Welcome to MLB Opening Day!
All 30 teams were scheduled to be in action Thursday before rain postponed the scheduled Milwaukee Brewers–New York Mets and Atlanta Braves–Philadelphia Phillies openers to Friday.
The Los Angeles Angels and Baltimore Orioles got things started with Corbin Burnes delivering a dominant debut for Baltimore. Soon after, things really heated up with eight games played at — highlighted by a thrilling New York Yankees win over the Houston Astros in a showdown in Texas.
The Texas Rangers raised the first World Series banner in franchise history before taking on the Chicago Cubs in manager Craig Counsell’s team debut (7:35 p.m. ET on ESPN). And, if that wasn’t enough, there are a trio of late-night games on the West Coast, including Luis Castillo and the Seattle Mariners against the Boston Red Sox at 10:10 p.m. ET.
What are we looking for as the season gets started? Our reporters give their pregame takes from the ballpark, plus we’ll post lineups as they are announced and live updates throughout the day, including takeaways from each game as it concludes.
Season preview: Power rankings | Predictions | Moves that rocked offseason
MLB Rank 2024: Who are baseball’s 100 best players? | Snubs, surprises
ESPN+: Passan’s bold predictions, breakout stars | 2024 MLB payroll tiers
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Live updates | Takeaways | Storylines & lineups
Postponed games: MIL-NYM, ATL-PHI
Live updates from every Opening Day game
Takeaways from completed Opening Day games
Recap | Box score | Highlights
The Marlins made the playoffs last season on the strength off a 33-14 record in one-run games — one of the best such records in MLB history. Beware of regression, Miami. It looked like the Marlins might pull off a win that would have fit in with their 2023 narrative as first baseman Josh Bell — not known for his defense — threw out Pirates baserunners at home plate in both the 10th and 11th innings, but the Pirates finally scraped across a run in the 12th while the Miami offense kept failing to score.
The news to watch coming out of this game, however, was that David Bednar, the Pirates’ All-Star closer, didn’t get the save and was apparently unavailable even though he’s on the active roster. Second-year lefty Jose Hernandez instead picked up his first career save. Bednar missed time this spring with a lat injury, so let’s see if something is going on with his health. — David Schoenfield
Recap | Box score | Highlights
The knock on Juan Soto in recent years — the only blemish on a generational player — has been his defense in the outfield. The numbers supported what eyes indicated: It’s been ugly.
He has insisted he’s better than that, and that he’s worked at it. On Thursday, he showed that off in a huge spot, throwing out Mauricio Dubón, the game-tying run, at home plate from right field in the ninth inning. Soto pounded his chest. He let out a scream. The play was reviewed and stood. Moments later, Clay Holmes secured the game’s final out in the Yankees’ 5-4 comeback win.
Soto had his first signature Yankee moment. And it came on defense — just as we all expected. –– Jorge Castillo
Recap | Box score | Highlights
The Giants retooled their roster as much as any team in the offseason, adding Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, Jordan Hicks and Tom Murphy, plus highly touted center fielder Jung Hoo Lee from Korea. Their linchpin, however, remains ace starter Logan Webb, who has a 3.07 ERA over the past three seasons and led the majors with 216 innings last season.
Unfortunately, his 2024 begins with some of the same issues as last season: A lack of support. In 2023, despite a 3.25 ERA that ranked fourth in the NL — plus that workload — Webb finished just 11-13 due to some shaky offensive support (he had 18 games where he allowed two runs or fewer and won just nine of them). On Thursday, the lack of support came from the bullpen. He left after six innings with a 3-2 lead, but the Padres scored four runs in the seventh inning off the Giants’ bullpen, with Jake Cronenworth delivering a key two-run double off Ryan Walker. Nice comeback for San Diego, tough loss for the Giants. — David Schoenfield
Recap | Box score | Highlights
The word from the Blue Jays camp out of spring training painted the picture of a rejuvenated Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: He’s lost some weight, he’s been more joyful, he’s more confident and he put together consistently good at-bats, hitting .463 in Grapefruit League play. The hope is he can find his MVP-level stroke of 2021 after two good-not-great seasons in 2022 and 2023. His first hit of 2024: a mammoth 450-foot blast over the batter’s eye in center field at Tampa off a cutter from Zach Eflin, matching his longest home run of 2023. That will be a nice confidence boost for the young slugger, who reached the majors in 2019 but is still just 25 years old.
