Cade's day? Ranking the Cubs' Opening Day candidates

Chicago has several pitchers who could get the nod for the season opener against the Nationals

Feb. 21, 2026 at 3:19pm

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The Cubs do not have a clear-cut choice for their Opening Day starter in 2026, with several pitchers making a case for the honor. Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, Jameson Taillon, Shota Imanaga, and Edward Cabrera are all in the running, each with their own strengths and accomplishments from the previous season.

Why it matters

The Opening Day starter is a ceremonial assignment, but it can also set the tone for a team's season. With the Cubs' rotation depth, the decision on who gets the ball for the first game of the year is an interesting one that could impact the club's early-season momentum.

The details

Cade Horton, the runner-up for NL Rookie of the Year in 2025, is the likely frontrunner after posting a 1.03 ERA in the second half of the season. Matthew Boyd and Jameson Taillon are also strong candidates, with Boyd making the All-Star team and Taillon excelling in the playoffs. Shota Imanaga and offseason acquisition Edward Cabrera round out the group of candidates.

  • The Cubs host the Nationals on March 26, 2026 at 1:20 p.m. CT to begin the season.
  • Horton, at 24 years old, could be the youngest Opening Day starter for the Cubs since 2006 when Carlos Zambrano was 24.

The players

Cade Horton

A 24-year-old right-handed pitcher who finished as the runner-up for the National League Rookie of the Year in 2025 after posting an 11-4 record with a 2.67 ERA.

Matthew Boyd

A 35-year-old left-handed pitcher who made his first All-Star team in 2025, won a career-high 14 games, and had a 3.21 ERA in 179 2/3 innings.

Jameson Taillon

A right-handed pitcher entering his fourth season with the Cubs, who was the team's best starter during the playoffs last year with a 2.25 ERA.

Shota Imanaga

A left-handed pitcher who was the Cubs' Opening Day starter a year ago when they faced the Dodgers in Tokyo, and was an All-Star and Cy Young contender in 2024.

Edward Cabrera

A 27-year-old right-handed pitcher acquired by the Cubs in the offseason, who had a 3.53 ERA in 26 starts for the Marlins last year and had a 2.22 ERA over a 16-start stretch between May and August.

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What they’re saying

“The Opening Day starter is more of a ceremonial assignment than anything else. Sometimes there is an obvious choice for the honor, while other years the lack of an established ace or long-time leader creates a situation where multiple pitchers could be worthy of the title.”

— Jordan Bastian, Cubs Beat newsletter author (mlb.com)

The takeaway

The Cubs' deep and talented rotation gives manager Craig Counsell several strong options to choose from for the Opening Day starter, with Cade Horton, Matthew Boyd, and Jameson Taillon emerging as the leading candidates. The decision will be an interesting one that could set the tone for the team's season.