Preview Roundups
March 28, 2019
NY Mets at Washington 1:05 PM ET
New York Mets ace right-hander Jacob deGrom will carry a heavier wallet to the mound in Thursday afternoon's opener of a three-game road series against a Washington Nationals club that is significantly lighter on offense. Signed to a five-year, $137.5 million contract, the reigning National League Cy Young Award recipient will be opposed by the man (Max Scherzer) who claimed the honor in each of the previous two years.
Baltimore at NY Yankees 1:05 PM ET
The New York Yankees failed to reel in any of the big fish on the free-agent market, but they still carry loads of firepower into Opening Day at home against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. While Bryce Harper and Manny Machado settled in Philadelphia and San Diego, respectively, the Yankees return most of a roster that slugged a major-league record 267 home runs en route to 100 wins last year, Aaron Boone's first as manager in the Bronx.
St. Louis at Milwaukee 2:10 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals have one of baseball's proudest traditions and a failure to reach the postseason for three consecutive years for the first time since 1997-99 prompted the team to make a major splash in the offseason. Marquee acquisition Paul Goldschmidt will make his debut when St. Louis opens a four-game set at the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday afternoon.
Atlanta at Philadelphia 3:05 PM ET
The Philadelphia Phillies made several major moves this offseason that they hope will result in a National League East title, and they get an opportunity to measure themselves right away against the reigning division champion when they host the Atlanta Braves in Thursday's season opener. The beginning of a three-game series marks the debut of several new Phillies, including right fielder Bryce Harper, who was lured away from Washington by a 13-year, $330-million contract.
Detroit at Toronto 3:37 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays happen to play in a division in which two teams won 100 or more games last season, but they still might be the most intriguing team in the American League East. The Blue Jays will kick off a transitional season when they host the rebuilding Detroit Tigers in the season opener on Thursday.
Houston at Tampa Bay 4:00 PM ET
The top two vote getters in the American League Cy Young race last year will face off on Opening Day of a new season when the Tampa Bay Rays host the defending AL West champion Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon. Tampa Bay’s Blake Snell captured his first Cy Young after winning a major league-high 21 games in 2018 while Houston’s Justin Verlander led the AL with 290 strikeouts and just missed winning the award for the second time.
Chi. Cubs at Texas 4:05 PM ET
The Chicago Cubs and Texas Rangers begin the season with different sets of expectations when they open the 2019 campaign with a three-game interleague series starting Thursday in Texas. Chicago has won eight of 15 meetings and is visiting Arlington for the first time since 2010.
LA Angels at Oakland 4:07 PM ET
After coming up empty in Japan, the Oakland Athletics attempt to earn their first win of 2019 in familiar surroundings when they host the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. Oakland began the season in Tokyo with a pair of losses to Seattle in what were deemed home games for the club.
San Francisco at San Diego 4:10 PM ET
Manny Machado makes his San Diego debut when the Padres begin the season against the visiting San Francisco Giants on Thursday in the opener of a four-game set. The Padres were the surprise winners of the Machado sweepstakes when they signed the 26-year-old third baseman to a 10-year, $300 million deal.
Arizona at LA Dodgers 4:10 PM ET
After failing to score in their first two games last year, the Los Angeles Dodgers aim for a quicker start in Thursday’s season opener against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers lost out on free agent stars Manny Machado and Bryce Harper but still boast a formidable lineup led by Cody Bellinger and newcomer A.J. Pollock.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati 4:10 PM ET
The Cincinnati Reds have finished in last place in the National League Central division four straight times, a painful trend they hope to reverse in 2019 under rookie manager David Bell, who skippers his first regular-season game in Thursday's opener against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates. Bell inherits a team that hasn't finished above .500 since 2013 but boasts some quality young talent around star first baseman Joey Votto, newly acquired right fielder Yasiel Puig and a revamped rotation.
Colorado at Miami 4:10 PM ET
After reaching the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time in franchise history, the Colorado Rockies have their eyes on the World Series in 2019. The Rockies open the season Thursday on the road against the Miami Marlins after signing third baseman Nolan Arenado to a new eight-year, $260 million contract last month.
Cleveland at Minnesota 4:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians will be missing some key elements to the lineup when they begin the quest for a fourth straight Central Division title on the road Thursday afternoon against the Minnesota Twins in the season opener for both teams. All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor, who registered career highs in runs (129), hits (183), homers (38) and RBIs (92) last season, along with second baseman Jason Kipnis, are both recovering from calf injuries and likely won’t play until April.
Chi. White Sox at Kansas City 4:15 PM ET
The Kansas City Royals ended last year two losses shy of matching the single-season franchise record of 106 set in 2005, thanks in part to a 3-14 start. They hope for a better beginning to 2019, which gets underway Thursday with the opener of a three-game series against the visiting Chicago White Sox.
Boston at Seattle 7:10 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox kick off the defense of their latest championship when they visit the Seattle Mariners on Thursday. While the Red Sox will be enjoying their regular-season opener, the Mariners already have a jump on the competition after earning a pair of wins over the Oakland Athletics in Japan last week.