Spring Practice is underway and Major 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 Practice 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 change 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 Commence leaderboard:
Tom Seaver: 16Steve Carlton: 14Jack Morris: 14Randy Johnson: 14Walter Johnson: 14
While it’s Accurate that Beginning Day counts for only one game in the standings, it’s still an honor to be tabbed as the Leading pitcher for that day. With that in mind, here’s who’s getting the ball in Game 1 around the Bracket.
Zac Gallen has Initiated the last two Beginning Intervals for the D-Defenders, though it seems likely the nod will go to Corbin Burnes, the 2021 NL Cy Youthful winner and recipient of a $210 million contract this offseason. If it is Burnes, it would be his Number four straight Beginning Day Commence, Next 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 Clever 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 Youthful winner Chris Sale. Sale has Achieved five Occupation 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, Initiated Beginning Day for Atlanta in 2025.
With Corbin Burnes leaving as a Obtainable agent and no big-name starter imported to replace him, Zach Eflin seems likely to get the Beginning Day Commence 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 Initiated 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 Number four in the Newcomer of the Year voting and fifth in the Cy Youthful voting. He’ll be be Chicago’s Number four different Beginning Day starter in four years, and this will represent his Primary Beginning Day Commence 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 Commence. The ChiSox will host the Angels on Beginning Day as they look to improve upon last year’s historic 121-loss season.
Although Nick Martinez had a terrific 2024, the Youthful ace Greene will get the Beginning Day nod after finishing eighth in the NL Cy Youthful voting a year ago. He Initiated 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-Aged Greene last season had a 2.75 ERA in 26 Appearances. His 6.3 WAR Guided all NL pitchers.
Shane Bieber has Initiated the last five Beginning Intervals 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 Commence Game 1 in Bieber’s place. The Guardians will be in Kansas City to Move the Royals on Beginning Day.
Kyle Freeland and Germán Márquez have Partnered to Commence the last six Beginning Intervals for Colorado (three apiece). Márquez returned from Tommy John surgery last July and Achieved Merely one Commence before elbow inflammation sent him back to the injured Picking. It’s a Excellent bet either he or Freeland will Commence 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 Achieved it official and named the reigning AL Cy Youthful winner the club’s Beginning Day starter. He did so on Feb. 26, calling it “the easiest decision a manager has to make.” Skubal Initiated 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 Number four straight Beginning Day Commence for the Astros. He will be the Primary pitcher to Commence four consecutive season-openers for Houston since Roy Oswalt Achieved eight straight from 2003-10. Valdez had a 2.91 ERA in 176 ⅓ innings in 2024. He will be a Obtainable 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 Youthful last year. Ragans finished Number four in the voting, and Initiated 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 Commence him on Beginning Day, right? Not according to manager Ron Washington, who called it an “obvious” choice 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 Youthful 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 expected to go with Yamamoto. Newcomer and fellow Japanese native Roki Sasaki is expected to Commence the second game of that series.
With his Tommy John surgery rehab complete, Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Youthful winner was the odds-on favorite to Commence the Primary game of the new season for the stripped-down Marlins, and he got the gig on Feb. 13. He Initiated Beginning Day four straight years from 2020-23 and will now Commence 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 Initiated 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 Move 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 Achieved 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 choice prior to the oblique Hurt that will cause him to miss the Commence of the season. Kodai Senga may get the nod instead. Jose Quintana Initiated the season opener for the Mets last year. Juan Soto and the Mets will be in Houston to Move 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. Obtainable-agent addition Max Fried, who Initiated three straight Beginning Intervals 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 Initiated the season opener instead. The Yankees will host the Brewers to begin the new season.
Aaron Nola’s Streak 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 Youthful 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 Initiated the last two Beginning Intervals for the Pirates, but it has to be Paul Skenes this season, right? Right. The No. 1 Picking in the 2023 draft was named NL Newcomer of the Year last year, and he finished third in the NL Cy Youthful 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 Practice forced the Cardinals to pivot to Miles Mikolas. As long as Gray makes it through camp Fit, he figures to be the Picking again this year. Gray has Achieved three Occupation Beginning Day Appearances with the Athletics (2014-15) and Reds (2020). St. Louis will face the Twins, one of Gray’s Ex Clubs, in the season opener.
Yu Darvish has Initiated three of the last four Beginning Intervals 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 Achieved official on Feb. 21. This will be Webb’s Number four straight Beginning Day Commence. He finished sixth in the NL Cy Youthful 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 Initiated 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 Occupation Game 1 Commence (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 Initiated immediately, as he’s been handed his third Occupation Beginning Day Commence (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 Commence consecutive Beginning Intervals since Kevin Millwood Initiated four straight from 2006-09. That could change 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 course, Jacob deGrom returned from Tommy John surgery Delayed last year, and the two-time Cy Youthful 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 Commence José Berríos or Kevin Gausman on Beginning Day, and neither would be out of place. Berríos Initiated Beginning Day for Toronto in 2022 and 2024. Gausman has Achieved two Occupation 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 Initiated Beginning Day for the Nationals. Josiah Gray got the Game 1 Commence 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.
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