Kluber will start Opening Day versus the Orioles on March 30, Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.

EDGE Analysis

Manager Alex Cora confirmed Wednesday that Kluber will toe the rubber for the season opener at Fenway Park, stating that he informed Kluber of that decision in January. Kluber signed with the Red Sox this offseason and is looking to recapture some of his former glory as he joins his fourth team in four years. The right-hander produced a serviceable 4.34 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 139 strikeouts over 164 innings in 31 starts with Tampa Bay in 2022; however, his ERA has been at 3.83 or higher since 2018 after clocking in below that figure for each of the five seasons prior.

Manager Alex Cora said Sunday there's a "good chance" Kluber starts against the Orioles on Opening Day, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Cora indicated he made the decision during the offseason that Chris Sale won't get the Opening Day nod, and Kluber is the current favorite to start. Kluber joined the Red Sox on a one-year deal that includes a club option for 2024 after he posted a 4.34 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 139:21 K:BB across 164 innings for the Rays last year.

Kluber allowed two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three over three innings in Friday's spring start against the Blue Jays.

EDGE Analysis

Kluber allowed his first Grapefruit League runs over three appearances. He possesses a 2.35 ERA with eight strikeouts over 7.2 innings. The right-hander will likely have at least three more spring outings to get ready for the regular season.

Kluber allowed two hits and two walks while striking out four over 2.2 scoreless innings in Sunday's spring start against the Marlins.

EDGE Analysis

Kluber fanned the side in the first inning then worked around two baserunners in the second before leaving with the bases loaded in the third. All eight outs were either strikeouts or groundouts. Kluber has allowed four hits and two walks while striking out five over 4.2 innings.

Kluber allowed two hits and struck out one over two scoreless innings in Tuesday's spring game against Miami.

EDGE Analysis

Kluber was the first member of Boston's projected rotation to take the hill and worked around a pair of hits, including a leadoff double in the second inning. He threw 26 pitches (18 strikes) in what looked like a routine outing for the 36-year-old veteran. "He went through his progression, threw strikes, got weak contact," Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Ian Browne of MLB.com. "Now we'll move on to the next one." According to Browne, Kluber's next start is scheduled for Sunday, when he'll throw three innings.

Kluber will make his first spring start Feb. 28 against the Marlins, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Red Sox manager Alex Cora revealed his planned rotation for the first few spring games with Kluber being the first projected regular member of the rotation. The manager did not mention projected starters beyond Tuesday's night game against Miami. A slate of minor league pitchers will throw Friday's seven-inning exhibition against Northeastern University, a traditional spring kickoff for Boston. Saturday's starter is TBA while Josh Winckowski (Sunday) and Kutter Crawford (Monday) will follow.

Kluber threw 31 pitches in a bullpen session Friday, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

Kluber is coming off a fully healthy season, his first since 2018. In 31 starts for the Rays, the right-hander posted a 4.34 ERA and showed hints of an effective pitcher that previously earned a Cy Young Award. The 36-year-old is looking to build off last season and will slot in the middle of Boston's rotation.

Kluber and the Red Sox agreed Wednesday on a one-year, $10 million contract that includes an $11 million club option for 2024 and additional incentives, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 36-year-old makes his offseason home in Massachusetts, which may have factored into his decision to continue his career in Boston after a one-year stint in Tampa Bay. Though Kluber was able to steer clear of the health concerns that derailed him in each of the prior three seasons, the two-time American League Cy Young Award winner didn't return to peak form in 2022. His strikeout rate (20.2 percent) took a dramatic dip along with fastball velocity (88.9 miles per hour average), though a career-best 3.0 percent walk rate helped him maintain a respectable 1.21 WHIP over 164 innings. Altogether, Kluber still performed comfortably above the league median (117 ERA-, with 100 being average), so his addition should bring some stability to a Boston rotation that will be counting on two veterans with even more troubling injury histories (Chris Sale and James Paxton), not to mention younger arms such as Garrett Whitlock, Tanner Houck and Brayan Bello with more limited track records as starters at the big-league level.

Kluber (10-10) took the loss Sunday, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk over five innings against the Astros. He struck out four.

EDGE Analysis

Jose Altuve led off the game against Kluber with a bunt single, and Jeremy Pena followed with a two-run homer on a first-pitch cutter. Kluber held the Astros scoreless through five innings after that point, but the damage was enough to saddle him with his 10th loss on the season. The 2022 campaign was much of a bounceback campaign for the veteran, as his 164 innings pitched were the most he's thrown since he logged five consecutive seasons of 200 or more innings from 2014 to 2018. He finishes with a 4.34 ERA on the season.

Kluber allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out five in four innings in a 6-5 extra-innings win Tuesday in Cleveland. He did not factor into the decision.

EDGE Analysis

All three runs against Kluber came with two outs as Jose Ramirez tripled in a run in the third and Steven Kwan had a two-run single in the fourth. Kluber needed 91 pitches to get through the four innings and was removed rather than face the heart of Cleveland's lineup a third time. It's been feast or famine for the 36-year-old in September as he's tossed seven innings while allowing one run or fewer on two occasions and given up 13 runs in 10.1 innings in his other three outings combined.