The Jays are trying Guerrero in the second spot in the batting order, essentially flipping spots with Bo Bichette. Indeed, you can argue that Bichette has passed Guerrero as the face of the Blue Jays (he’s certainly been more valuable via WAR the past two seasons). You can’t argue with this: The Toronto offense isn’t as deep as it was even a couple years after finishing eighth in runs in the AL last season. They need both of their young starts to deliver. – David Schoenfield
Recap | Box score | Highlights
We saw Royce Lewis‘ star-crossed career on full display Thursday: The No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 draft, Lewis twice tore his ACL as a minor leaguer, missing all of 2021 and most of 2022 as a result. He nonetheless remained a top prospect and reached the majors for his first extended stay in 2023 — only to play just 58 games due to an oblique strain and hamstring. But when he did play, he looked like a star — hitting over .300 with power, including four grand slams in less than a month.
He began 2024 with a home run in his first at-bat, ripping a 423-foot blast to left field and then singled in his second at-bat. However, when Carlos Correa then doubled, Lewis limped into third base and was replaced by a pinch runner (and don’t blame cold weather as it was 65 degrees in Kansas City). The Twins’ lineup needs Lewis raking in the three-hole. Let’s hope it’s not serious. – David Schoenfield
Recap | Box score | Highlights
Miles Mikolas caused a bit of a stir earlier this month when he said the Dodgers were playing “checkbook baseball.” On Opening Day, he got a first-hand look at what that checkbook has provided. It got them Mookie Betts ($365 million), who reached base three times, including a solo homer. It got them Freddie Freeman ($162 million), who reached base three times, including a two-run homer. It got them Shohei Ohtani ($700 million), who reached base three times, including a double. And it got them Tyler Glasnow ($136.6 million), who allowed three baserunners in six innings. The Dodgers have written a lot of checks lately, especially amid their $1.2 billion offseason. They’re cashing in early. – Alden Gonzalez
Recap | Box score | Highlights
All spring, the Reds said they had enough depth to cover anything that came their way. Little did they know how quickly it would be tested as they opened the season with a suspension and a myriad of injuries. But up stepped journeyman Nick Martini who hit two home runs to propel Cincinnati to an easy win over Washington. Martini came into the game with 354 career at-bats — and just eight career home runs — but he was the Opening Day spark for a team who has playoff aspirations. On the mound, the Reds got a solid debut from newcomer Frankie Montas who shut out the Nationals over six innings while giving up just four hits without issuing a walk. That Opening Day combination of power and pitching is exactly what the organization drew up this offseason when they added veterans to a young and talented group of prospects. Cincinnati should be in the NL Central race all year. – Jesse Rogers
Recap | Box score | Highlights
Can the Tigers contend in the AL Central? It has been a long standing question as they’ve been in an extended rebuilding phase — but if they get performances on the mound like they did today, they’ll be in good shape. Tarik Skubal and three relievers shut down the one strength the White Sox have: a veteran lineup that has produced in the past. It also helps to have Javy Baez producing. He batted eighth for Detroit on Opening Day — singling to right on an 0-2 pitch from left-hander Garrett Crochet in the third inning and eventually scoring the lone run of the game.
