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MLB Opening Day 2023: Ranking all 30 Opening Day starters from worst to best

By Zachary Rotman

Sep 30, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2022; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) delivers a pitch against the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Michael McLoone-USA TODAY Sports /
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Yankees
Sep 23, 2022; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) reacts after the final out of the top of the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

Ranking every Opening Day pitcher: 10. Dylan Cease – Chicago White Sox

Dylan Cease broke out in 2022 and was one of the best pitchers in baseball. The talented right-hander posted a 2.20 ERA in 32 starts and 184 innings pitched. He was the AL Cy Young runner-up to Justin Verlander and struck batters out at a 30.4% clip. Not too shabby. What’s dinging Cease a bit here is his walk numbers as he walked 3.8 batters per nine. Regardless, Cease is quite good and will hopefully pith well against the defending champion Astros.

Ranking every Opening Day pitcher: 9. Max Fried – Atlanta Braves

Max Fried has gone from a back-end starter to the ace of the Braves in a matter of a couple of seasons. The southpaw was the NL Cy Young runner-up after posting a 2.48 ERA in 30 starts and 185.1 innings pitched for the Braves. Fried had a 2.70 FIP and walked just 1.6 batters per nine. He will pitch against Patrick Corbin and the Nationals as the Braves begin their quest for another NL East division title.

Ranking every Opening Day pitcher: 8. Shane Bieber – Cleveland Guardians

Shane Bieber is the best pitcher in the AL Central and will prove it when he takes the ball in Seattle against a tough Mariners team. Bieber was able to stay healthy after missing a large portion of the 2021 season and had a 2.88 ERA in 31 starts and 200 innings pitched. The strikeouts were down (8.9 K/9), but he walked just 1.7 batters per nine. The former Cy Young winner finished seventh on the balloting this past season, and will likely get some votes in 2023 as well.

Ranking every Opening Day pitcher: 7. Gerrit Cole – New York Yankees

After a little bit of a disappointing season, Gerrit Cole ranks seventh on this list. He’s still an elite starting pitcher, and will hopefully have more of a Cole-esque season in 2023. The right-hander had a 3.50 ERA last season, his highest mark since 2017. He did make 33 starts and throw 200.2 innings, but Cole led the league with 33, yes, 33, home runs allowed. Cole faces the Giants in the Bronx in what should be a fun one.

Ranking every Opening Day pitcher: 6. Julio Urias – Los Angeles Dodgers

I might be overrating him, but I don’t think I am. With no all-star appearances under his belt, I’m not sure there’s a more underrated and disrespected player than Julio Urias. Whenever you think of a Dodgers pitcher nowadays Clayton Kershaw is who comes to mind, but Urias is starting to look like a younger version of him. A 17-7 record with a 2.16 ERA in 31 starts and 175 innings pitched definitely gives Kershaw vibes. He led the league in ERA and finished third in the NL Cy Young voting. Urias begins the season against another underrated arm in Zac Gallen and the Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.

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