The ultimate guide to every Opening Day matchup

The ultimate guide to every Opening Day matchup

March 28th, 2024

After getting a season-opening appetizer with the Seoul Series between the Dodgers and Padres last week, it’s time for the main course. MLB’s full Opening Day has arrived, and with 26 teams on the schedule Thursday -- plus two more Opening Day games Friday -- get ready for wall-to-wall action.

To prepare you for a jam-packed slate of baseball, here is a guide to all 15 Opening Day games, listed in order of start time (all times ET). Every game is available live on MLB.TV (local and national blackout restrictions apply).

Angels at Orioles, 3:05 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (LAA) vs. (BAL) -- Burnes, the 2021 National League Cy Young Award winner, will be making his O’s debut after Baltimore acquired him from the Brewers in an offseason trade.
See this new face: In addition to their new ace, Burnes, the Orioles have a new closer in . The veteran righty had a 3.26 ERA with 23 saves and 94 strikeouts over 69 innings for the Phillies last season.
Note to know: has dealt with a myriad of injuries in recent years, but he has been healthy for every Halos season opener dating back to 2013. He’s set to become the third player in Angels history to make at least 12 Opening Day starts, joining (13) and (12).

Nationals at Reds, 4:10 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (WSH) vs. (CIN) -- After earning his first All-Star selection a year ago, Gray will get his first Opening Day start here. He’s matching up against Montas, who is making his Reds debut after signing a one-year, $16 million deal in the offseason.
See this new face: will make his Reds debut after signing a three-year, $45 million contract in free agency during the offseason. Candelario opened 2023 with the Nationals before being traded to the Cubs last summer. He finished with 22 homers and an .807 OPS over 140 games between the two clubs.
Note to know: The Reds almost always open their season at home. In fact, the club has played a season opener on the road only three times since 1901 -- at Philadelphia in 1966, at Houston in 1990 and at Atlanta in 2022.

Giants at Padres, 4:10 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (SF) vs. (SD) -- Webb, who finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting behind new teammate last season, will make his third straight Opening Day start for the Giants. Darvish, who started on Opening Day for the Padres during the Seoul Series, will get the ball for San Diego.
See this new face: Center fielder is set to make his MLB debut for the Giants after a decorated career in Korea. Lee signed a six-year, $113 million contract with San Francisco in December.
Note to know: This will be the first time since 2011 () someone other than gets the Opening Day start at shortstop for the Giants.

Cardinals at Dodgers, 4:10 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (STL) vs. (LAD) -- ’s hamstring injury opened the door for Mikolas to make his second straight Opening Day start (third overall) for St. Louis. Mikolas and Yankees ace were the only pitchers who reached the 200-inning plateau in each of the past two seasons. Glasnow started Game 1 of the Seoul Series for Los Angeles, holding the Padres to two runs in five innings.
See this new face: After going 3-for-10 with two RBIs and a stolen base in the Seoul Series, will make his home debut in Dodger Blue. The superstar slugger signed a record-setting 10-year, $700 million deal with Los Angeles in the offseason.
Note to know: St. Louis first baseman is set to make his 13th consecutive Opening Day start at first base between the D-backs (seven straight) and Cardinals (six straight). Dodgers first baseman extended his streak of Opening Day starts to 14 -- 11 for the Braves and three for the Dodgers -- in Game 1 of the Seoul Series on March 20.

Blue Jays at Rays, 4:10 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: José Berríos (TOR) vs. (TB) -- Eflin finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award voting in his first season with the Rays after signing a three-year, $40 million deal, the largest free-agent contract in franchise history.
See this new face: After spending 2023 with the Red Sox, veteran infielder joined the Blue Jays on a one-year, $13 million deal in January. The 39-year-old remained productive last season, recording 23 homers with an .800 OPS.
Note to know: 2023 AL batting champion is set to become just the fifth player in Rays history to make at least six Opening Day starts for the club, joining (nine), (eight), (eight) and (six).

Twins at Royals, 4:10 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (MIN) vs. (KC) -- López put together a breakout season after being traded from the Marlins to the Twins with two others for in January 2023. The right-hander tied for third in the Majors in strikeouts (234) and posted a 3.66 ERA.
See this new face: is the Twins’ new starting first baseman. The veteran switch-hitter previously played for the Royals in 2021-22.
Note to know: This is the second straight year the Twins and Royals have been matched up on Opening Day. The AL Central rivals played each other in season openers only four times previously (1969, 1974, 2002, 2017).

Tigers at White Sox, 4:10 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (DET) vs. (CWS) -- A pair of young southpaws, each of whom will be making his first career Opening Day start, will take the mound to open the season for their respective clubs.
See this new face: is projected to start at third base for the Tigers, just two seasons removed from producing 3.0 bWAR for the Twins.
Note to know: When he takes the mound for the season-opener, Crochet will become the ninth pitcher since 1914 to make his first career MLB start on Opening Day.