Meanwhile, Crochet was the lone bright spot for the White Sox. In his first career start he struck out eight over six innings, but unfortunately for Chicago, he had no help at the plate. – Jesse Rogers
Baltimore Orioles 11, Los Angeles Angels 3
Recap | Box score | Highlights
Corbin Burnes allowed a first-inning home run to Mike Trout but was otherwise absolutely dominant in his Orioles debut. That was the only hit he allowed in his six innings as he struck out 11 of the 19 batters he faced, with seven of those K’s coming with his curveball. The Angels had no chance. With Kyle Bradish and John Means starting the season on the IL, the Orioles are looking for their big offseason acquisition to get off to a hot start — unlike last season with the Brewers, when Burnes uncharacteristically struggled early on with his control and had a so-so 3.97 ERA through his first 10 starts. Even without Bradish and Means, the Orioles have a chance to get off to a blazing start: Of their first 36 games, only six are against teams that made the playoffs last season, and those six are home games against the Brewers and Twins. — David Schoenfield
What to watch, lineups for remaining Opening Day games
First pitch: 7:35 p.m. ET | ESPN
The pitching matchup: Justin Steele vs. Nathan Eovaldi
The big storyline: Both teams have large-font narratives generating heightened interest in their openers. For the Rangers, it’s a celebration as Texas will raise its first World Series banner before the game. Meanwhile, the Cubs usher in a new era in which the face of the team may well be its new manager, Craig Counsell, who became the highest-paid skipper in history after jumping from one of Chicago’s chief division rivals in the Brewers. Counsell got paid based on a deserved reputation as one of the game’s most well-rounded skippers. Yet when that banner rises, he’ll be admiring the exploits of his opponent, Bruce Bochy, who will be participating in his fourth title celebration as a skipper, or three more titles than the Cubs have won over the last 115 years.
One interesting fact to impress your friends: The magic number for wins in Texas is 102. That’s a high bar but these are the defending champs, after all. If the Rangers hit that total, Bochy’s career total would jump to 2,195 and he’d leap over Joe McCarthy, Bucky Harris, Dusty Baker and Sparky Anderson into sixth on the all-time wins list. And if the Rangers repeat as champs, he’d join McCarthy, Casey Stengel and Connie Mack as the only managers with at least five World Series wins. Yet, from the did-you-know category: Bochy enters the season eight games under .500 for his regular-season career. — Doolittle
Cubs lineup
Cubs lineup Ian Happ (S) LF
Seiya Suzuki (R) RF
Cody Bellinger (L) CF
Christopher Morel (R) DH
Dansby Swanson (R) SS
Michael Busch (L) 1B
Nico Hoerner (R) 2B
Nick Madrigal (R) 3B
Yan Gomes (R) C
Rangers lineup
Marcus Semien (R) 2B
Corey Seager (L) SS
Josh Jung (R) 3B
Adolis Garcia (R) RF
Wyatt Langford (R) DH
Jonah Heim (S) C
Ezequiel Duran (R) 1B
Evan Carter (L) LF
Leody Taveras (S) CF
First pitch: 10:07 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Shane Bieber vs. Alex Wood
The big storyline: It’s the familiar existential question: If a big league baseball game is played in an empty stadium, does it make a sound? With the A’s on their way out of town, diehard Oakland fans have chosen Opening Day as a way of making a statement. Last year was the year of the Reverse Boycott, where fans showed up en masse on select occasions to show their visceral disregard for ownership. This year, after the team’s decision to abandon Oakland for Las Vegas, the fans have chosen a different approach, the UnReverse Boycott, or Reverse UnBoycott, where they hang out in the parking lot to show ownership they still care — without paying to prove it. The A’s have taken steps to mitigate the bad publicity by opening the parking lot just two hours before game time, but angry A’s fans have proven their resourcefulness.
