Right-hander Sonny Gray will make his debut with the St. Louis Cardinals against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, manager Oliver Marmol said.
Gray, 34, had been slated to start Opening Day but instead was placed on the injured list with a right hamstring strain.
Marmol said Gray is skipping a minor league rehab start and will be on a 65-pitch limit against the Phillies.
"He is as direct and honest of a human as you can ever encounter," Marmol told reporters. "And if he says he is 100% himself and ready to go, from my seat, I trust that."
Gray was 8-8 with a 2.79 ERA in 32 starts for the Minnesota Twins last season, finishing second in American League Cy Young voting during an All-Star campaign. The three-time All-Star signed a three-year, $75 million contract in November to anchor the Cardinals' rotation.
Gray missed time twice in the 2022 season with the Twins because of hamstring injuries.
In 279 career appearances (270 starts), Gray is 98-85 with a 3.47 ERA for the Oakland Athletics (2013-17), New York Yankees (2017-18), Cincinnati Reds (2019-21) and Twins (2022-23).
The Associated Press and Field Level Media contributed to this report.