2023 Opening Day lineups, pitchers, more
Opening Day 2023 is upon us, and it comes with extra baseball than standard.
For the first time since 1968, all 30 groups will play their first video games on the identical day (March 30), so Thursday will function hours of nonstop baseball motion. The season kicks off with video games in New York (Giants-Yankees) and D.C. (Braves-Nationals), with Jacob deGrom set to make his Rangers debut later within the afternoon. The Astros start their title protection at dwelling Thursday night in opposition to the White Sox, whereas for these up late, World Baseball Classic MVP Shohei Ohtani will take the ball — and step as much as the plate — within the Angels’ season opener in Oakland.
Get prepared for a jam-packed day of baseball with this information to all 15 Opening Day video games, listed so as of begin time (all occasions ET). Every recreation is offered dwell on MLB.TV (native and nationwide blackout restrictions apply).
SP matchup: Max Fried (ATL) vs. Patrick Corbin (WSH) — A pair of left-handers will sq. off at Nationals Park, as Fried, coming off an All-Star look and a 2.48 ERA in 2022, begins for Atlanta.
See this new face: Catcher Sean Murphy will probably be within the lineup and behind the plate for the Braves after being acquired from the A’s within the offseason.
Note to know: Ozzie Albies’ sixth straight Opening Day begin at second base breaks a tie for the second most in Braves historical past, trailing solely Glenn Hubbard (seven straight from 1981-87).
SP matchup: Logan Webb (SF) vs. Gerrit Cole (NYY) — Cole has essentially the most strikeouts (595) of any Major League pitcher since signing with the Yankees earlier than the 2020 season.
See this new face: Shortstop Anthony Volpe, MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 prospect, made the Yankees’ roster with a robust spring and will develop into the primary participant to make his MLB debut because the crew’s Opening Day shortstop since Jerry Lumpe in 1956.
Note to know: Brandon Crawford will make his twelfth straight Opening Day begin at shortstop for San Francisco, tying Barry Bonds (1993-2004) for the second-most consecutive Opening Day appearances at one place in Giants historical past. Willie Mays (1954-1972) leads the way in which with 19 straight.
SP matchup: Kyle Gibson (BAL) vs. Corey Kluber (BOS) — Kluber is making his sixth Opening Day begin, the primary 5 of which got here for Cleveland in consecutive seasons (2015-19).
See this new face: Outfielder Masataka Yoshida, who starred for Japan within the World Baseball Classic, will make his Red Sox debut. Yoshida hit .335/.447/.561 for the Orix Buffaloes of Nippon Professional Baseball in 2022.
Note to know: The Orioles have a 44-25 report in Opening Day video games since transferring to Baltimore in 1954, the second-best profitable share of any crew in that span.
SP matchup: Corbin Burnes (MIL) vs. Marcus Stroman (CHC) — Burnes adopted up his 2021 NL Cy Young Award-winning season with one other sub-3.00 ERA yr in 2022, main the National League with 243 strikeouts.
See this new face: Free-agent addition Dansby Swanson will make his Cubs debut at shortstop after seven seasons with the Braves.
Note to know: The Cubs and Brewers meet on Opening Day for the third time prior to now 4 seasons, with Chicago seeking to make it three straight wins in opposition to the Crew in these contests.
SP matchup: Eduardo Rodriguez (DET) vs. Shane McClanahan (TB) — McClanahan was an AL All-Star in his second Major League season, pitching to a 1.71 ERA within the season’s first half.
See this new face: Infielder Nick Maton involves Detroit as a part of the return for reliever Gregory Soto, who was acquired by the Phillies in January. Maton was spectacular off the bench for Philadelphia in 2022, hitting 5 dwelling runs in 72 at-bats and posting an .855 OPS.
Note to know: If Miguel Cabrera begins his ultimate MLB season with successful on Opening Day, he’ll tie Ichiro Suzuki (3,089) for twenty third on the all-time listing.
SP matchup: Mitch Keller (PIT) vs. Hunter Greene (CIN) — Greene’s four-seam fastball averaged 98.9 mph final season, the best velocity amongst any Major League starter.
See this new face: Andrew McCutchen is again in a Pirates uniform for the primary time since 2017. McCutchen signed a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh, the place he was the 2013 NL MVP.
Note to know: This would be the one hundred and twentieth time since 1901 that the Reds have performed at dwelling on Opening Day — 48 greater than every other franchise in that span. In 2022, the Reds performed on the highway on Opening Day for simply the second time (additionally 1990) because of the revised regular-season schedule.
