After months of toiling away at your favorite MLB writers' Twitter accounts for free agency updates, reading about the growing tensions between the league offices and the MLBPA, and– wait, they aren't really changing the distance between the mound and the plate are they??? (no, not yet)– hearing about some crazy propositions for changing the game and enhancing the pace of play, it is finally time to play some baseball. Opening Day is here!
This is the earliest Opening Day in league history, with all 30 teams playing on March 28th. Intriguing storylines abound, old faces will be donning new uniforms and everyone will be gunning to snatch the crown away from the defending champion Boston Red Sox.
Fortunately, there are some incredibly entertaining matchups to keep tabs on, including Cy Young winners going head to head and divisional rivals already squaring off in potential pennant-race previews.
Here are the five Opening Day games that you must watch:
5. Cleveland Indians vs. Minnesota Twins (4:10 pm EST)
The American League Central is almost certainly the worst division in baseball. But, this is a fun one to keep an eye on for numerous reasons.
For one (there will be a trend here), former AL Cy Young Corey Kluber goes toe-to-toe with Jose Berrios, who is quickly developing as a power pitcher and one of the brightest young stars in the game.
Secondly, there is a sense that Cleveland's grip on the division is not as strong as previously thought, mostly due to their lack of production in the lineup and the Twins' determination to retool their own offense.
Minnesota made big upgrades in the offseason, with C.J. Cron, Nelson Cruz, and Marwin Gonzalez headlining their free agent class and Jonathan Schoop offering a potential bargain should he recapture some of the power that made him an All-Star in Baltimore.
The Indians are still the favorites in the division, but the Twins can put them on notice with a big win on Opening Day.
4. St. Louis Cardinals vs. Milwaukee Brewers (2:10 pm EST)
Conversely to the Central division in the AL, the National League's Central division might be the best in all of baseball. And two of the teams that will undoubtedly be vying for the divisional crown in September square off on Opening Day.
Cardinals fans get their first glimpse at superstar Paul Goldschmidt in a Cards uniform, and Goldschmidt has the assurance of spending the remaining years of his prime for a contender following his recent extension.
St. Louis might be the most well-balanced team in all of baseball, and with Goldy, Matt Carpenter, Marcell Ozuna, and Paul DeJong anchoring the lineup, they have plenty of boppers.
Meanwhile, the Brewers will begin their honeymoon season in front of the home crowd at Miller Park. Can they repeat the success they enjoyed in 2018? How will Christian Yelich follow up on an otherworldly second-half where he posted 228 OPS+? Is the rotation strong enough to throw more innings, or will manager Craig Counsell place the burden on his bullpen once again?
Plenty of intrigue in the Midwest.
3. Houston Astros vs. Tampa Bay Rays (3 pm EST)
The 2018 AL Cy Young award winner and runner-up take the bump here, as Blake Snell and Justin Verlander lead their respective teams into 2019.
Not only are Snell and Verlander two of the very best in baseball, but they also throw 97 mph and possess wipeout breaking balls. Even if this is a total snoozer from an offensive perspective, watching these two dominate is fun and quite impressive.
That said, these are two of the better clubs the AL has to offer. The Rays broke out to win 90 games last season and have an extremely deep pool of young talent, with more coming through the pipeline.
And, Rays manager Kevin Cash is one of the most creative minds in the game. Some folks hate the “opener” concept while others love it, but it is different if nothing else.
Meanwhile, the Astros are built to win the World Series once again in 2019. They won 103 games last year despite a rough season from Carlos Correa and injuries to Jose Altuve.
Alex Bregman is a star, and now that he has a new contract to prove it, can he continue to elevate his game? If Correa finally stays healthy and develops into the MVP-caliber player that he has shown flashes of being, the Bregman-Correa-Altuve trio could be as iconic as the “Killer Bs” back in the late-90s and early 2000s.
Houston lost some rotational depth, but Verlander and Gerrit Cole are arguably the best duo in the league, and they still have as much balance as any team in the American League. Plus, with young guys like Josh James and Kyle Tucker likely getting more exposure, they should be good for quite a long time.
In other words, these are two teams who are both good now and should still be excellent in five years.
2. Atlanta Braves vs. Philadelphia Phillies (3:05 pm EST)
The new-look Phillies open the season in Philadelphia against the reigning NL East champion Atlanta Braves. How long will it take Phils fans to boo Bryce Harper?
In all seriousness, this is an explosive one. Atlanta arrived far sooner than anticipated, and they could be even better this season. Josh Donaldson could end up being the steal of free agency if he can stay healthy, and both Ronald Acuna and Freddie Freeman are legit MVP contenders. The Braves can also play some defense; catcher Brian McCann may be their weakest defender.
Does Atlanta have enough big-league ready arms to come out on top in a much more competitive division? The Braves will need Sean Newcomb and Touki Toussaint to continue their progression, but do not be surprised if we see more of Kyle Wright or Mike Soroka in 2019. The bullpen faces some questions too, as Atlanta's bullpen ranked 19th in the MLB in bWAR.
Philadelphia and general manager Matt Klentak had a historic offseason, and they are all-in on 2019. Harper was the cherry on top of a winter that saw the Phils land Jean Segura, Andrew McCutchen, Dave Robertson, and J.T. Realmuto.
Rhys Hoskins could be an MVP sleeper in this loaded lineup, and Realmuto goes from pitcher-friendly Marlins Park to Citizens Bank, a much friendlier spot for hitters.
Similarly to the Braves, the Phillies need marked improvement from young guys like Nick Pivetta, Zach Eflin, and Vince Velasquez alongside ace Aaron Nola. Unlike Atlanta, however, Philadelphia has a number of quality bullpen arms.
Harper will command center stage in his debut, but this is a fantastic all-around matchup.
1. New York Mets vs. Washington Nationals (1:05 pm EST)
Would you rather watch the Yankees destroy the Orioles on national TV, or get treated to Max Scherzer vs. Jacob deGrom? Same.
Unfortunately, the Yankees and Baltimore reap the benefits of being the first game on the schedule. But make no mistake, the other New York team visiting the nation's capital in Washington, D.C.
Start with the aces, two of the most dominant pitchers in all of baseball who, like Snell and Verlander in the AL, are the winner (Jacob deGrom) and runner-up (Max Scherzer) for the NL Cy Young award. Not only do Scherzer and deGrom have filthy stuff, but they also go deep into games, ranking first and second in innings pitched, respectively.
Then add in the “dark horse” element of hype surrounding both teams. The Nationals are probably better without Harper, adding Patrick Corbin to form a fearsome top of the rotation while making big upgrades at positions of serious need. Juan Soto is an MVP candidate… and he is just 20 years old. One of the league's most highly-touted prospects–Victor Robles–is the Opening Day stater.
The face of the franchise is gone, but Washington is arguably still the most talented team in the NL East.
The Mets have an elite group of arms in the rotation and at the back end of the bullpen, with Jeurys Familia and Edwin Diaz lurking. Can they hit enough?
General manager Brodie Van Wagenen added Robinson Cano, Jed Lowrie, and Wilson Ramos to bolster the lineup, but the two guys to watch this season could be Brandon Nimmo and Pete Alonso. Nimmo was actually one of the best outfielders in baseball last year, while Alonso has light-tower power and could force his way into the lineup very quickly.
In the end, however, it is the pitching matchup of two absolute beasts that makes this can't-miss TV.
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