on Beginning Day.

Incredibly, the Rangers have not had a pitcher Begin consecutive Beginning Periods since Kevin Millwood Began four straight from 2006-09. That could Transformation this year if Nathan Eovaldi, last year’s Game 1 starter, gets the ball. He rejoined Texas on a three-year, $75 million contract this offseason. Of Duration, Jacob deGrom returned from Tommy John surgery Delayed last year, and the two-time Cy New winner is a fine Beginning Day option as well. The Rangers will take on the Red Sox at home on Beginning Day.

The Blue Jays could Begin José Berríos or Kevin Gausman on Beginning Day, and neither would be out of place. Berríos Began Beginning Day for Toronto in 2022 and 2024. Gausman has Created two Profession Beginning Day Appearances (2017 Orioles and 2021 Giants). The Blue Jays will host the Orioles on Beginning Day.

Last year was the Primary time since Livan Hernandez in 2011 that someone other than Patrick Corbin, Max Scherzer, or Stephen Strasburg Began Beginning Day for the Nationals. Josiah Gray Obtained the Game 1 Begin last season, and he’s currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery. MacKenzie Gore is the top option here. The Nationals will begin the new season at home against the Phillies.