Pirates at Marlins, 4:10 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (PIT) vs. (MIA) -- Keller is lined up to make his second career Opening Day start following an All-Star campaign in 2023, and Luzardo will make his first following a strong 2023 performance of his own, in which he posted a 3.58 ERA over 32 starts for Miami.
See this new face: will be at shortstop for the Marlins after signing a free-agent deal with Miami. He’ll look to recapture the form that led to a .318 batting average and an .820 OPS from 2019-22, a span over which he was a two-time All-Star and won a batting title (2019).
Note to know: Franchise icon is one home run shy of 300 for his career.

Yankees at Astros, 4:10 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (NYY) vs. (HOU) -- Two big-name left-handers are slated to take the mound in a heavyweight matchup between AL powers on Opening Day. While Cortes will be taking the ball for the opener for the first time in his career, it’ll be the third such start for Valdez.
See this new face: The biggest trade this offseason was the deal that sent from the Padres to the Yankees. With Soto joining fellow sluggers and in New York’s lineup, it could be quite a year in the Bronx. Don’t miss Soto’s debut in Yankee pinstripes.
Note to know: is in line to make his eighth Opening Day start at third base for the Astros, which would tie him with for most in franchise history.

Cubs at Rangers, 7:35 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (CHC) vs. (TEX) -- Steele’s breakout 2023 season earned him his first Opening Day start in 2024. The left-hander was an All-Star last year and finished fifth in NL Cy Young Award voting. Eovaldi, by contrast, is very familiar with Opening Day starts -- he’ll be making his fourth.
See this new face: , MLB Pipeline’s No. 6 overall prospect, put together a tremendous Cactus League performance to earn a spot on the Opening Day roster less than a year after being drafted fourth overall in 2023.
Note to know: The Cubs have the most Opening Day wins of any MLB franchise, with 81.

Guardians at A’s, 10:07 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (CLE) vs. (OAK) -- Bieber is slated to make his fifth consecutive Opening Day start for Cleveland, while Wood will be making his first career Opening Day start, and his first start for the A’s.
See this new face: In addition to Wood on the mound, another new face on the infield will be third baseman , whom the A’s signed earlier this month after he was released by the cross-bay Giants. Davis owns a career .775 OPS in seven MLB seasons.
Note to know: Bieber’s fifth Opening Day start would tie him for third-most in franchise history, behind Hall of Famers (seven) and (six). He’d join , and with five.

Rockies at D-backs, 10:10 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (COL) vs. (AZ) -- Freeland will be making his third career Opening Day start, and Gallen will be making his second straight for Arizona.
See this new face: The D-backs added some slugging to the lineup by acquiring , who will likely slot into the lineup as the designated hitter -- Pederson brings a career .800 OPS with 186 home runs to Arizona.
Note to know: will be making his fifth Opening Day start for the D-backs, extending his franchise record for second basemen.

Red Sox at Mariners, 10:10 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (BOS) vs. (SEA) -- A young, rising pitcher for Boston takes on a veteran with Cy Young Award potential. It’ll be Bello’s first career Opening Day assignment and Castillo’s fourth (two with the Reds and one with the Mariners so far).
See this new face: gives Seattle a veteran second baseman with a proven track record in 10 seasons with the Twins. He’ll make his Mariners debut against Boston.
Note to know: Bello will be the youngest pitcher to make an Opening Day start for the Red Sox since in 1995 -- Sele, like Bello, was 24 at the time.

Friday (postponed from Thursday)

Brewers at Mets, 1:40 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (MIL) vs. (NYM) -- Peralta, who posted a 3.86 ERA with 210 K’s in 2023, is Milwaukee’s new ace after the team traded to the Orioles in February.
See this new face: After six seasons with the Phillies, joined the Brewers on a two-year, $34 million deal (with an opt-out after 2024) in the offseason. Hoskins, who hit 30 homers in 2022, missed all of last season with a torn ACL in his left knee.
Note to know: The Mets’ .661 winning percentage (41-21 record) in season openers is the best all time. They’ve won six of their past seven Opening Day matchups, though this is the first time they’ve faced the Brewers in their season opener.

Braves at Phillies, 3:05 p.m. ET
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SP matchup: (ATL) vs. (PHI) -- This National League East showdown features the only Opening Day starting pitcher matchup in which both hurlers received Cy Young Award votes last season. Strider, who led the Majors with 281 strikeouts, finished fourth in the NL Cy Young race, while Wheeler was sixth.
See this new face: , a former highly-touted prospect with the Mets and Mariners, is now a member of the Braves after Seattle traded him to Atlanta in the offseason. Kelenic owns a .656 OPS over 252 games in the Majors, but he’s still only 24 years old.
Note to know: This will mark the first time since 2017 that a pitcher other than starts on Opening Day for the Phillies. Nola’s streak of six straight Opening Day starts is the third longest by a pitcher in franchise history behind Robin Roberts (12 straight) and Steve Carlton (10 straight).