As Major League Baseball gears up for the 2026 season, teams across the league are already setting their sights on Opening Day, which is traditionally scheduled for Thursday, March 26. However, the 2026 campaign will begin a day earlier, on March 25, with an exciting matchup between the New York Yankees and the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco. With the season's commencement just around six weeks away, teams have begun announcing their Opening Day starting pitchers — a prestigious role that often signals a team’s ace and sets the tone for the months ahead.
CBS Sports is tracking these Opening Day pitcher decisions as teams reveal their plans. While these selections are subject to change due to injuries or other roster moves, the current announcements provide insight into the leaders poised to take the mound at the start of the new season. To appreciate the significance of these picks, it’s worth noting some of the pitchers who have historically excelled in Opening Day starts, often using these games as a springboard to dominant seasons.
Among the confirmed starters, one notable name is Michael Crochet of the Boston Red Sox. Entering his second season with the club, Crochet will be making his third consecutive Opening Day start, showing the team’s confidence in his abilities. Last season, he was a standout performer, finishing second in the American League Cy Young Award voting. Crochet compiled an impressive 2.59 ERA and a 5.54 strikeout-to-walk ratio across 32 starts, highlighting his command and effectiveness on the mound. His continued role as the Red Sox’s Opening Day starter signals the team’s faith in his consistency and leadership in their pitching rotation.
For the Detroit Tigers, the decision to hand the ball to Casey Skubal marks his third straight Opening Day assignment, placing him among the franchise’s top pitchers in terms of Opening Day starts. Skubal is a two-time consecutive AL Cy Young Award winner, underscoring his elite status in the league. With a 3.08 ERA and a 5.17 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first 137 major-league appearances, he has been a dominant force in Detroit’s rotation. However, 2026 could be his final Opening Day start for the Tigers, as he enters what is commonly referred to as his “walk year” — the final season before he becomes eligible for a substantial contract extension or free agency. Given his stellar performances, Skubal is expected to command a massive payday, making his 2026 Opening Day start potentially significant for both him and the club.
Meanwhile, the Houston Astros will be breaking from recent tradition by starting someone other than Framber Valdez on Opening Day for the first time since 2021. Valdez, now a member of the Tigers, was a mainstay in the Astros’ rotation. In his place, the Astros will turn to Brown, who earned the right to start after a strong 2025 season. Brown posted a 2.43 ERA and a 3.61 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 31 starts, demonstrating both effectiveness and durability. His ascension to the Opening Day role represents a shift in the Astros’ pitching hierarchy and offers a glimpse into their evolving rotation.
The Miami Marlins have reaffirmed their trust in Sandy Alcantara by naming him their Opening Day starter once again. This announcement, made on February 13, marks the sixth time in seven seasons that Alcantara will start the opener for Miami, with the only exception being 2024 when he was sidelined recovering from Tommy John surgery. Alcantara, a 2022 Cy Young Award winner, experienced a challenging 2025 season with an 11-12 record and a 5.36 ERA. However, he showed signs of returning to form late in the season, posting a 5-1 record with a 2.68 ERA in his last eight starts. Miami’s continued confidence in Alcantara underscores his importance as the team’s ace and a cornerstone of their pitching staff.
The Arizona Diamondbacks initially named Merrill Kelly as their Opening Day starter, but he has since been sidelined with an achy shoulder, removing him from contention for the role. In response, the D-backs have several candidates vying for the honor. Zac Gallen, recently re-signed by the team, is the most obvious alternative, though it remains uncertain whether he will be ready in time after signing late in the offseason. Other pitchers in the mix include Ryne Nelson, Brandon