Surprising Opening Day Starter for Houston Astros and Yankees Announced
MLB Opening Day is just around the corner.
The Houston Astros will open their 2024 MLB season against the New York Yankees, a rivalry some say has grown to be more intense and fierce than the Yankees and Boston Red Sox.
Sparks will fly early.
It was announced on Thursday that the Astros will turn to Framber Valdez to open the season for them. A move that is not surprising given it will be his third-consecutive year to do so and the state of the rotation... is not great.
In fact, barring an addition like two-time Cy Young winner Blake Snell to the roster, Houston figures to open their season with Valdez, Cristian Javier, Hunter Brown, J.P. France and Ronel Blanco.
Regardless, the Astros are heavily pursuing Snell, which has become more of a necessity than a luxury.
On the other side of the ball is the Yankees.
They announced that Nector Cortes will be their Opening Day starter.
That has come as a surprise as Gerrit Cole is slated to miss a minimum of one to months to start the season with an elbow injury. Luckily for New York, he has seemingly avoided Tommy John surgery.
That means Carlos Rodon, who is seen as the number two in the rotation, or new signing Marcus Stroman, would be the first in line for the honor.
Instead, the Yankees have opted to start their season, one full of World Series hopes, with a starter who posted a 4.97 ERA in 63.1 innings pitched during the 2023 MLB season.
The season begins for both of these rivals on March 28 at Minute Maid Park. First pitch is slated for 3:10 p.m. CDT.
