MLB

Offseason chaos. A historic World Baseball Classic. New rules. After a wild winter, MLB's regular season starts today with all 30 teams in action.

[Shane Bieber](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/40912/shane-bieber) vs. [Zac Gallen](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/39910/zac-gallen) vs. [German Marquez](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/34874/german-marquez) vs. [Dylan Cease](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/34943/dylan-cease) vs. [Alek Manoah](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/42436/alek-manoah) vs. [Mitch Keller](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/33722/mitch-keller) vs. [Pablo Lopez](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/39671/pablo-lopez) vs. [Eduardo Rodriguez](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32675/eduardo-rodriguez) vs. [Corbin Burnes](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/39878/corbin-burnes) vs. [Kyle Gibson](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31053/kyle-gibson) vs. [Logan Webb](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/41216/logan-webb) vs. [Max Fried](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32685/max-fried) vs.

The 2023 MLB season begins Thursday afternoon. Here are the top plays from all 15 Opening Day games!

On a busy opening day, every team is in action. Between M.L.B.'s new rules and some intriguing player movement, you might want to get caught up.

history to qualify for both the batting title and the E.R.A. Earlier in the day, the Yankees put Gerrit Cole up against a major breakout candidate in Logan Webb of the San Francisco Giants. If Ohtani plays the way he did in the last two seasons, he might make that Judge contract look tiny by comparison. He has made it clear he will walk away to find a chance to win. He’s a 55-60 runner but it plays up on the bases because he has great instincts both for reading pitchers and reading situations. Here’s a look at some of the [new rules](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/02/24/sports/baseball/mlb-rule-changes.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-mlb-season&variant=show®ion=MAIN_CONTENT_1&block=storyline_levelup_swipe_recirc) taking effect this season: The Yankees, whose games averaged a major league-high 3 hours 13 minutes last season, beat the San Francisco Giants, 5-0, in the first game of the day. While at shortstop, he’s got great hands and gets himself into the right position to make plays more than most shortstops I see. So it’s safe to say the team thinks Volpe, 21, has a bright future. After months of speculation about how new rules will change the game and a spring training filled with fast games and plenty of flubs, opening day of the 2023 Major League Baseball season is finally here. As for the effects of that clock on the game? (Switching to overhand pitching in the late 19th century was probably more extreme, but let’s put that aside.)

More than a dozen Jacksonville-area players are on Opening Day rosters, either active or IL, for the 2023 Major League Baseball season.

Notable: Lawrence has had the movement on his pitches working of late, including the World Baseball Classic with Panama. Notable: After tumultuous off-season, Clevinger returns to AL Central with White Sox; likely to occupy No. 3 or No. Position: Pitcher Position: Catcher Position: Outfielder Position: First baseman Position: Infielder

MLB, Fanatics and Topps have created a new patch that players will wear when they make their debut in the majors.

Anthony Volpe will make his big league debut at shortstop with the “Topps has been a great partner to baseball for decades, and I think this particular initiative is crucial to the development of deeper fan engagement.” That figure has since been beaten out by a 1952 Mickey Mantle card, which sold for

The Astros began their World Series title defense Thursday against the White Sox, but it didn't go as they planned.

Major League Baseball announced that players making their first appearances will wear debut patches on their jerseys. The patch will appear on different ...

Major League Baseball's opening day can offer an occasionally instructive peek under hood, even if it's merely just 1/162nd of the season to come.

[per The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/4365441/2023/03/30/2023-san-francisco-giants-opening-day-roster/), then told his parents to put the kibosh on plans to travel to New York and see his debut. No opening day magic can match that of players who stick on the roster and are set to make their major league debuts, like vaunted prospects Walker and Volpe. Alas, Oakland scrapped out two runs off Aaron Loup in the bottom of the eighth inning to steal Ohtani's win and, more significantly, deal the Angels a setback in their aim to end a near decadelong playoff drought. The result was somewhat predictable: Kluber recorded 10 outs and gave up five runs to the exuberant young Orioles lineup, including a home run to burgeoning star Adley Rutschman. The Yankees won their opener and Volpe’s alma mater, Delbarton School, got a no-decision – the team postponed its game Thursday to show up, jerseys and all, at Volpe’s debut. Petersburg, Florida, Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg made the rounds, expressing a significant amount of confidence a long-awaited deal for a new stadium would come together by year’s end. And of the five games that exceeded the three-hour mark, three could certainly cite extenuating circumstances – final scores of 10-9, 11-7 and 10-9. And now Outman, 25, has an opening day homer to his credit, too. And it will do nothing to expedite or ensure the healthy return of Carlos Rodon, the $162 million lefty whose forearm injury will keep him out until May. The news coming out of spring training – average game time, 2 hours, 35 minutes – seemed too good to be true. Or Gerrit Cole, the $324 million ace, mowing through the San Francisco Giants, striking out 11 in six innings, the highest-paid pitcher in total value teaming with the position player earning more than any other annually to send an immediate message to the American League. Sometimes that uh-oh feeling is quite warranted, as much as some of the oh-wows that might emerge when the sport’s presents are unwrapped, one by one.

