Baseball Season Is Upon Us: Opening Day Matchups and What to Watch For
- Mar 30, 2016
- 3 min read
New York Mets' Juan Lagares scores during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Kansas City Royals Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, in Kansas City, Mo. Lagares scored from second on a hit by Wilmer Flores. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip) (David J. Phillip)
Are you ready baseball fans? Opening Day 2016 is upon us and there are many things to look forward to this baseball season.
The Pirates and Cardinals are scheduled to kick of the season at 1:05 p.m ET at PNC Park in Pittsburgh on Sunday, April 3rd. Rays will play the Blue Jays at 4:05 p.m. ET at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida later on during the same day.
Then, there's the matchup that many baseball fans have been waiting for. The Kansas City Royals will take on the New York Mets in Kansas City at 8:35 p.m. ET on ESPN's "Sunday Night Baseball."
On Monday 22 more teams will begin their seasons. Then the Tigers and Marlins will play on April 5th.
MLB Opening Day Starters
Arizona Diamondbacks (Zack Greinke) vs. Colorado Rockies (Jorge De La Rosa), Monday, April 4, 9:40 p.m.
Atlanta Braves (Julio Teheran) vs. Washington Nationals (Max Scherzer), Monday, April 4, 4:10 p.m.
Baltimore Orioles (Chris Tillman) vs. Minnesota Twins (Ervin Santana), Monday, April 4, 3:05 p.m.
Boston Red Sox (David Price) at Cleveland Indians Corey Kluber, Monday, April 4, 4:10 p.m.
Chicago Cubs (Jake Arrieta) at Los Angeles Angels (Garrett Richards), Monday, April 4, 10:05 p.m.
Chicago White Sox (Chris Sale) at Oakland Athletics (Sonny Gray), Monday, April 4, 10:05 p.m.
Cincinnati Reds (Raisel Iglesias) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (Jeremy Hellickson), Monday, April 4, 4:10 p.m.
Detroit Tigers (Justin Verlander) at Miami Marlins (Wei-Yin Chen), Tuesday, April 5, 7:10 p.m.
Houston Astros (Dallas Keuchel) at New York Yankees (TBD), Monday, April 4, 1:05 p.m.
Kansas City Royals (Edinson Volquez): vs. New York Mets (Matt Harvey), Sunday, April 3, 8:35 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers (Clayton Kershaw) at San Diego Padres (Tyson Ross), Monday, April 4, 7:05 p.m.
Milwaukee Brewers (Wily Peralta) vs. San Francisco Giants (Madison Bumgarner), Monday, April 4, 2:10 p.m.
Pittsburgh Pirates (Francisco Liriano) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (Adam Wainwright), Sunday, April 3, 1:05 p.m.
Seattle Mariners (Felix Hernandez) at Texas Rangers (Cole Hamels), Monday, April 4, 4:05 p.m.
Tampa Bay Rays (Chris Archer) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (Marcus Stroman), Sunday, April 3, 4:05 p.m.
What to Watch For
Who will be the home run kings this season?
Photo Credit: Ed Sheahin/Gary Sousa/PressBox
The Baltimore Orioles (217 home runs in 2015) look like they will be the biggest competitors to the Toronto Blue Jays, who hit 232 last season. With the additions of sluggers Mark Trumbo and Pedro Alvarez and a healthy campaign for Jonathan Schoop, Matt Wieters and J.J. Hardy, the Orioles look like a huge threat to the Blue Jays repeat of the home run title.
Sunday Night Fights?
Mets starter Noah Syndergaard throws in the first inning of Game 3 of the World Series against the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field on Friday, Oct. 30, 2015. Photo Credit: Newsday / J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Although Noah Syndergaard isn't scheduled to start until Tuesday, the Royals may retaliate against the Mets for Syndergaard's brushback pitch, according to Newsday:
"[M]ultiple industry sources told Newsday that the Royals have been signaling their intent to seek retribution against the Mets on Opening Night."
Syndergaard also had some thoughts about the Royals potential retaliation after Game 3 of the World Series:
“If they have a problem with me throwing inside, then they can meet me 60 feet, 6 inches away. I’ve got no problem with that.”
World Series Predictions
Way too early to tell.
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