Pablo López to start for Twins on Opening Day

Pablo Lopez will start for the Twins on Opening Day for the second straight season, manager Rocco Baldelli told Kris Atteberry on the Inside Twins podcast episode released Wednesday.

Lopez was the Twins’ Opening Day starter in 2023 after being acquired from the Miami Marlins in a trade that sent Luis Arraez to Miami before the season. He had a 10-8 record in 2023 with a 3.81 earned-run averaged. He pitched 175 innings, striking out 192 batters over the course of the season. With Sonny Gray departing in free agency, Lopez figures to be the Twins’ No. 1 starter for the foreseeable future.

“Normally I don’t name anything, I don’t declare anything. He’ll be pitching the first game for us when the season starts up again,” Baldelli said. “And hopefully another really productive year and a better year. He’s not satisfied with having a great season, he wants to be better and he wants to win at the end of the year. When the playoffs arrive, he wants to be at his best.”