Offseason chaos. A historic World Baseball Classic. New rules. After a wild winter, MLB's regular season starts today with all 30 teams in action.

[Highlights](/mlb/video/_/gameId/401471020) [Highlights](/mlb/video/_/gameId/40147102630) [Box score](/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471030) [Highlights](/mlb/video/_/gameId/401471025) [Box score](/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471025) [Highlights](/mlb/video/_/gameId/401471021) [Box score](/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471021) [Highlights](/mlb/video/_/gameId/401471024) [Box score](/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471026) [Box score](/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471028) [Highlights](/mlb/video/_/gameId/401471022) [Box score](/mlb/boxscore/_/gameId/401471022)

Braves at Nationals, 1:05 p.m., MLB Network · Giants at Yankees, 1:05 p.m., YES · Orioles at Red Sox, 2:10 p.m., NESN · Brewers at Cubs, 2:20 p.m., MARQ · Tigers at ...

](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/fantasy/2023/02/07/fantasy-baseball-updated-top-200-player-rankings-2023-mlb-season/11172314002/) [We ranked the top 250 for 2023](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/fantasy/2023/02/07/fantasy-baseball-updated-top-200-player-rankings-2023-mlb-season/11172314002/). 1 prospect in MLB?](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/03/24/mlb-100-names-to-know-2023-gunnar-henderson-top-prospects/11528553002/) [Expectations are high](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/03/24/mlb-100-names-to-know-2023-gunnar-henderson-top-prospects/11528553002/) for the favorite to win American League Rookie of the Year. [has shown new life, new energy and gusto](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/03/28/low-budget-guardians-have-higher-expectations-2023/11553806002/). [opened the spring with a starting rotation](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/03/26/2023-mlb-opening-day-9-questions-entering-season/11544922002/) of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino, Nestor Cortes and Frankie Montas. [has arrived](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/03/27/anthony-volpe-meet-new-york-yankees-opening-day-shortstop/11547643002/), at age 21, and will jog out to his position on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon to hold down one of the most prestigious positions in sports. [it was permanently implementing a provision](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/27/mlb-rules-2023-shift-pitch-clock-bases/11358317002/) in use since 2020 that every half inning after the ninth begins with a runner on second base. [Larger bases](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/28/mlb-shift-rule-explained-2023-season/11364513002/): The bases are now 18 inches square (previously 15 inches). [is a Tri-State kid](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/03/27/anthony-volpe-meet-new-york-yankees-opening-day-shortstop/11547643002/), pride of Watchung, New Jersey, and Morristown’s Delbarton School, from where you can reach Yankee Stadium in less than an hour, with cooperation from various bridges and thoroughfares. [Pitch clock](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/28/mlb-shift-rule-explained-2023-season/11364513002/): There is a 30-second timer between batters and a time limit between pitches. (Home plate – which stays the same size – to first base is 3 inches shorter.) [Pickoff limits](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/28/mlb-shift-rule-explained-2023-season/11364513002/): Pitchers are limited to a maximum of two pickoff attempts per plate appearance. The Oakland A’s ($62.2 million) ranked fifth among teams who made the most money while the Pittsburgh Pirates ($51.5 million) ranked eighth and the Kansas City Royals earned $27.8 million.

MLB, Fanatics and Topps have created a new patch that players will wear when they make their debut in the majors.

Anthony Volpe will make his big league debut at shortstop with the “Topps has been a great partner to baseball for decades, and I think this particular initiative is crucial to the development of deeper fan engagement.” That figure has since been beaten out by a 1952 Mickey Mantle card, which sold for

In free agency and through trades, the A's added infielder/outfielders Aledmys Diaz and Jace Peterson, Japanese flamethrower Shintaro Fujinami, ...

