By no surprise, Alek Manoah will start for the Blue Jays next Thursday, March 27, on Opening Day versus the St. Louis Cardinals, the team announced Friday. This start will be the first Opening Day start of his young career.

Last season, Manoah notably finished third in Cy Young voting and made the American League All-Star Team for the first time in his career. He dominated opposing hitters, going 16-7 with a 2.24 ERA in 196.2 innings over 31 starts.

Manoah led the 2022 Blue Jays pitching staff in ERA and strikeouts, winning AL Pitcher of the Month in September. The Homestead, Fla., native has tallied a 3.77 ERA in his four spring training starts in 2023.

He said in a Twitter video, “It’s just a dream come true to play in the Big Leagues–now we’re here!”

Many Yusei Kikuchi stans online were calling on him to be named Opening Day starter after his ‘almost unrecognizable’ spring performance. Kikuchi has put up a 1.38 ERA over 13 innings and 54 batters faced,  an improvement after his lacklustre 2022 season. The 32-year-old has likely put himself in contention for the Blue Jays’ fifth and final rotation spot.

The Blue Jays open the season on a 10-game road trip, heading to Kansas City after their series with the Cardinals before wrapping things up against the Los Angeles Angels. The Blue Jays will play their first game at Rogers Centre on April 11 against the Detroit Tigers.