Breaking down the 2023 schedule: A whole new ballgame
BOSTON — The 2023 Red Sox season is fast approaching, and more than most years, it’s hard to know what to expect.
Between the immense roster turnover (over a dozen players left via free agency, trade, or release), rule changes, and a schedule makeover, it’s a whole new ballgame. What a chaotic thrill.
But first, Sox Spring.
While several players are already at the club’s spring training complex in Fort Myers, Florida, spring training officially kicks off when pitchers and catchers report next week, on Feb. 15. The first spring training game is on Feb. 24.
For the first time since 2017, the Red Sox will host and play Team Puerto Rico in a World Baseball Classic exhibition game on March 8. Several Red Sox players will be joining WBC teams, including Rafael Devers (Dominican Republic), Kiké Hernández (PR), Nick Pivetta (Canada), and newcomers Masataka Yoshida (Japan) and Richard Bleier (Israel).
Top prospect Ceddanne Rafaela is eligible to be on Team Netherlands’ roster, but reportedly isn’t playing in the WBC. After a breakout season in 2022, the Curaçao native was added to the 40-man roster in November and will participate in his first major-league camp.
Finally, on March 30, the Red Sox open the season at home, hosting the Orioles for three games.
Fair warning, if you’re someone who watches every game, your sleep schedule will take a hit this season. The Red Sox will be in Pacific Standard Time (three hours behind) on three west coast trips. Between May 19-28, they’re visiting the Padres, Angels, and Diamondbacks. In July, they’ll go to Oakland for three games against the A’s (17-19), and a week later, will fly back to the Bay Area to play the Giants (July 28-30), before heading up to Seattle for three games against the Mariners (July 31-Aug. 2). If they have any All-Stars, this year’s game is also in Seattle, on July 11.
Patriots Day 2023
Somehow, it’s already the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon Bombing. On April 15, 2013, two brothers placed pressure-cooker explosives by the marathon finish line on Boylston Street which killed three people — Martin Richard (age 8), Lingzi Lu (23), Krystle Campbell (29) — and injured hundreds.
In the aftermath, the 2013 Red Sox took it upon themselves to try and heal the region. To that end, this year also marks the 10-year anniversary of the “Boston Strong” World Series championship, the first World Series won at Fenway Park since 1918.
The Red Sox will hold a ceremony before their Saturday, April 15 game, but will wear classic home white uniforms, as it is also Jackie Robinson Day for the entire league. Their yellow and blue City Connect uniforms, which honor the Boston Marathon, will be worn Friday and Sunday of that weekend. Despite some league-wide uniform changes, the Red Sox will again wear the BStrong jerseys, which say “Boston” on the front, instead of “Red Sox,” for Marathon Monday/Patriots Day on April 17.
A balanced schedule
The most notable difference this year, and for years to come, is that interleague play is increasing. Under the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, finalized last March after a 99-day lockout, MLB has a balanced schedule for the first time since 2000.
Gone are the days of waiting years for the Cubs to come to Boston, or for the Red Sox to go to San Diego; when interleague play began in 1997, it was originally limited to 15-18 games per team. This year, each team will play 46 interleague games (up from 20 last year).
With at least one series against each of their 29 fellows, the Red Sox are set to square off against several old friends. Rich Hill and Christian Vázquez come to Fenway first, with the Pirates (April 3-5) and Twins (April 18-20), respectively.
Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts will reunite and face off in San Diego (May 19-21).
Matt Barnes told reporters he’s got the Marlins’ trip to Boston (June 27-29) circled on his calendar.
The Rangers will bring Nathan Eovaldi (and Jacob deGrom) to Boston in early July (4-6), and the Red Sox go to Texas in September (18-20).
Three years after being traded to the Dodgers, Mookie Betts will return to Fenway for three games in August (25-27). JD Martinez will be with him; he has a 1-year contract with LA.
Divisional play
In order to accommodate the significantly more varied schedule, something had to be trimmed. After two decades of facing their American League East foes 19 times (six series) apiece in the regular season, the Red Sox only play 13 games (four series) against each division rival this year. This includes seven home games and six road games against the Blue Jays and Yankees, and seven road games and six home games against the Orioles and Rays.
The reduction comes one season too late for the Red Sox, who eked out a 10-9 record against the Orioles but went 6-13 against the Yankees, 7-12 against the Rays, and 3-16 against the Blue Jays last year.