"The Athletics spent the offseason bringing in some cheap veteran talent in Aledmys Diaz, Jace Peterson and Jesus Aguilar in hopes that they can help keep things respectful on the field. That said, even the additions feel like baby steps for a franchise that probably won’t show much urgency until its stadium situation is settled, and has to continue relying on outwitting the opposition in an era where innovation is hard to keep secret for long." "75 wins may not seem like a big accomplishment, but the over/under win total for the A's over at FanDuel is 59.5. The reason I think the A's could win as many as 75 games this season is that their depth is a lot better than last season. It’s very possible A’s owner John Fisher suddenly becomes more willing to invest in the franchise when the team relocates. I’m penciling them in for closer to the 70 wins FanGraphs is projecting.

David Purdum examines how MLB's new rule changes will effect sportsbook and bettors' approach to wagering on baseball this season.

"The shift is huge to me," Fortuna said. "That's one thing [larger bases] that we did adjust our numbers on based on the rule changes, and it seems to be something that the bettors are taking note of also," Blum said. The SuperBook offered a season-long prop on the over/under on most stolen bases by an individual player. "We don't really see a direct correlation from the pitch clock to more scoring," said Randy Blum, who oversees baseball odds for the SuperBook in Las Vegas. "I think it's going to be a little more offsetting than people realize, almost a wash," Halvor said. Hitters are allowed one timeout per at-bat to reset the pitch clock.

By Jayson Stark, Patrick Mooney, Nick Groke, C. Trent Rosecrans and Andy McCullough. MLB's 15 games on Opening Day averaged 2 hours and 45 minutes Thursday, ...

[Padres](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/padres/) and the [Rockies](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/rockies/). [Brewers](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/brewers/) with [Christian Yelich](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/christian-yelich-S9hSJGPZg4kFYlsm/) at-bat and no outs. The [Dodgers](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/dodgers/) squashed the [Diamondbacks](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/diamondbacks/), 8-2, in only 2:35 — and that was a game which featured five different Arizona pitchers and multiple mid-inning pitching changes. Pitchers get 20 seconds to begin their throwing motions with runners on base and 15 seconds to do so with the bases empty. The second is to just embrace it and find ways to use it for our advantage. In the Red Sox game against the Orioles, Devers stepped out of the batter’s box in the eighth inning and wasn’t set within eight seconds after stepping back in, resulting in his violation. “Breathing is very important to aligning the body and putting yourself in a perfect position to deliver the ball to the plate. [Reds](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/reds/) vs. Thursday, though, both the Pirates and Reds starters had a pitch clock violation and both of those plate appearances ended in home runs for the batter. I am here to report that the clock works on the West Coast, too. [Pirates](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/pirates/) game went 3 hours and 2 minutes. The shortest of last year’s Opening Day games was 2 hours and 49 minutes.

The early slate of games brought plenty of action and drama on Opening Day. Follow it all here.

Here's one baseball fans might not have bet on: at least one prominent oddsmaker thinks starting pitchers will go deeper into games this season.

That’s the one that’s going to be the most difficult for us early on and I think for teams as well. “That’s the one market that I think we’re going to have the most difficulty early on in deciphering how much of an increase,” Egeland said. Starters are “going to dictate the tempo of the game and they’re going to be able to frustrate the hitters,” Biggio said. “The outfield shifting data-wise shows a greater difference between the batting average on balls in play.” He is a career .199 hitter but has a .325 on-base percentage and has topped out at 41 homers in a season. Batters must be alert to the pitcher with 8 seconds left.

A pitch timer that necessitates pitchers start their deliveries within 15 seconds with the bases empty, and within 20 seconds with someone on board;; Defensive ...

[Pete Alonso](/mlb/players/2447476/pete-alonso/) and [Jeff McNeil](/mlb/players/2169895/jeff-mcneil/), as well as home plate umpire Larry Vanover. [Mets](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/NYM/new-york-mets/) committed oddest violation [Orioles](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/BAL/baltimore-orioles/), would end up plating three other runs that inning. [MLB](/mlb/) and the MLB Players Association agreed to these changes with the hope that they would improve the pace of play and incentivize more batted balls and stolen-base attempts -- or, in other words, more action. Devers was not ready to hit, and so he ended up losing a chance for one more swing. We're here to tell you that both measures moved in the intended directions.

