Opening Day 2018 set at March 29, earliest in history

MLB’S NEW YORK » The 2018 Major League Baseball season will begin on March 29, the earliest start in the sport’s history excluding international openers.

All teams will play on opening day for the first time since 1968, the last year before the American and National Leagues split into divisions, the commissioner’s office said Tuesday.

As part of the sport’s new labor contract, each team’s 162 games were scheduled over 186 days, up from 183. The change was made to create more off days.

Previously, the earliest start except for international games was March 30 in 2003, 2008 and 2014. This will be just the 12th season to start on a Thursday following 190104, 1907, 1912, 1959, 1973-74, 1976 and 2011.

Interleague matchups during the season include the AL East playing the NL East, the AL Central facing the NL Central and the AL West meeting NL West.

The All-Star Game is July 17 at the Nationals, and the regular season is scheduled to end Sept. 30.

Prospect from Darvish deal making Texas debut

ARLINGTON, TEXAS » Willie Calhoun was planning to drive from Arizona to California on Tuesday since his Triple-A season was over. Instead, the prized prospect the Rangers got in the Yu Darvish trade flew to Texas for his major league debut.

Then he got an RBI single in his first atbat.

“It’s been pretty crazy,” Calhoun said before the game.

The Rangers purchased Calhoun’s contract from Triple-A Round Rock, and he batted seventh and played left field against Seattle. He pulled a single through the right side of the infield in the second inning.

Calhoun was one of three minor leaguers the Rangers got from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the July 31 trade that sent Darvish to the NL’s top team.

“I try not to think about it as much. I don’t put any extra pressure on myself at all,” the 22-year-old Calhoun said about being acquired for the former Rangers ace. “I don’t really think about that when I’m on the field. I just go out there and play my game and have fun.”

Texas released right-hander Tyson Ross (3-3, 7.71 ERA) to make room on the 40-man roster. Ross, signed as a free agent last winter, missed the first 2½ months of the season recovering from Thoracic Outlet Syndrome and was out another 2 ½ weeks because of a blister on his right index finger.

When Round Rock’s season ended Sept. 4, the Rangers didn’t immediately promote Calhoun. But since then, center fielder Carlos Gomez rolled his right ankle coming out of the batter’s box Saturday, and right fielder Nomar Mazara was the designated hitter again Tuesday while dealing with left quad tightness.

Plus, part-time left fielder Joey Gallo is needed in the infield with third baseman Adrian Beltre (left hamstring strain) and first baseman Mike Napoli (ankle) both banged up.