Happy Opening Day from MLBTR! Here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on around the baseball world as the 2023 season kicks off:
1. Opening Day is here!
As previously mentioned, the 2023 MLB season is set to begin today. Games kick off at 12:05pm CT today with the Giants visiting the Yankees and the Braves visiting the Nationals. All 30 clubs will play today, with Diamondbacks at Dodgers and Guardians at Mariners wrapping up the day at 9:10pm CT. While there’s exciting pitching matchups littered all throughout today’s games, two in particular stand out: Jacob deGrom is set to make his first start as a Ranger, taking on the Phillies and Aaron Nola at 3:05pm CT this afternoon, and reigning NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara and his Marlins will take on future Hall of Famer Max Scherzer and the Mets at 3:10pm CT. Click here for more information on today’s games.
2. Will the Pirates get a Reynolds deal done?
The Pirates and Bryan Reynolds had reportedly made some progress toward an extension late last night, and today’s looming season opener is said to be a deadline for those talks. Hurdles apparently remain, however. Any deal would likely have to be the new largest in Pirates history, surpassing Ke’Bryan Hayes’s eight-year, $70MM extension that currently stands as the club’s record contract. With a matter of hours left until the agreed upon deadline for extension discussions, will the sides manage to reach an agreement?
3. Offseason In Review series continues
MLBTR’s Offseason in Review series continues today, with a Rockies-centric live chat by MLBTR’s Anthony Franco planned for this morning at 10am CT to go along with the latest installment of the series. You can click here to submit a question in advance, participate live when the chat begins, or read the transcript once it’s complete. In addition to Anthony’s chat, be sure to check back throughout the day for the Giants installment of the series, which should be available later today.
Happy Opening Day to all of my fellow baseball obsessives here at MLBTR. We may love different teams, but we all love baseball.
Hooray! Go Brewers! Let’s have no injuries and lots of great games all across the country! Woot!Woot!
@LordD99. Well said.
As far as any Reynolds deal being made, it’s simple. If both sides are sincere about getting it done, they will. I have my doubts that this is for show.
For the first time ever opening day features 3 interleague matchups (Giants-Yankees, Blue Jays-Cardinals, Phillies-Rangers).
The other NL teams kickoff the season with divisional matchups (Braves-Nationals, Mets-Marlins, Brewers-Cubs, Pirates-Reds, Diamondbacks-Dodgers, Rockies-Padres)
The AL changes it up a bit with 3 divisional matchups (Orioles-Red Sox, Twins-Royals, Angels-A’s) and 3 intradivision matchups (White Sox-Astros, Tigers-Rays, Guardians-Mariners)
The Rays host the Tigers on opening day for the first time since their very first opening day in 1998. Jose Abreu gets to face his former team for the first time right out of the get. I feel the A’s missed a great opportunity (not to mention ticket sales) by not starting Shintaro Fujinami against Shohei Ohtani in Oakland
Are you people having trouble watching every single game?
Here are two ways:
One, you can download the Tmobile Tuesdays app and get a full year of free MLB tv (you need a tmobile number, or know someone with tmobile that will send you the activation code). Local games are blacked out, so use a VPN to gain access (it’s worth the Google).
Or, number two…just stream it on one of the web’s free-2a-degree streaming sites. My number one favorite is sportshd.me (when you go to the page it says worldcupfootball in the search bar). Here you can watch pretty much every sport ever video taped, as long as it’s deemed important enough. You will want to install an ad blocker first, and be ready to click a few popup web pages closed – but with a little persistence, you’ll have beautiful, beautiful baseball for free people.
What do you mean YOU PEOPLE?
Excellent information. Thank you.