One interesting fact to impress your friends: Stephen Vogt is the Guardians’ new manager. Stephen Vogt is also a cult hero in Oakland, where the chant “We Believe In Stephen Vogt” — accompanied by the drumbeat from the diehards in the right-field bleachers — became an earworm of the last of the Oakland glory days. — Keown
Guardians lineup
Steven Kwan (L) LF
Jose Ramirez (S) 3B
Ramon Laureano (R) RF
Josh Naylor (L) 1B
David Fry (R) DH
Tyler Freeman (R) CF
Andres Gimenez (L) 2B
Austin Hedges (R) C
Brayan Rocchio (S) SS
Athletics lineup
Ryan Noda (L) 1B
Zack Gelof (R) 2B
JJ Bleday (L) CF
Brent Rooker (R) DH
Seth Brown (L) LF
J.D. Davis (R) 3B
Shea Langeliers (R) C
Lawrence Butler (L) RF
Nick Allen (R) SS
First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Brayan Bello vs. Luis Castillo
The big storyline: Call this the battle of two playoff contenders who decided not to spend any money this offseason — leaving two very unhappy fan bases. Boston’s payroll is down about $21 million from last season while Seattle’s is down about $1 million. The Red Sox ran the highest payroll in the sport when they won the World Series in 2018 but may not crack the top 10 this season. The Mariners missed the postseason by one win but simply retooled the roster rather than making significant additions. Still, with Julio Rodriguez and what could be one of the sport’s best rotations, the Mariners could challenge for their first division title since 2001 — and maybe even their first World Series appearance.
One interesting fact to impress your friends: Rodriguez had 60 home runs and 62 stolen bases over his first two seasons. Only six other players in MLB history reached 60-60 through their age-22 seasons: Alex Rodriguez, Mike Trout, Ken Griffey Jr., Ronald Acuna Jr., Andruw Jones and Cesar Cedeno. Rodriguez will have his sights on a 40-40 season in 2024. — Schoenfield
Red Sox lineup
Jarren Duran (L) LF
Rafael Devers (L) 3B
Trevor Story (R) SS
Triston Casas (L) 1B
Tyler O’Neill (R) RF
Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
Enmanuel Valdez (L) 2B
Connor Wong (R) C
Mariners lineup
J.P. Crawford (L) SS
Julio Rodriguez (R) CF
Jorge Polanco (S) 2B
Mitch Garver (R) DH
Cal Raleigh (S) C
Mitch Haniger (R) RF
Dominic Canzone (L) LF
Ty France (R) 1B
Josh Rojas (L) 3B
First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET
The pitching matchup: Kyle Freeland vs. Zac Gallen
The big storyline: From a national perspective, pretty much all the interest in this game surrounds Arizona, a breakout team in 2023 that won’t be sneaking up on anyone this time around. The Diamondbacks are defending an NL pennant for the second time in their history and as a club built on a foundation of a surfeit of young, high-upside players, they should in theory be better. But can they be improved enough to keep pace in the high-powered NL West? Getting off to a strong start will be a challenge as Arizona is dealing with key injuries in its pitching staff. That list is led by key free agent signee Eduardo Rodriguez (lat strain) and closer Paul Sewald (oblique).
One interesting fact to impress your friends: Arizona star Corbin Carroll is a great all-around player and one of the games’ best young hitters. But where he breaks the scale is on the basepaths. On the surface, you see that he scored 116 runs in 2023 while racking up 10 triples and recording a 54-for-59 success rate on steals. Add it up and Carroll’s plus-12 runs above average in the baserunning component of bWAR was five runs better than any other player in baseball last season, ranked as the best-ever total for a player 22 or younger and was tied for the 12th-best single-season figure in history. You can’t take your eyes off him. — Doolittle
Rockies lineup: TBA
Diamondbacks lineup
Ketel Marte (S) 2B
Corbin Carroll (L) RF
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (R) LF
Christian Walker (R) 1B
Gabriel Moreno (R) C
Eugenio Suarez (R) 3B
Blaze Alexander (R) DH
Alek Thomas (L) CF
Geraldo Perdomo (S) SS
Source: www.espn.com