MLB Opening Day 2013: Highlighting Best Pitching Matchups to Watch on Monday

There isn't anything better than Opening Day.

Houston Astros fans have heard nothing but how awful their team is and that losing 120 games is a very real possibility. Yet the Astros went out and beat the Texas Rangers 8-2. Houston might fall off a cliff as the season goes on, but for now, the Astros are atop the standings.

Although the baseball season officially kicked off on Sunday night, it's on Monday that things really get going, as there are 12 games on the schedule.

Aside from the simple pleasure of getting to watch meaningful baseball again, Opening Day is great because you get to see each team's ace facing off. You'll get that during the regular season, but not all at once like on Opening Day.

In a day full of great pitching duels, these three stand out.

Matt Cain vs. Clayton Kershaw

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants will be battling it out all season for supremacy in the National League West.

Matt Cain is coming off a season in which he finished 16-5 with a 2.79 ERA. Not to mention his perfect game on June 13 against the Houston Astros. It was the best season of his career.

Then you've got Clayton Kershaw starting for L.A. There isn't a better left-handed pitcher in the league. He has led the MLB in earned run average in each of the last two seasons. He won the Cy Young Award in 2011 and finished second in the voting last year.

In terms of high-profile matchups, it doesn't get any better than this between two bitter division rivals.

Jered Weaver vs. Johnny Cueto

For the first time history, teams from the American and National Leagues will face off in a series on Opening Day. While it's a bit radical, it give fans the treat of seeing Jered Weaver and Johnny Cueto face off.

Weaver finished third in the AL Cy Young voting, while Cueto was just a spot behind in the NL voting. They're two of the more electric pitchers in the majors. Plus, with as talented as the Cincinnati Reds and Los Angeles Angels are offensively, it's going to be fun seeing these two pitchers work to keep the score as low as possible.

They both fell off slightly after being lights-out in 2011, although Cueto's season was cut short by injury two years ago.

James Shields vs. Chris Sale

The Kansas City Royals went all in for the short term. Time will only tell if Wil Myers follows through on his massive potential, but in the short term, James Shields automatically becomes the ace of the staff.

It's not as if the trade puts the Royals over the top, but it addressed what was Kansas City's biggest concern this offseason. The spotlight will be on Shields to anchor this rotation.

On the other side, Chris Sale was one of the biggest surprises last season. In only his first year of starting, Sale went 17-8 with a 3.05 ERA. With the huge innings jump he made last year, there's the concern regarding whether or not he can stay healthy for another full season—or at least not get tired out.

These two teams will be fighting it out in the middle of the AL Central, and this is a great matchup to start division play.