Red Sox LHP: Chris Sale
I went back and forth with this one as it’s been quite some time since The Boogeyman has been available for Opening Day. However, this is also the first time in a while that Chris Sale has had a full offseason where he’s healthy. That could mean some very good things for the Red Sox and some very bad things for the rest of the league.
Sale had a mystery illness/injury during the 2018 Postseason that greatly stifled what he was able to do on the mound. Then 2019 saw him battle more hiccups until an elbow injury eventually ended his season. Tommy John wouldn’t be too far on the horizon and that cost him 2020 and most of 2021. But his return sparked hope and excitement in Red Sox Nation and in 2022 he can build on that.
He was able to compete for a chunk of the second half of the year which allowed him to earn a 5-1 record through 42.2 innings and finish with a 3.16 ERA. He also compiled an 11/2.5 K/BB which averaged him 4.33 whiffs for every walk, awesome.
We still don’t know what kind of restrictions may be placed upon the southpaw next season and with the lockout most likely delaying things, it may be some time before we find out. While I think the next guy on my list has also earned this right, I truly feel that it’ll be Sale with the ball in his hand on Opening Day.