The three best pitching matchups for MLB Opening Day

Opening Day is less than a week away.

It's the perfect chance to see all your favorite team has to offer and, more specifically, to see all the league's top pitchers in action. For one day, each team theoretically has their aces facing off, leading to some truly extraordinary pitching matchups. 

Which Opening Day matchups are the best of the bunch? Here are the three best matchups for Opening Day.

Braves vs. Phillies (Spencer Strider vs. Zack Wheeler)

Two of the best teams in baseball? Check. A pair of Cy Young award candidates facing off? Check. A rivalry that has intensified through postseason matchups in recent years? Check. 

Wheeler posted a 3.61 ERA and a 1.078 WHIP in his 192 innings, striking out 212 batters with 39 walks. 

Strider was even better in 2023, leading the majors in wins, winning percentage and strikeouts. He posted a 3.86 ERA and a 1.093 WHIP in his 186.2 innings, striking out 281 batters with 58 walks. BetMGM lists Strider and Wheeler as the two favorites to win the NL Cy Young award, an added bonus to what should be an impressive pitching duel.

Blue Jays vs. Rays (Jose Berrios vs. Zach Eflin)

FanGraphs projects the Rays and Blue Jays to finish within two games of each other as they battle for a playoff berth. That battle kicks off on Opening Day as the two teams match up in Tampa Bay. 

Eflin proved to be a revelation for the Rays in 2023, posting a 3.50 ERA and a 1.024 WHIP over his 177.2 innings, striking out 186 batters with 24 walks while leading the AL with 16 wins. 

Berrios bounced back from a rough first full season in Toronto to post a 3.65 ERA and a 1.186 WHIP over his 189.2 innings, striking out 184 batters with 52 walks. 

Twins vs. Royals (Pablo Lopez vs. Cole Ragans)

The Twins won the AL Central in 2023, but their grasp on the division may be tenuous at best. MLB players expect the Royals to be a surprise team this year on the strength of their additions to the pitching staff during the offseason. 

Ragans could be a key factor as he showed ace potential after his acquisition from the Rangers as part of the Aroldis Chapman trade. Ragans posted a 2.64 ERA and a 1.074 WHIP in his 71.2 innings in Kansas City, striking out 89 batters with 27 walks. 

Lopez, meanwhile, established himself as the Twins ace in his first season in Minnesota. He posted a 3.66 ERA and a 1.155 WHIP over his 194 innings, striking out 234 batters with 48 walks. This matchup could indicate whether or not the Royals live up to their potential billing as a surprise team in the division.