How International Starters Fared on Major League Baseball’s Opening Day

World Baseball Network conducted an outlook on international-born starting pitchers performances during the start of the 2025 MLB season on March 27. 

Toronto Blue Jays RHP Jose Berrios (Puerto Rico) – Berrios did not fare well at home against the Baltimore Orioles offense. He threw five innings, allowing nine hits, six earned runs, two walks, five strikeouts, and three home runs. Berrios chucked 90 pitches for 59 strikes in their 12-2 loss to the Orioles. 

Berrios earned the loss on Thursday afternoon and gave up three home runs: a solo shot to catcher Adley Rutschman in the top of the first inning, a three-run home run to Tyler O’Neill in the top of the third inning, and a solo home run to Cedric Mullins in the top of the fourth. 

Toronto will play its second game of their three-game home series against Baltimore on March 28 at 7:07 p.m. EDT. 

Houston Astros LHP Framber Valdez (Dominican Republic) – Valdez earned the win on Thursday night and gemmed seven innings against the New York Mets offense in front of the Houston faithful and allowed four hits, two walks, and striking out four batters. 

The southpaw rifled 90 pitches for 56 strikes in their first game of the 2025 season, while Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader threw the final two innings and allowed two hits, one earned run, one walk, and two strikeouts in their 3-1 win. 

The Mets offense went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left 10 men on base in their first game loss. 

The Astros will play their second game of their three-game home series against the Mets on March 28 at 8:10 p.m. EDT. 

Miami Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (Dominican Republic) – Alcantara had a no decision in his first start of the 2025 season on Thursday, while throwing 4 2/3 innings and allowing two hits, two earned runs, four walks, and seven strikeouts. Alcantara chucked 91 pitches for 57 strikes during their first win of the season. 

The Marlins won 5-4 on Thursday in dramatic fashion when left fielder Kyle Stowers drilled a game-winning single to right field in the bottom of the ning, scoring Javier Sanoja to beat the Pirates. It was the Marlins’ first walk-off win on Opening Day in franchise since 1993. 

Miami will play their second game of their four game home series on March 28 against Pittsburgh at 7:10 p.m. EDT. 

Minnesota Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (Venezuela) – Lopez earned the loss on his first start of the season on Thursday on the road in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He threw five innings, allowing eight hits, two earned runs, three strikeouts and one home run to left fielder Lars Nootbaar in the bottom of the second inning. 

Lopez committed a throwing error in the bottom of the second inning in a pickoff attempt to first base, which resulted in Jordan Walker advancing to second base, and also balked in the bottom of the first inning during Willson Contreras at-bat, allowing Nootbaar to advance to second base. 

He dialed 87 pitches for 57 strikes on Thursday afternoon, while the Twins offense was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left seven men on base. 

The Twins will play their second game of their three-game road series against the Cardinals on March 29 at 2:15 p.m. EDT. 

Milwaukee Brewers RHP Freddy Peralta (Dominican Republic) – Peralta took the loss on Thursday afternoon on the road against the New York Yankees and chucked five innings, allowing four hits, two earned runs, one walk, and eight strikeouts. 

He gave up a solo home run to the first batter he faced, Yankees catcher Austin Wells, in the bottom of the first inning, and allowed another solo home run to Anthony Volpe in the bottom of the second in the 4-2 loss. Peralta threw 93 pitches for 58 strikes on Thursday. 

The Brewers will resume their three-game road series against the Yankees on March 29 at 1:05 p.m. EDT. 

Los Angeles Angels LHP Yusei Kikuchi (Japan) – Kikuchi did not have his best stuff in his first start of the season on Thursday afternoon against the Chicago White Sox on the road. The Angels lost 8-1 to the White Sox and Kikuchi threw six innings, allowing five hits, three earned runs, five strikeouts and allowed one home run to right fielder Austin Slater in the bottom of the second inning, a solo home run over the left field wall. 

Kikuchi earned the loss, while he chucked 87 pitches for 58 strikes on Thursday. 

The Angels will play the second game of the series on March 29 at 2:10 p.m. EDT on the road. 

Athletics RHP Luis Severino (Dominican Republic) – In Thursday’s 4-2 loss to the Seattle Mariners, Severino threw six innings, allowing three hits, no earned runs, four walks, and six strikeouts, while creasing 99 pitches for 57 strikes. Severino had a no decision on Thursday night. The Athletics offense only had three hits against the Mariners pitching staff. The Athletics will play the second game of their four-game road series against the Mariners on March 28 at 9:40 p.m. EDT.

Photo: Athletics starting pitcher Luis Severino throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game, Thursday, March 27, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)