Scott Pianowski highlights a little-known player to consider adding in fantasy — a player who just might be the first stolen-base-specific pickup of 2023.

Major League Baseball made three notable rule changes this year, and if Opening Day is any indication, they are already working.

The number of timer violations dropped from 2.03 per game at the beginning of spring training to 1.48 by the end. When it comes to stolen bases, teams and oddsmakers clearly see the new rules as an enduring advantage. [Spring training games](https://www.mlb.com/news/impact-of-new-rules-during-spring-training-2023) were 26 minutes shorter on average in 2023 compared to 2021 and 2022. The overall batting average on ground balls was .249 in 2023 spring training, up from .233 in 2022. Spring training data saw a notable jump in batting average on ground balls, especially ones pulled and up the middle. It is intended to speed the game up, and it has already proved to be incredibly effective in that respect. Runners went 21 of 23 on stolen bases on Opening Day for an average of 1.53 attempts per game. Average runs per game dropped to 8.56 in 2022, the lowest number for the league since 2015. Stolen bases saw a significant spike both in spring training and on Opening Day. Scoring is a tougher one to gauge. How effectively are they working, and what can teams, fans and even oddsmakers expect for the rest of the season? The average time needed for nine innings is slightly shorter, but it has also floated above three hours each year since 2016.

Introducing MLB Debut Patches | Say hello to the first-ever memorabilia jersey patch, destined for trading cards.

Baseball players aren't always the most fashionable, but they understand the need to look good on their first day of school. March 31, 2023.

Crawford's whole vibe, Penn Murfee's dirtbag professorial look, and the rest of the team going full normcore. The whole range of baseball player fashion is on display here. All smiles from Francisco Lindor, who, predictably, outshined his Mets' teammates in the pregame tunnel. Thursday's festivities featured a few people who came correct, both on the field and with their tunnel entrance fits. Every year on Opening Day, you'll hear committed fans talk about how it should be a national holiday. The

Major League Baseball is investigating a postgame incident involving Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and a fan at Oakland's Coliseum after ...

Francisco was also charged with felony battery and settled a lawsuit with the fan. More notably, Texas Rangers pitcher Frank Francisco was suspended the remainder of the 2004 season after a September incident between Rangers relievers and fans in Oakland, where the bullpen is located down the third base line. Rendon can be seen reaching up into an elevated seating area with his hand around the man's shirt.

MLB is investigating a confrontation between Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and an Athletics fan at Thursday's season opener in Oakland.

Rendon continues to challenge the fan as he denies the claim. He missed the majority of 2022 after undergoing right wrist surgery during the season. In a 12-second video posted on social media, Rendon grabs the fan by the shirt through the guardrails and accuses the fan of calling him a "b----."

MLB announced Friday it is investigating an altercation between Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and a fan at the A's-Angels game Thursday.

Major League Baseball made three notable rule changes this year, and if Opening Day is any indication, they are already working.

Major League Baseball made three notable rule changes this year, and if Opening Day is any indication, they are already working.

The number of timer violations dropped from 2.03 per game at the beginning of spring training to 1.48 by the end. When it comes to stolen bases, teams and oddsmakers clearly see the new rules as an enduring advantage. [Spring training games](https://www.mlb.com/news/impact-of-new-rules-during-spring-training-2023) were 26 minutes shorter on average in 2023 compared to 2021 and 2022. The overall batting average on ground balls was .249 in 2023 spring training, up from .233 in 2022. Spring training data saw a notable jump in batting average on ground balls, especially ones pulled and up the middle. It is intended to speed the game up, and it has already proved to be incredibly effective in that respect. Runners went 21 of 23 on stolen bases on Opening Day for an average of 1.53 attempts per game. Average runs per game dropped to 8.56 in 2022, the lowest number for the league since 2015. Stolen bases saw a significant spike both in spring training and on Opening Day. Scoring is a tougher one to gauge. How effectively are they working, and what can teams, fans and even oddsmakers expect for the rest of the season? The average time needed for nine innings is slightly shorter, but it has also floated above three hours each year since 2016.

Major League Baseball is investigating a video making the rounds on social media that appears to show Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon ...

