MLB Opening Day 2017: Top 5 pitching matchups

1. Yu Darvish vs. Corey Kluber

2016 stats:
Darvish — 7-5, 3.41 ERA, 100.1 IP, 132 K, 3.09 FIP, 11.8 K/9
Kluber — 18-9, 3.14 ERA, 2 SO, 149 ERA+, 4 wins and 1.83 ERA in playoffs

Two of the biggest contenders in the American League will send out their aces on Opening Day. After recovering from Tommy John, Yu Darvish returned for the Texas Rangers and was as masterful a strikeout artist as always. Through four seasons since coming over from Japan, Darvish has struck out 11.3 per nine.

He has a ridiculous arsenal of pitches at his disposal, throwing three different fastballs, a slider, two different curves, a changeup, and a splitter. Good luck figuring out what’s coming out of Darvish’s right hand. Two years removed from surgery, the three-time All-Star should finally be ready to handle a full workload again.

Kluber has been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball since fully establishing himself in the big leagues at the age of 27. Over the past three years, he is 45-34 with a 3.01 ERA and close to ten strikeouts per nine.

Kluber has one of the best curveballs in baseball. Last year, the Cleveland Indians were without Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar for most of the second half. Kluber stepped up in a big way and went 9-1 with a 2.52 ERA down the stretch. He found an even higher gear in the postseason, and the Indians would not have come within a game of winning the World Series without his clutch pitching.

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Both teams have high-powered offenses, but the pitching should win out. If the forecasted rain in Cleveland holds off, Darvish and Kluber should provide the best pitching duel on Opening Day this season.