Opener (baseball)

In baseball, an opening pitcher, more frequently referred to as an opener, is a pitcher who specializes in getting the first outs in a game, before being replaced by a long reliever or a pitcher who would typically be a starting pitcher. The name "opener" is a reference to the more established term "closer," which refers to a relief pitcher who typically works the final inning of a winning game. Like closers, openers are usually relief pitchers.

The strategy was frequently employed by the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2018 Major League Baseball season and the San Francisco Giants during the 2023 Major League Baseball season. Ahead of the 2024 season, the Commissioner's Office proposed banning the opener, after which the use of openers fell significantly.