MLB announced Friday it is investigating an altercation between Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and a fan at the A's-Angels game on ...

Angels](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/athletics/athletics-esteury-ruiz-flashes-game-breaking-speed-win-vs-angels?chrcontext=WVIT) You called me a b---h, huh?” [Athletics-Angels season opener](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/athletics/athletics-observations-late-rally-sparks-impressive-opening-day-win-vs-angels?chrcontext=WVIT) at the Oakland Coliseum.

MLB is investigating a confrontation between Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and an Athletics fan at Thursday's season opener in Oakland.

Rendon continues to challenge the fan as he denies the claim. He missed the majority of 2022 after undergoing right wrist surgery during the season. In a 12-second video posted on social media, Rendon grabs the fan by the shirt through the guardrails and accuses the fan of calling him a "b----."

Major League Baseball made three notable rule changes this year, and if Opening Day is any indication, they are already working.

The number of timer violations dropped from 2.03 per game at the beginning of spring training to 1.48 by the end. When it comes to stolen bases, teams and oddsmakers clearly see the new rules as an enduring advantage. The overall batting average on ground balls was .249 in 2023 spring training, up from .233 in 2022. Spring training data saw a notable jump in batting average on ground balls, especially ones pulled and up the middle. It is intended to speed the game up, and it has already proved to be incredibly effective in that respect. Runners went 21 of 23 on stolen bases on Opening Day for an average of 1.53 attempts per game. [Spring training games](https://www.mlb.com/news/impact-of-new-rules-during-spring-training-2023) were 26 minutes shorter on average in 2023 compared to 2021 and 2022. Average runs per game dropped to 8.56 in 2022, the lowest number for the league since 2015. Stolen bases saw a significant spike both in spring training and on Opening Day. Scoring is a tougher one to gauge. How effectively are they working, and what can teams, fans and even oddsmakers expect for the rest of the season? The average time needed for nine innings is slightly shorter, but it has also floated above three hours each year since 2016.

Major League Baseball made news during the offseason by changing some rules to speed up the game. If Opening Day is a sign of what's to come, speed will now ...

The Rays disposed of the Tigers with a 4-0 shutout in just two hours and 14 minutes, according to the official box score. If Opening Day is a sign of what's to come, speed will now be associated with baseball. — Major League Baseball made news during the offseason by changing some rules to speed up the game.

MLB announced Friday it is investigating an altercation between Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and a fan at the A's-Angels game on ...

Rendon continued to yell vulgar words at the fan and then swung and missed at him before walking away. You called me a b---h, huh?” (Warning: Video contains NSFW language). The fans denied Rendon’s accusation, but the Angels player continued to press the issue while still appearing to pull the fan’s shirt.

MLB announced Friday it is investigating an altercation between Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and a fan at the A's-Angels game on ...

Rendon continued to yell vulgar words at the fan and then swung and missed at him before walking away. You called me a b---h, huh?” (Warning: Video contains NSFW language). The fans denied Rendon’s accusation, but the Angels player continued to press the issue while still appearing to pull the fan’s shirt.

MLB announced Friday it is investigating an altercation between Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and a fan at the A's-Angels game Thursday.

You called me a b---h, huh?” Rendon continued to yell vulgar words at the fan and then swung and missed at him before walking away. In a video circulating on social media, Rendon appears to grab the fan by the shirt and a heated back-and-forth exchange ensued.

Video showed Rendon grabbing a fan near the dugout following the Opening Day game.

He went 0 for 3 with a walk in the Thursday loss to the A's. Rendon, 32, is now in his fourth season with the Angels after signing a $245 million free-agent deal prior to the 2020 season. [According to Sam Blum](https://twitter.com/SamBlum3/status/1641884831687786497) of the Athletic, the Angels on Friday declined to comment on the incident but did say that Rendon will be made available to the media prior to Saturday's game back in Oakland to address the matter.

MLB announced Friday it is investigating an altercation between Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and a fan at the A's-Angels game on ...

Angels](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/athletics/athletics-esteury-ruiz-flashes-game-breaking-speed-win-vs-angels?chrcontext=WMAQ) You called me a b---h, huh?” [Athletics-Angels season opener](https://www.nbcsports.com/bayarea/athletics/athletics-observations-late-rally-sparks-impressive-opening-day-win-vs-angels?chrcontext=WMAQ) at the Oakland Coliseum.