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Kyle Bradish SP | BAL
Orioles' Kyle Bradish: Elbow responding well
Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Tuesday that Bradish's right elbow is responding "well right now" to the pitcher's throwing program, Andy Kostka of TheBaltimoreBanner.com reports.
Bradish resumed mound work last Wednesday after weeks of flat-ground throwing. While the right-hander has thrown almost all fastballs, Hyde admitted that Bradish "might have spun a couple breaking balls," as well. It remains relatively early on in Bradish's rehab from a partially torn UCL, but so far things have progressed as well as can be expected.
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Shane Bieber SP | TOR
Guardians' Shane Bieber: Starting Opening Day
The Guardians announced Tuesday that Bieber will start Opening Day against the A's on March 28, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports.
It's hardly a surprise the right-hander is taking the mound for Cleveland, as it will the fifth consecutive season he's started Opening Day. Bieber was limited to 21 starts last season due to an elbow issue and had a 3.80 ERA, 1.23 WHIP and 107:34 K:BB over 128 innings. He'll open 2024 versus a favorable opponent in one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in MLB.
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Walker Buehler SP | SD
Dodgers' Walker Buehler: Fastball up to 97 mph
Buehler (elbow) threw three innings of live batting practice recently and his fastball was up to 97 mph, per the Just Baseball Show podcast.
This news was directly from Buehler on the podcast, with the pitcher also stating that he hasn't had much problem with the "up-down" this go around, so it sounds like he is progressing with his throwing program. Buehler wouldn't be able to throw a full season in the majors this year regardless of how ready he is now, so the Dodgers are slow playing him out of the gates. He is expected to open the year on the injured list and he could join the rotation sometime in the first couple months of the season.
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Logan Webb SP | SF
Giants' Logan Webb: Gets Opening Day nod
Webb will start for the Giants on Opening Day against the Padres, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
The Padres have not yet revealed their starter for that day, as they're presumably waiting for the conclusion of their March 20-21 series in South Korea against the Dodgers. Webb getting tabbed by the Giants is no surprise, of course, following a National League Cy Young runner-up campaign that saw him collect a 3.25 ERA and 194:31 K:BB over 216 innings covering 33 starts.
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Freddy Peralta SP | TB
Brewers' Freddy Peralta: Starting Opening Day
Peralta has been named the Brewers' Opening Day starter, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
With Corbin Burnes now in Baltimore, the Opening Day duties for the Brewers were inevitably going to fall to Peralta. The 27-year-old held a 3.86 ERA and 210:54 K:BB over 165.2 innings covering 30 starts for Milwaukee in 2023. He'll be going up against the Mets' Jose Quintana on March 28.
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Spencer Strider SP | ATL
Braves' Spencer Strider: Taking ball on Opening Day
Strider has been named Atlanta's Opening Day starter, Justin Toscano of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
You could have made a case for Max Fried given his tenure with the club, but Strider is the sensible choice after he won 20 games while piling up a league-leading 281 strikeouts last season. It will be a marquee matchup on March 28 in Philadelphia, with Strider going up against Zack Wheeler.
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Patrick Sandoval SP | BOS
Angels' Patrick Sandoval: Receives nod for Opening Day
The Angels announced Tuesday that Sandoval will start Opening Day against the Orioles on March 28, Erica Weston of Bally Sports West reports.
The left-hander made a career-high 28 starts last season but took a step back with a 4.11 ERA, 1.51 WHIP and 128:74 K:BB across 144.2 innings, so it's a bit of a surprise he'll get the nod Opening Day. Sandoval also wasn't particularly sharp during spring training with a 7.15 ERA and 10:6 K:BB over 11.1 innings, and he'll have a tough matchup in Baltimore to begin the campaign.
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Nathan Eovaldi SP | TEX
Rangers' Nathan Eovaldi: Picked as Opening Day starter
Manager Bruce Bochy announced Tuesday that Eovaldi will start the Rangers' March 28 season opener versus the Cubs in Arlington.
Eovaldi will be opposed by left-hander Justin Steele. Even before Bochy confirmed Eovaldi as the Opening Day starter, the 33-year-old right-hander looked like the clear choice for the defending World Series champs after going 5-0 in six postseason outings, collecting a 2.95 ERA and 41:10 K:BB over 36.2 innings along the way.
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Kyle Freeland SP | COL
Rockies' Kyle Freeland: Set for Opening Day start
Freeland will start on Opening Day for the Rockies.
He'll take the ball March 28 on the road against the Diamondbacks. Freeland has had a strong showing this spring, displaying increased velocity and posting a 3.21 ERA and 14:1 K:BB over 14 innings. He's not an advisable fantasy start at home but could be considered as a streaming option on the road.
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Jose Berrios SP | TOR
Blue Jays' Jose Berrios: Tapped for Opening Day start
Manager John Schneider announced Tuesday that Berrios will start the Blue Jays' season opener March 28 versus the Rays in Tampa Bay, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
The assignment likely would have fallen to Kevin Gausman (shoulder), but he's still getting ramped back up and won't be ready for Opening Day. Berrios made 32 starts for Toronto last season, finishing with a 3.65 ERA and 184:52 K:BB over 189.2 innings.