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With the MLB season off to the races, the proverbial ‘ace’ of the staff will debut in 2026 for each team. Here are the best matchups on day one of the new season.

Written By: AJ Stone (3/25/26)

Opening day is fast approaching, and we’ll soon enjoy the yearly tradition of MLB teams handing the ball to their aces to kick things off. Here are the best pitching matchups fans should be watching. 

Marquee Matchups 

Cole Ragans Vs. Chris Sale (Royals @ Braves) 

3/27 7:15 pm ET

The Royals and Braves are both coming off disappointing 2025 seasons and could use a shot of “opening day win” to fuel their respective fan bases. Veteran lefthander Chris Sale gets the ball for Atlanta. His 2025 was slightly hindered by injury, but he still managed to post a 2.58 ERA in 20 starts. Even after all the time spent on the IL, Sale remains one of the game’s best starters on any staff. 

Kansas City is on the opposite end of the spectrum in its choice. Ragans, similarly to Sale, struggled with injuries in 2025. Unfortunately, his 2025 season quickly became a pitfall. If Ragans were to struggle again, the Royals’ rotation could become a weakness. An opening day victory would calm the nerves of many fans. 

It’s experience versus potential in this duel at The A. Sale’s signature slider pitted against Ragans’ boastful velocity, two southpaws who can dominate even the game’s best bats. 

Garret Crochet Vs. Andrew Abbott (Red Sox @ Reds)

3/26 4:10 pm ET

Starting to see a trend? Left-handers have claimed the stage on opening day. 

The Red Sox are turning to a left-handed starter whom some fans consider to be the best lefty in the game: Garrett Crochet. His alien-like velocity and elite sweeper have managed to cage the talent of hitters as highly esteemed as Aaron Judge (.200 BAA lifetime) and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (.083 BAA lifetime). If it weren’t for Tarik Skubal of the Tigers, Crochet would be a frontrunner for AL Cy Young. 

On the Cincy side, Andrew Abbott has quietly been one of the more reliable starters in baseball the past few seasons. His 3.42 career ERA over 400+ innings quantifies exactly what “reliable” really means. His steady nature gives Cincinnati a chance to steal an opening day win from a much more talented Red Sox lineup. Abbott and the Redlegs made the playoffs in 2025, and their journey to run it back starts with defending home turf. 

Nathan Eovaldi Vs. Christopher Sanchez (Rangers @ Phillies)

3/26 4:15 pm ET

Nathan Eovaldi marks the first right-handed starter to make this showcase of talent. His skillset includes mixing speeds, deceptiveness, and a repertoire that runs six pitches deep. Eovaldi had a shiny 1.73 ERA last year, which earned him this opening day opportunity. 

Unfortunately for the likes of Eovaldi and the Rangers, Christopher Sanchez will look to hand out chairs in this welcome party to The Bank. Since it all clicked in 2023, Sanchez has done nothing but ascend the ranks of the best arms in baseball. With postseason legend Zack Wheeler on the shelf to start the year, Sanchez and his devastating changeup get the nod.  

The veteran poise of Eovaldi, matched with the youthful rebellion of Christopher Sanchez, will be nothing short of cinema for the fans in Philly to behold. 

Best Matchup of Opening Day

Paul Skenes Vs. Freddy Peralta (Pirates @ Mets)  

3/26 1:15 pm ET

You thought we’d get through this list without a Skenes or a Skubal? Think again. 

Paul Skenes and the new-look Pirates are kicking off 2026 against a New York Mets team that’s been completely overhauled. Skenes is in his own category when it comes to starting pitching. He has it all: control, poise, pitch-ability, movement, velocity, feel for the game, and a hulking stature just for added effect. His dominant 2025 ended in the first Cy Young award of likely many, and he rides all of this momentum straight into opening day. Coming off a disappointing ending to the 2026 World Baseball Classic with Team USA, Skenes should be out for blood early. 

Opposing the unstoppable force, the immovable object? Maybe. That’s what Freddy Peralta was during his tenure with the Milwaukee Brewers. Spanning back to 2021, and putting some slight injury issues to the side, Peralta has been nothing but steady. His 2025 saw new heights. His ERA ended up at 2.70, and he clocked an All-Star bid while finishing fifth in Cy Young voting. 

The only right/right matchup listed will be full of fastball-on-fastball crime. High velocity pitted against perceived velocity. Skenes does it all, Peralta keeps up. Can the Mets slay the dragon? 

MLB fans wait all offseason for these kinds of games, and with only a few sleeps until the season kicks off, make sure to tune in to these can’t-miss matchups.