For the second straight season, the Royals will be relying on their young ace to set the tone on Opening Day.

 

Left-handed pitcher Cole Ragans will get the ball next Thursday when the Royals open the 2025 season against the Cleveland Guardians at Kauffman Stadium.

 

It is the second consecutive Opening Day start for Ragans, who has shined as the leader of the KC staff since being acquired from the Texas Rangers in 2023. Across 32 starts last season, he posted a 3.14 ERA and 223 strikeouts, the third most in a season in Royals history.

 

Ragans was also a first-time All-Star in 2024, and started two postseason games for the team. He finished fourth in the Cy Young voting after the 2024 season, and will look to lead the Royals rotation back to October in 2025.

 

Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Michael Lorenzen, and Kris Bubic are expected to round out the starting rotation.