SP matchup: Germán Márquez (COL) vs. Blake Snell (SD) — Márquez will make his third profession Opening Day begin and can face Snell, the 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner with the Rays.
See this new face: Xander Bogaerts, signed to an 11-year deal within the offseason, will make his Padres debut. Bogaerts was a four-time All-Star and gained 5 AL Silver Slugger Awards with the Red Sox.
Note to know: Outfielder Charlie Blackmon, who’s starting the ultimate yr of his contract, will make his tenth consecutive Opening Day begin for the Rockies.
SP matchup: Alek Manoah (TOR) vs. Miles Mikolas (STL) — Manoah earned the Opening Day begin in his third season after ending third in 2022 AL Cy Young Award balloting.
See this new face: Right fielder Jordan Walker, MLB Pipeline’s No. 4 prospect, hit his manner onto the Cardinals’ Opening Day roster. The 20-year-old will develop into the youngest Cardinals place participant to seem in a recreation since David Green in 1981.
Note to know: The Cardinals and Blue Jays will play Interleague opponents on Opening Day for the primary time in every crew’s historical past.
SP matchup: Pablo López (MIN) vs. Zack Greinke (KC) — Back with the Royals on a one-year deal, Greinke will make his second straight Opening Day begin and the seventh of his profession. He’ll face López, whom the Twins acquired from the Marlins over the offseason.
See this new face: Outfielder Joey Gallo signed a one-year deal with the Twins in December. Gallo had a troublesome 2022, however he isn’t far faraway from a 38-homer season with the Rangers in 2021.
Note to know: Salvador Perez already holds the Royals report for many Opening Day begins by a catcher, and he’ll add to that by notching his ninth on Thursday. Mike Macfarlane is second with 5 begins behind the dish.
SP matchup: Max Scherzer (NYM) vs. Sandy Alcantara (MIA) — Opening Day’s greatest beginning pitching matchup contains a three-time Cy Young Award winner in Scherzer in opposition to the 2022 NL Cy winner in Alcantara.
See this new face: Luis Arraez, final yr’s American League batting champion, headed to Miami this winter in a deal for pitcher Pablo López. Arraez hit .316 in 2022 and owns a profession batting common of .314.
Note to know: The Mets have gained 5 of their previous six on Opening Day, and their 40-21 report in season openers offers them the perfect profitable share in baseball (.656).
SP matchup: Shohei Ohtani (LAA) vs. Kyle Muller (OAK) — Last seen placing out Angels teammate Mike Trout to shut out the World Baseball Classic championship recreation for Team Japan, Ohtani ought to be on the mound and on the plate within the Halos’ opener.
See this new face: Center fielder Esteury Ruiz’s stats between Double-A and Triple-A final yr? A cool .332/.447/.526 triple-slash line and a whopping 85 stolen bases. Part of Oakland’s return within the Sean Murphy commerce, Ruiz could make an influence for the A’s instantly.
Note to know: Tim Salmon is now not the one fish within the sea to have began 11 straight Opening Day video games for the Angels. Trout will match that feat this season.
SP matchup: Zac Gallen (AZ) vs. Julio Urías (LAD) — This intriguing matchup options two hurlers who’re each making their first profession Opening Day begins, after every completed within the prime 5 in NL Cy Young Award voting final yr.
See this new face: J.D. Martinez will probably be making his Dodgers debut after a profitable five-season run in Boston that included 4 All-Star appearances. Martinez has loads of historical past at Dodger Stadium, together with a four-homer recreation for the D-backs in 2017 and a World Series win with the Red Sox in ‘18.
Note to know: The Dodgers are 10-2 in their past 12 Opening Days, including 2-0 against Arizona. That fits with a period in which the team’s .597 profitable share ranks 27 factors forward of the Yankees for the best within the Majors.
SP matchup: Shane Bieber (CLE) vs. Luis Castillo (SEA) — Castillo was traded to Seattle from Cincinnati on the 2022 Trade Deadline, however he’ll face his former Buckeye State rival on Opening Day. Castillo went 4-2 with a 3.17 ERA in 11 regular-season begins for the Mariners final yr.
See this new face: Teoscar Hernández is a formidable addition to the Mariners’ lineup. Hernández hit 25 dwelling runs final yr for the Blue Jays earlier than being shipped to Seattle in November.
Note to know: Bieber will develop into the fifth Cleveland pitcher to make 4 or extra straight Opening Day begins, becoming a member of Stan Coveleski (5), Corey Kluber (5), Bob Feller (4) and Gaylord Perry (4).
