MLB Player News

Valdez will start Opening Day versus the White Sox on Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Valdez will toe the rubber for the Astros' season opener as they head to Chicago for the first weekend of the year. The left-hander skipped the WBC after he came to an agreement with Houston to do so and in turn, that likely made him the top choice to start Thursday. Valdez produced an impressive 2.82 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 194 strikeouts over 201.1 innings in 31 starts last season, and he could step right into the Astros' ace role with Justin Verlander now a member of the Mets.

Rodriguez will start for the Tigers on Opening Day versus the Rays, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.

Rodriguez will be looking to shake off a 2022 campaign which saw him limited to just 17 starts because of injury and personal issues. The left-hander has been excellent this spring, spinning 13 scoreless innings with a 15:2 K:BB.

Cease will start Thursday's Opening Day contest versus the Astros.

Cease will be making the first Opening Day start of his career. When asked about the possibility of doing so last week he said, "it would definitely be special. It would be an honor". Speaking of special, Cease will look to repeat his success from 2022 after he produced a 2.20 ERA and 1.11 WHIP with a 11.1 K/9 last season.

Muller has been named the Athletics' Opening Day starter for their March 30 matchup against the Angels, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

It wasn't even a sure thing Muller was locked into a rotation spot prior to this announcement, but the A's don't exactly have any good options for the assignment. The left-hander has been hit and miss this spring, posting a 5.65 ERA and 10:3 K:BB over 14.1 innings of work. Muller has some fantasy potential but should probably be viewed as a streaming option initially.

Manoah will start for the Blue Jays on Opening Day in St. Louis, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Kevin Gausman also would've been a fine choice, but the Jays will go with their young workhorse. Manoah had a fantastic first full season in the majors in 2022, holding a 2.24 ERA over 31 outings.

Lopez will draw the start for the Twins on Opening Day versus the Royals.

Lopez will make his first career Opening Day start after getting traded to the Twins this past offseason. The right-hander has some of the best off-speed stuff in the league and posted a 3.75 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 174 punchouts over 180 innings in 32 starts for the Marlins in 2022.

DeGrom has been named the Rangers' Opening Day starter March 30 against the Phillies, Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

The veteran righty isn't going to be fully stretched out after dealing with a side issue for much of this spring, and deGrom will be limited to around 75-80 pitches against Philadelphia. He's made just one official Cactus League start but should be in line for one more tune-up Saturday.

Greinke was announced as the Royals' Opening Day starter Friday, Anne Rogers of MLB.com reports.

Brady Singer also would have made sense, but Greinke's seniority rules here as he'll make his seventh career Opening Day start, including his third with Kansas City. He'll face off against the Twins on March 30 at Kauffmann Stadium.

McClanahan has been named the Rays' Opening Day starter, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

McClanahan was an obvious choice, as he's coming off a season which saw him finish sixth in the American League Cy Young race. The left-hander will face off against the Tigers at home March 30.

Gibson has been named the Orioles' Opening Day starter, Rich Dubroff of BaltimoreBaseball.com reports.

Gibson had seemed lined up to take the ball March 30 in Boston and now manager Brandon Hyde has confirmed the news. The right-hander has had an excellent spring, putting up a 1.29 ERA and 13:0 K:BB over 14 Grapefruit League innings. For fantasy purposes, Gibson is more of a streaming option outside of deeper formats, and his Opening Day assignment isn't an appealing one.