Sale, Colon debut with new clubs on MLB.TV

April 4th, 2017

All 30 Major League clubs will be in action today for the first time this season. The full 15-game slate includes a few notable names donning new uniforms, including the Red Sox's Chris Sale. The big left-hander was dealt from Chicago to Boston in a blockbuster trade this winter and is scheduled to make his debut at Fenway Park in an evening matchup with the Pirates.
Fans can catch Sale's first start with the Red Sox as well as the rest of the day's contests, including 's Braves debut against his former club, streaming live on MLB.TV.
MLB.TV Premium is available for $112.99 yearly or $24.99 monthly, with nearly two dozen features for subscribers to access and interact with live out-of-market Major League Baseball games at 60 frames per second on any of the more than 400 supported devices. MLB.TV Single Team subscriptions are also available at $87.49 yearly.
Here's what to watch for throughout the day (all times in ET):
Sale debuts vs. Bucs: PIT@BOS, 7:10 p.m.
Sale will make his highly anticipated debut in a Boston uniform against the Pirates. He enjoyed a productive spring, going 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA through five starts. Even in Grapefruit League play, his intensity was apparent to his new club.
"I think even in some of the functions we had in Spring Training, he's not looking to do things to kill time," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "There's a purpose to everything he does, and it has shown up and reared its head in other ways."
Opposite Sale will be Pittsburgh righty , who went No. 2 overall in the same Draft the White Sox selected Sale at No. 13 in 2010. Taillon, who is making his first appearance at Fenway Park, was 5-4 with a 3.38 ERA through 18 starts as a rookie in 2016.
"Hopefully I just keep guys on the ground and don't have to worry about [the Green Monster]. These hitters know how to hit here," Taillon said. "They know how to lift the ball. Pretty short to left. Pretty short to right. That being said, if I'm putting guys on the ground, that shouldn't matter. We'll see. Me versus them."

Colon takes on former teammates in Queens: ATL@NYM, 7:10 p.m.
Colon begins his 20th Major League season right where he left off, pitching at Citi Field. The veteran hurler returns wearing a visitors' uniform, however; after three seasons with the Mets, he inked a one-year deal with the Braves in November.
"I'm happy and I'm excited," Colon said. "I've done it before in my career. I've opened against other teams I have pitched for. The difference is you do it in New York, one of the biggest cities in the world."
will toe the rubber for the Mets, looking move past an injury-riddled 2016 season. The right-hander owns a 1.90 ERA in eight career starts against Atlanta, including eight scoreless frames in the most recent meeting on June 25.

Richards set for first regular-season start in 11 months: LAA@OAK, 10:05 p.m.
will return to the mound Wednesday in Oakland for his first regular-season appearance since May 1. The right-hander was among the many injured members of the Angels' rotation last season, but he avoided Tommy John surgery by receiving a stem-cell injection in his damaged right elbow. His workload is expected to be limited this season, and he has dialed back the effort on his throws as a result.
"I feel like I still have the same life on my ball and everything is still the same, but I'm more efficient," Richards said. "If I throw at 85 percent, I'm able to repeat my mechanics better."
The A's will counter with righty , who was among the three pitchers Oakland acquired in last summer's trade that sent and Rich Hill to the Dodgers. He finished 2016 strong, going 2-0 with a 2.15 ERA in five September starts.