Kris Bubic

Lugo and Michael Wacha will following Opening Day starter Cole Ragans against the division-rival Guardians before Kris Bubic and Michael Lorenzen kick off a road series early next week against the Brewers.

Bubic looked extremely sharp in his final spring outing just a few days after officially locking up the final spot in Kansas City's season-opening rotation. The 27-year-old southpaw was phenomenal last year in relief and offers some fantasy appeal in deeper mixed leagues as an early-season streaming option. He'll take the ball next Monday in a challenging road tilt against the Brewers to open the year.

The Rangers are facing left-hander Kris Bubic and are putting out what looks to be an Opening Day lineup, with Josh Smith filling in at shortstop for Corey Seager, who is nursing a calf injury. With Evan Carter not in the lineup, Leody Taveras will play center field and Kevin Pillar will be the designated hitter. With Opening Day just two days away, this is a bit of a signal that Carter is not locked into everyday at-bats in Texas and will be in a bit of a timeshare with Taveras to start the season.

It'll be Kris Bubic opening the year as Kansas City's fifth starter. Royals manager Matt Quatraro added that Carlos Hernandez, who is out of options, is not on the Opening Day roster. He'll presumably be designated for assignment at some point in the coming days since he can't be shipped to Triple-A Omaha without clearing waivers.

The homer off Kris Bubic was his first since Feb. 26, but De La Cruz is still hitting .410/.521/.795 on the spring. The Reds apparently plan on batting him third behind Matt McLain this year. He spent most of last season hitting second, but Terry Francona is much more of a have-your-best-hitter-bat-third kind of manager.