MLB Player News

Mikolas agreed to a two-year, $40 million contract extension with the Cardinals on Friday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com reports.

It will be tacked on to the $17 million he's making in 2023 in the final year of a four-year, $68 million contract, so the Cards will now have Mikolas around through 2025. The 34-year-old right-hander made the All-Star team in 2022, holding a 3.29 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 153:39 K:BB over 202.1 innings. Mikolas has a limited ceiling in fantasy due to his lack of strikeouts, but elite control and a superb defense behind him should give him a high floor in 2023.

Burnes will start Opening Day versus the Cubs on Thursday, Adam McCalvy of MLB.com reports.

For a second straight year, Burnes will make an Opening Day start at Wrigley Field, with Marcus Stroman toeing the rubber for the other side. Although Burnes has been locked into a heated contract negotiation with the Brewers this offseason, it's unlikely that it'll affect his play on the mound. The right-hander produced a 2.94 ERA and 0.97 WHIP with 243 strikeouts over 202 innings over 33 starts in 2022 and is one of the very best pitchers in the league.

Urias will be on the mound for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the Diamondbacks, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

As expected, Urias will toe the rubber in the Dodgers' season opener in Arizona. The right-hander has seemingly supplanted Clayton Kershaw as the marquee starter in Los Angeles' rotation, and he'll look to try and match the remarkable 2.16 ERA and 0.96 WHIP he produced in 2022.

Nola has been named the Phillies' Opening Day starter.

It will be the sixth straight season that he's taken the ball Opening Day. The Phillies are hoping it won't be his last, but Nola is slated to hit free agency after the season. He'll square off against the Rangers and Jacob deGrom on March 30.

Mikolas will draw the start for Thursday's Opening Day matchup with the Blue Jays, John Denton of MLB.com reports.

Mikolas will replace Adam Wainwright (groin) as the first pitcher to toe the rubber for St. Louis in 2023. The Opening Day start will be the second of his career, and the 34-year-old will look to build off a very successful 2022 campaign in which he posted a 3.29 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 202.1 innings in 33 starts for the Cardinals.

Alcantara has been named the Marlins' Opening Day starter, Jordan McPherson of the Miami Herald reports.

The reigning National League Cy Young winner will take the ball March 30 versus the Mets, squaring off against Max Scherzer. Alcantara has permitted just one run so far this spring across three Grapefruit League starts sandwiched around his WBC stint with the Dominican Republic.

Fried will start for Atlanta on Opening Day versus the Nationals.

It's no surprise the southpaw gets the nod following a National League Cy Young runner-up campaign. Fried has been excellent this spring, tossing 11.1 scoreless innings while notching 14 strikeouts.

Corbin will start for the Nationals on Opening Day versus Atlanta.

Corbin is coming off a season which saw him hold a 6.31 ERA over 31 starts, but his bloated salary gets him the nod in an otherwise inexperienced Washington rotation. For what it's worth, the veteran lefty has pitched well this spring with a 3.86 ERA and 13:1 K:BB over 14 frames.

Marquez has been announced as the Rockies' Opening Day starter, Thomas Harding of MLB.com reports.

Marquez will take the ball March 30 at Petco Park against the Padres. The right-hander is looking for a bounce-back showing in 2023 after he posted a disappointing 4.90 ERA and 1.37 WHIP across 181.2 innings in 2022.

Williamson gave up nine earned runs on eight hits and three walks against the Mariners on Thursday in his final spring training start.

Williamson made some good impressions early on in spring training, but he hasn't looked ready for prime time in his recent outings and is coming off a tough year at Triple-A in 2022. It wouldn't be a shock if he was ticketed for Louisville again to begin 2023.