Last season was the dawn of a new era when it came to Cleveland Guardians’ Opening Day starters.
After having Shane Bieber take the ball on Opening Day for five straight seasons, the Guardians were guaranteed to open the season with a different starting pitcher due to Bieber still being on the mend due to Tommy John surgery.
And after a scoreless top of the first inning, the Guardians took the field with… Ben Lively on the mound?
That’s right. After getting 10 straight Opening Day starters from Cy Young winners in Corey Kluber and Shane Bieber as their Opening Day starters, the Guardians opened 2025 with a 33-year-old journeyman taking the ball on the first day of the season.