Who Will Be the 2023 Opening Day Starter?

[Pedro's Complaint]

I know it's only Dec 16. Will Sale be healthy? If not, is Pivetta up next? Rodon, among others, is off the table. Below are the 2023 ZiPS Projections, as of Nov 28:

Whitlock 2.9
Sale 2.6
Bello 2.2
Pivetta 1.9
Paxton 1.6

Every other projected starter is below 1 fWAR.

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

If Sale is ready to pitch, I'll be shocked if it isn't him.

 

[jwbasham84]

Barring another freak injury (hopefully he is safely tucked in bubble wrap until February) Sale is still the "ace" of the staff and he will start the opening day game. His leg may fall off as he walks back to the dugout after a 1-2-3 first inning, but he'll start.

 

[joe dokes]

Sale. As of today, there's no reason to think it wont be.

 

[pedro1999mvp]

If Sale is healthy, it's him, so I voted that way. Of course, that doesn't mean that I'm confident that he will make it through spring training healthy. Not saying he will have a season ending injury in spring training, but I wouldn't be shocked if he has a dead arm, illness, or some type of soreness that puts him off schedule and ends up making his 1st start in mid-April.

 

[kneemoe]

I think the only reason it wouldn't be Sale is health... which is why I voted Pivetta.

 

[pedro1918]

I will be stunned if Sale doesn't have some kind of spring training "set back."

Pivetta.

 

[streeter88]

Yes. Unfortunately too well trained by my New England upbringing to expect anything but further disaster for Sale. The Sox have to sign another SP even if it’s Eovaldi.

 

[Coachster]

It'll be Bryan Bello.

Sale (and Paxton) will be injured list, and Pivetta will have been traded to Kansas City for Adalberto Mondesi and Nate Eaton (positional versatility!)

 

[SinkingLowe]

Hopefully, a healthy Chris Sale. The pessimist in me says they'll re-sign Rich Hill in early February and he'll be the opening day starter.

 

[mikeford]

It'll be Pivetta. Chris Sale will probably injure himself parasailing or some crap. Or just get COVID again.

 

[GlucoDoc]

I heard that Sale went skiing with Jim Lonborg.

 

[YTF]

I can't imagine anyone else getting the ball if Sale's ready to go on opening day.

 

[Pedro's Complaint]

And the winner is "Someone Not on the Current Roster": Kluber to start opening day.