Although the Dodgers and Padres have played two games, the true MLB Opening Day isn't until Thursday, so it's time to start looking at Opening Day matchups for 2024. Opening Day is obviously when teams send their aces to the mound. This usually leads to some high profile promotional matches.
Top 5 Opening Day Promotions of 2024
MLB fans may notice that this year's Opening Day matchups are a little different than what we're used to seeing. Pitchers like Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer or Clayton Kershaw who are among the greatest pitchers in MLB history are not scheduled to pitch on Opening Day this year.
Instead, there will be a new selection of appetizers on opening day. However, there are still 2024 Opening Day matchups that we wanted to highlight as can't-miss matchups for MLB fans.
Rockies vs. Diamondbacks: Kyle Freeland vs. Zach Gallen
After Zac Gallen's postseason heroics in getting the Diamondbacks to the World Series last year, it wasn't easy for him to be Arizona's starter on Opening Day. He's a capable player and is arguably the biggest reason the D'Backs reached the World Series last year.
To be fair, Kyle Freeland makes this matchup interesting as well. The lefty had a checkered career in Colorado. However, he won 17 games in 2018 and is capable of performing as a front-line starter.
Yankees vs. Astros: Nestor Cortes vs. Framber Valdez
Obviously, Gerrit Cole vs. Justin Verlander would have attracted more headlines. But there's nothing wrong with facing Nestor Cortes and Framber Valdez on Opening Day for two of the best teams in the MLS.
Curtis was great in 2022, and he hopes Opening Day will be the start of a bounce-back season. Meanwhile, Valdez has been a superstar in back-to-back years and didn't throw a hit last season. He may not be on Verlander's level, but he earned an Opening Day start this year.
Cubs vs. Rangers: Justin Steele vs. Nathan Eovaldi
The Rangers will fly the championship banner on Opening Day, and they will do so with Nathan Eovaldi on the mound. It's a much-deserved opening day start for Eovaldi, who was impressive during the postseason last year. He was the winning pitcher in five of his six playoff appearances, tying the record for most wins in a postseason.
Eovaldi was also an All-Star and a second-team All-MLB selection in 2023, so he had arguably his best season. But don't sleep on Justin Steele, who was also an All-Star for the Cubs in 2023. The lefty won 16 games last year and finished with a 3.06 ERA. Although he may not be well-known outside of Chicago, he earned the opening day start against the defending champions.
Blue Jays vs. Rays: Jose Berrios vs. Zach Eflin
They may not be some of the biggest names in baseball right now, but don't forget that Jose Berrios is a two-time All-Star while Zach Eflin led the American League in wins last year. They are also aces over two teams with playoff aspirations.
To be fair, Berrios does benefit from Kevin Gausman not being available with the Blue Jays. But he's still a legitimate starter on the front lines. Eflin, on the other hand, got lost in the shuffle with the Phillies early in his career but had a breakout season with the Rays last year. With the departure of Tyler Glasnow, he is now the leader of Tampa's rotation and has high expectations heading into 2024.
Braves vs. Phillies: Spencer Stryder vs. Zack Wheeler
This is without a doubt the best opening day game of the year. It's no surprise that this comes in a matchup between two of the National League's top contenders. More importantly, both Spencer Strider of the Braves and Zack Wheeler of the Phillies have legitimate Cy Young hopes.
Strider was the MLB leader in both wins and strikeouts last season while also being a first-team All-MLB selection. He is definitely the best pitcher in baseball right now when it comes to striking out opposing hitters. Of course, Wheeler is not far behind in this regard. He's also a proven player in big games. On opening day, Wheeler inevitably gets the best of him and ends up in a pitcher's duel with Strider.
