DATES TO REMEMBER

APRIL 1

■ Blue Jays at Yankees: Opening day begins in the Bronx, with George Springer and the Blue Jays taking on DJ LeMahieu and the Yankees. Springer finalized a $150 million, sixyear deal with Toronto in January, part of an active offseason for the Blue Jays. He batted .265 with 14 homers and 32 RBIs during his final year in Houston. While Springer found a new home in free agency, LeMahieu stayed in New York for a $90 million, six-year contract after leading the majors with a .364 batting average.

APRIL 9

■ Nationals at Dodgers: The last two World Series champions meet in the home opener at Dodger Stadium. The Nationals are looking to bounce back after struggling last year, and the return of ace righthander Stephen Strasburg should help after he missed most of last season because of a nerve issue in his right wrist. The Dodgers are going for their second straight title, and they added Trevor Bauer to their already-loaded rotation.

MAY 17

■ Mets at Braves: Francisco Lindor gets his first taste of one of baseball’s best rivalries when the Mets open a three-game series against Freddie Freeman and the Braves. Lindor, a four-time AllStar shortstop who was acquired in a January trade with Cleveland, is hoping to lead New York back into the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Freeman won the NL MVP award last season, helping the Braves get all the way to the NL Championship Series. With a good young rotation and a deep lineup, the Braves are looking for their first World Series title since 1995.

JUNE 21

■ Dodgers at Padres: The Dodgers have been on top of the NL West for almost a decade, but the Padres are looking to end their reign after making the playoffs last year for the first time since 2006. San Diego traded for aces Blake Snell and Yu Darvish in the offseason, and shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. agreed to a $330 million, 14-year contract.

JULY 1

■ Cardinals at Rockies: Nolan Arenado returns to Colorado after the Rockies traded the Gold Glove third baseman to the Cardinals on Feb. 1. Arenado was drafted by Colorado and spent his first eight seasons with the team, blossoming into one of baseball’s most dangerous sluggers. Frustrated with his treatment by Colorado’s front office, he was shipped off to St. Louis for lefty Austin Gomber and minor leaguers.

JULY 13

■ All-Star Game in Atlanta: The Midsummer Classic is back after last year’s game was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Opened in 2017, Truist Park hosts the event. The American League has won the last seven All-Star Games.

AUG. 12

■ Yankees at White Sox: Major League Baseball comes to Iowa. Well, it’s going to try anyway. In an homage to “Field of Dreams,” the Yankees and White Sox are scheduled to play at the cornfield in eastern Iowa where the 1989 movie was filmed. The tribute was supposed to take place last year, but it was canceled because of the pandemic.