The action began quietly in Japan last week, where the reigning champions from Los Angeles picked up two steady wins against Chicago in the Tokyo Dome. A taste of things to come.
But now the real journey starts.
March 27 brings a full slate of 14 games as most of the league gets going — everyone except the Rays and Rockies, who’ll begin on Friday in Tampa, giving the field crew an extra day to get Steinbrenner Field ready after spring.
Here’s how each opener looks, in order of start time. All times ET.
March 27
Milwaukee at New York (AL), 3:05 p.m.
Starting arms: Peralta (MIL) vs. Rodón (NYY)
With Gerrit Cole sidelined after elbow surgery, Rodón gets the nod to lead New York’s rotation out of the gate. Peralta returns to the same Opening Day role for Milwaukee.
New arrivals: Devin Williams shifts coasts after six seasons in Milwaukee, now anchoring the Yankees bullpen. He’s part of a winter rebuild that also brought in Bellinger, Goldschmidt, and Fried after Juan Soto left for the Mets.
Watch for: Christian Yelich is expected to be in the lineup for Milwaukee after back surgery ended his 2024 early. He homered on Opening Day last year.
Baltimore at Toronto, 3:07 p.m.
Starting arms: Eflin (BAL) vs. Berríos (TOR)
Eflin faces Toronto again — just as he did last Opening Day, only then with Tampa. He becomes just the fourth pitcher in over 100 years to open back-to-back seasons against the same club with two different teams. Berríos is on his fourth career Opening Day start.
New arrivals: Anthony Santander, who hit 44 bombs for Baltimore last year, now suits up against them after signing with the Jays.
Watch for: Tyler O’Neill, now with Baltimore, has homered on every Opening Day since 2020. If he keeps it going, it’ll be six years running.
Boston at Texas, 4:05 p.m.
Starting arms: Crochet (BOS) vs. Eovaldi (TEX)
Crochet joins Boston after a winter trade and will get the ball for the opener just as he did last year with Chicago. Eovaldi is now the first Texas pitcher to start back-to-back openers since Kevin Millwood.
New arrivals: Bregman, formerly with Houston, joins the Red Sox after signing a three-year deal. He’s played more games against Texas than any other club.
Watch for: Texas hasn’t lost an Opening Day at Globe Life Field since it opened in 2020.
Philadelphia at Washington, 4:05 p.m.
Starting arms: Wheeler (PHI) vs. Gore (WSH)
Wheeler starts again after a Cy Young runner-up season. Gore’s still trying to break through after a few underwhelming years.
New arrivals: Nathaniel Lowe joins Washington from Texas, slotting into the heart of a young lineup that includes James Wood and Dylan Crews.
Watch for: These two haven’t met on Opening Day since 2010, when Halladay dominated.
Cleveland at Kansas City, 4:10 p.m.
Starting arms: Bibee (CLE) vs. Ragans (KC)
Bibee steps up for Cleveland after Bieber’s surgery last year. Ragans returns to the Opening Day role for KC after an excellent debut season with them.
New arrivals: KC rebuilt their bullpen — Harvey, Erceg, and Estévez all bring strikeout power and a fresh look to the late innings.
Watch for: Cleveland opens on the road for the fifth straight year.
New York (NL) at Houston, 4:10 p.m.
Starting arms: Holmes (NYM) vs. Valdez (HOU)
Valdez starts his fourth straight opener for Houston. Holmes, mostly a reliever, makes his first big-league start since 2018.
New arrivals: All eyes on Juan Soto, now a Met. He signed the biggest deal ever and hit a homer in his first Spring Training at-bat.
Watch for: Valdez is the first to start four in a row for Houston since Roy Oswalt.
San Francisco at Cincinnati, 4:10 p.m.
Starting arms: Webb (SF) vs. Greene (CIN)
Webb’s back for his fourth Opening Day start. Greene, now a key part of the Reds' rotation, gets the ball after earning All-Star nods last year.
New arrivals: Willy Adames makes his Giants debut. He’s familiar with this park from his days with Milwaukee.
Watch for: The Giants have used a different left fielder on Opening Day every year since 2007. Whoever plays there will be the 19th different starter in 19 seasons.
Atlanta at San Diego, 4:10 p.m.
Starting arms: Sale (ATL) vs. King (SD)
Sale makes his first Opening Day start since 2019. King gets the honor for San Diego after a breakout postseason last year.
New arrivals: Profar, after a huge year in San Diego, now brings his switch-hitting bat to Atlanta’s lineup.
Watch for: For the second year running, Atlanta opens the season where their last one ended. Petco Park was the scene of last year’s postseason exit.
Los Angeles (AL) at Chicago (AL), 4:10 p.m.
Starting arms: Kikuchi (LAA) vs. Burke (CWS)
Kikuchi signed a three-year deal and gets the Opening Day call for the first time. Burke, with fewer than 20 innings in the majors, takes a big leap.
New arrivals: Jorge Soler joins the Angels as a power bat after coming over from Atlanta.
Watch for: Both teams are hoping their big names stay on the field. Trout only played 29 games last year, and Robert missed a chunk too.
Pittsburgh at Miami, 4:10 p.m.
Starting arms: Skenes (PIT) vs. Alcantara (MIA)
Skenes, last year’s Rookie of the Year, gets the call. Alcantara returns from surgery for his fifth Opening Day assignment.
New arrivals: Tommy Pham joins his 10th big-league team.
Watch for: This is just the second time a reigning Rookie of the Year starts against a former Cy Young winner on Opening Day.
Minnesota at St. Louis, 4:15 p.m.
Starting arms: López (MIN) vs. Gray (STL)
Former teammates meet again — both earned All-Star honors in 2023 but cooled off last year.
New arrivals: Contreras will play regularly at first base for the first time in his career.
Watch for: The Twins are on the road again. They’ve opened away from home in 12 of the last 16 seasons.
Detroit at Los Angeles (NL), 7:10 p.m.
Starting arms: Skubal (DET) vs. Snell (LAD)
Skubal gets the opener after dominating in 2024. Snell makes his debut for the Dodgers, who are 2-0 after their trip to Japan.
New arrivals: Gleyber Torres joins Detroit and starts the year facing the same team that ended his Yankees run.
Watch for: The Dodgers have won five of their seven home openers after winning a World Series.
Chicago (NL) at Arizona, 10:10 p.m.
Starting arms: Steele (CHC) vs. Gallen (ARI)
Gallen returns for his third straight Opening Day. Steele pitched in Japan and now starts again in the desert.
New arrivals: Kyle Tucker debuts for the Cubs after coming over from Houston.
Watch for: Ketel Marte ties the franchise record with his eighth Opening Day start.
Oakland at Seattle, 10:10 p.m.
Starting arms: Severino (OAK) vs. Gilbert (SEA)
Gilbert, who led the league in WHIP last year, makes his first Opening Day start. Severino joins Oakland on a record deal.
New arrivals: The A’s rotation will lean on Severino and Springs.
Watch for: Seattle holds the AL’s best Opening Day win percentage.
March 28
Colorado at Tampa Bay, 4:10 p.m.
Starting arms: Freeland (COL) vs. Pepiot (TB)
Freeland becomes the first Colorado pitcher to get four Opening Day starts. Pepiot steps in after an injury to McClanahan.
New arrivals: Danny Jansen joins the Rays after catching woes plagued them for two years.
Watch for: The Rays begin life in their temporary home — Steinbrenner Field — after their usual ballpark took hurricane damage last fall.