MLB: Ranking the 30 Opening Day Starters
By Anthony Sosa
No. 30 – Scott Feldman – Reds
Scott Feldman, as mentioned in the opening slide, is the Cincinnati Reds opening day starter. The Reds are clearly in the middle of a rebuilding process and any pitcher in their rotation would take the No. 30 spot.
In his career, Feldman has a record of 71-77, a 4.40 ERA, a 4.38 FIP, a 1.356 WHIP and 789 strikeouts. Not exactly a stat line that screams opening day starter.
The 34-year-old right-hander signed a one-year, $2.3 million deal with the Reds in the offseason. The Reds are the fifth major league team he will play for. Feldman played a majority of his career as a Texas Ranger.
No. 29 – Jhoulys Chacin – Padres
Similar to Feldman and the Reds, Jhoulys Chacin got the start for the San Diego Padres because there aren’t better options. And like the Reds, the Padres are in rebuild mode.
After spending the 2016 season with both the Atlanta Braves and the Los Angeles Angels, Chacin signed with the Padres in the offseason to a one-year, $1.75 million deal. In his eight-year career, the right-hander owns a 46-57 record with a 3.94 ERA and 654 strikeouts.
No. 28 – Edinson Volquez – Marlins
The tragic death of Jose Fernandez caused a sorrow in the baseball community. It also left the Miami Marlins without an ace or a true No.1 pitcher.
The Marlins chose Edinson Volquez as their opening day starter. They signed him in the offseason to a two-year, $22 million deal. The righty played a big role in the Kansas City Royals championship run in 2015.
Last season, Volquez struggled mightily on the mound. Her bWAR sat at -0.9 last season. In his career, Volquez has a 4.44 ERA, 1,229 strikeouts and a 89-79 record. A transition back to the NL may help the 33-year-old.
No. 27 – Kendall Graveman – Athletics
For the second straight season, the Oakland Athletics’ ace Sonny Gray won’t pitch in the season opener. Last season because of food poisoning and this season because of a strained lat.
The second best pitcher in the A’s rotation, Kendall Graveman gets the opening day nod. The A’s acquired Graveman two years back in a trade that sent star third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Blue Jays.
Over his three-year career, Graveman has a 16-20 record with an ERA of 4.08 and 189 strikeouts.
No. 26 – Ricky Nolasco – Angels
The Los Angeles Angels were the last team to announce their opening day starter. The Angels plan to send Ricky Nolasco to the mound in their opener. Nolasco isn’t the Angels’ ace, and probably not their two-spot starter either. Those two spots are filled by Garrett Richards and Matt Shoemaker, but nevertheless, Nolasco gets the ball.
Last season at the trade deadline, the Angels acquired Nolasco and Alex Meyer from the Minnesota Twins for Hector Santiago. In the first half of the season with the Twins, Nolasco struggled and posted a 5.13 ERA. His ERA improved when he pitched for the Angels. His ERA in Los Angeles was 3.21. He also pitched extremely well for the club in September.
No. 25 – Jon Gray – Rockies
The Colorado Rockies certainly have a lot of young arms in their rotation. Tyler Chatwood, Tyler Anderson and Jon Gray are all vital pieces for the Rockies’ 2017 season. The team decided that Gray would start for the club on opening day.
In his rookie season, Gray ranked seventh in bWAR for the Rockies (2.3). He finished the season 10-10 with an ERA of 4.61, a 3.60 FIP and 185 strikeouts. Despite the high ERA, Gray showed spurts of success last season. The 25-year-old looks like a bright spot in the Rockies’ future.
No. 24 – Kevin Gausman – Orioles
The past three seasons, Chris Tillman started opening day for the Baltimore Orioles and it looked like a fourth would happen this season. Tillman’s dealt with a lingering shoulder issue and won’t be available at the start of the season. Instead, Kevin Gausman takes the hill for the O’s.
In his four seasons in the league, Gausman’s best season came in 2016. His bWAR reached 4.2 last season. That proved best for a pitcher in the Orioles’ rotation.
In his career, Gausman has a 23-31 record, a 3.97 ERA, and 414 strikeouts. Can Gausman emerge as the Orioles’ true ace in 2017?
No. 23 – Junior Guerra – Brewers
The 2016 Milwaukee Brewers had very few bright spots, but one of them was Junior Guerra‘s performance. He did well enough to earn the Brewers’ opening day start.
His rookie season resulted in a 9-3 record, a 2.81 ERA and 100 strikeouts. Those stats spearheaded Guerra to the ace role in Milwaukee.
With the division led by the tough Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals, Guerra needs to follow his successful 2016 campaign with another good season in 2017. Only then, the Brewers have a shot to compete.
No. 22 – Jeremy Hellickson- Phillies
Back in 2011, Jeremy Hellickson won the AL Rookie of the Year award. That was the best season of Hellickson’s career. He followed the 2012 season with another solid season, but after that Hellickson struggled.
The 29-year-old bounced back in 2016 with the Philadelphia Phillies and thus earned 2017 opening day starter duties.
Hellickson’s 2016 campaign included a 12-10 record, a 3.71 ERA and 154 strikeouts. Although the Phillies won’t compete in the NL East, it’ll still be interesting to see how Hellickson performs in 2017.
No. 21 – Ervin Santana – Twins
For the second consecutive season, Ervin Santana gets the ball on opening day for the Minnesota Twins. The 34-year-old posted his lowest ERA (3.38) since 2013. His 3.38 ERA tied the second lowest of his career.
In 12 years, Santana owns a 133-116 record, a 4.09 ERA and 1,738 strikeouts. The Twins need more success from Santana in 2017 if they want to even compete in the AL Central. Minnesota could be a sleeper team in 2017 with the AL Central looking like the weakest division in baseball. Remember, the Twins just barely missed the playoffs in 2015.