Cole Ragans named Opening Day starter

KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI - MAY 05: Cole Ragans #55 of the Kansas City Royals pitches during the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at Kauffman Stadium on May 05, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images) | Getty Images Opening Day is a day of tradition. And it is st

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Opening Day is a day of tradition. And it is starting to become a tradition that Cole Ragans starts on Opening Day for the Royals.

Ragans was named the starter for the March 27 opener against the Braves in Atlanta, the third consecutive year he has been given the honor.

Ragans was limited to just 13 starts last year, missing two and a half months with a rotator cuff strain. He returned late in the year for three starts and gave up just four runs, striking out 22 of the 48 hitters he faced. Overall heahad a 4.67 ERA with 98 strikeouts in 61.2 innings, the second-highest strikeout rate in baseball for anyone with at last 50 innings.

Ragans has yet to win on Opening Day – he gave up two runs in six innings in a loss to the Twins in 2024 and gave up three runs in five innings in a no-decision to the Guardians last year.

The Royals have not officially named the rest of the starters, but the rotation is expected to include Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Kris Bubic, and Noah Cameron. Ryan Bergert was optioned to the minors on Tuesday.