MLB Player News

Gallen will start Opening Day versus the Dodgers on Thursday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.

Gallen will toe the rubber at Chase Field as the Diamondbacks launch their season next week. The right-hander has evolved into Arizona's ace, producing a 2.54 ERA and microscopic 0.91 WHIP with 192 strikeouts over 184 innings in 31 starts with the team in 2022. If Gallen can take another step up in 2023, he'll elevate himself into the Cy Young conversation in the National League.

Gore gave up two hits and a walk over six scoreless innings while striking out eight in Wednesday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.

The southpaw was dominant against a New York lineup that featured most of its Opening Day starters, including Giancarlo Stanton, Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres. Gore has a 17:7 K:BB through 20 innings this spring, and the Nationals will be counting on the 24-year-old to become a consistent rotation arm this season after he worked only 87 innings across all levels in 2022.

Snell will start Opening Day versus the Rockies on Thursday, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.

With Joe Musgrove (toe) and Yu Darvish both unavailable, Snell will get the nod against Colorado. The left-hander rounded back into form last season after a disappointing first campaign with San Diego in 2021, posting a 3.38 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 32.0 percent strikeout rate in 128 innings last year.

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.