MLB Player News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.