Opening day 2024: What to watch for on the first full day of the MLB season
Here's what to watch for on MLB's opening day:
The Sho goes on
Shohei Ohtani already made his Dodgers debut last week in South Korea, but all eyes will still be on the two-way sensation as Los Angeles hosts the St. Louis Cardinals. The $700 million star is trying to remain focused on the field after the firing of his longtime interpreter and friend Ippei Mizuhara, who Ohtani said Monday stole money from him to pay off gambling debts. Mizuhara was fired while the Dodgers were in Seoul last week for a season-opening, two-game series against San Diego.
Ohtani, who won't pitch this season while recovering from a second Tommy John surgery, was 3-for-10 with two RBI as Los Angeles split the Seoul Series. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts posited Tuesday that Mizuhara's absence could be good for Ohtani, saying Mizuhara had been a “buffer” between the Japanese star and his new teammates.
New in town
Several stars are set to debut with new teams. Juan Soto, still just 25, was dealt from the Padres to the Yankees over the winter and will slot into the lineup along with Aaron Judge when New York faces
Houston. Late in the game, the Astros might counter Soto with Josh Hader, a five-time All-Star closer who signed with Houston in January.
Corbin Burnes is on the mound for Baltimore against the Angels after a Feb. 1 trade from Milwaukee. Matt Chapman should be at third base for the Giants against San Diego, and Rhys Hoskins suits up for the Brewers against the Mets.
October memories
World Series MVP Corey Seager and the defending champion Texas Rangers open at home with Nathan Eovaldi on the mound against Cody Bellinger and the Chicago Cubs.
Coming off their surprising run to the National League pennant, Zac Gallen and the Diamondbacks host Colorado.
Arizona made a late splash at the very end of spring training, boosting its rotation by agreeing Tuesday with freeagent pitcher Jordan Montgomery on a $25 million, oneyear contract that includes a vesting option for 2025. The deal was subject to a successful physical.
Welcome to the bigs
Two of baseball's top hitting prospects — the Brewers' Jackson Chourio and the Rangers' Wyatt Langford — are set to make their big league debuts. Chourio, 20, signed an $82 million, eight-year deal this offseason, the most money guaranteed to a player with no major league experience. Langford, meanwhile, will reach the majors less than a year after Texas selected him fourth overall in the 2023 amateur draft from the University of Florida.
Neither Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday nor Nationals outfielder James Wood cracked their opening day rosters despite impressive spring trainings.
Open and close
Several teams are expected to open the season without their injured closers, including the Arizona Diamondbacks (Paul Sewald), the Baltimore Orioles (Félix Bautista), the Milwaukee Brewers (Devin Williams), the Minnesota Twins (Jhoan Durán) and the Toronto Blue Jays (Jordan Romano).
Defending AL East champion Baltimore signed veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel, eighth on the career list with 417 saves, to fill in for Bautista, who is expected to miss the entire season following Tommy John surgery and an additional elbow procedure.
Meanwhile, the New York Mets get back All-Star closer Edwin Díaz after he missed last season following knee surgery.