MLB Opening Day 2024: Takeaways, stay updates, recreation highlights – ESPN

Juan Soto fields a single within the prime of the ninth and throws out the potential tying run in Maurico Dubon because the Yankees maintain on to defeat the Astros. (1:02)
Welcome to MLB Opening Day!
All 30 groups have been scheduled to be in motion Thursday earlier than rain postponed the scheduled Milwaukee Brewers–New York Mets and Atlanta Braves–Philadelphia Phillies openers to Friday.
The Los Angeles Angels and Orioles obtained issues began with Corbin Burnes delivering a dominant debut for Baltimore. Issues actually heated up with eight video games beginning simply after 4 p.m. ET — highlighted by an exciting New York Yankees comeback win over the Houston Astros in a showdown in Texas.
The Texas Rangers raised the primary World Collection banner in franchise historical past earlier than beating the Chicago Cubs in supervisor Craig Counsell’s Cubs debut. And eventually, the Arizona Diamondbacks made a loud assertion with a 14-run inning towards the Colorado Rockies.
What are we searching for because the season will get began? Our reporters give their pregame takes from the ballpark, plus we’ll put up lineups as they’re introduced and stay updates all through the day, together with takeaways from every recreation because it concludes.
Season preview: Power rankings | Predictions | Moves that rocked offseason
MLB Rank 2024: Who are baseball’s 100 best players? | Snubs, surprises
ESPN+: Passan’s bold predictions, breakout stars | 2024 MLB payroll tiers
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Live updates | Takeaways

Postponed video games: MIL-NYM, ATL-PHI


Recap | Box score | Highlights
For a contest that ended with a pedestrian 4-3 closing, the opener between the Cubs and Rangers was a wild one, starting with a ceremony celebrating final yr’s heroes and ending with a game-winning hit from one in all Texas’ postseason heroes, Jonah Heim.
It was a rollercoaster of a recreation. The early innings within the aftermath of the Texas banner ceremony featured a mini-duel between starters Nathan Eovaldi, who was pitching to contact, and Justin Steele, who mowed down Texas the primary time by way of the order. Then Steele departed within the fifth with hamstring tightness that cropped up when he was fielding a Leody Taveras bunt.
The sport opened up from there: Adolis Garcia mashed a homer he punctuated with a bat flip. Wyatt Langford collected his first profession RBI and base hit. The Cubs’ Michael Busch stole a run on a two-base wild pitch by Rangers nearer Jose Leclerc. New Cubs skipper Craig Counsell, matchup-maximizer extraordinaire, went deep in each his bullpen and his bench. Texas World Collection hero Travis Jankowski tied the sport within the ninth with a pinch-hit homer off Chicago nearer Adbert Alzolay. Lastly, after the sport flipped to the automatic-runner section, the Cubs left the bases full within the Tenth. Christopher Morel almost clanged a grand slam off the left-field foul pole nevertheless it light into the second deck and he subsequently popped out.
Lastly, that set the desk for Heim, who drove in Josh Jung with a bases-loaded, Tenth-inning, game-ending single off Drew Smyly, setting of a celebration in the midst of the sphere.
Whew!
What can we make of all this? If Steele’s damage is not critical, there wasn’t a complete lot to glean from one opening contest, dramatic because it was. Each groups are deep and have managers who can leverage that depth. Each groups have bullpens effectively suited to navigate tight, tense contests within the later innings. Greater than something although, it was a drama-filled, thrilling recreation that hopefully units the tone for the season in Arlington, Chicago and all throughout the majors. — Bradford Doolittle

Recap | Box score | Highlights
The Marlins made the playoffs final season on the power off a 33-14 file in one-run video games — probably the greatest such information in MLB historical past. Watch out for regression, Miami. It appeared just like the Marlins would possibly pull off a win that may have slot in with their 2023 narrative as first baseman Josh Bell — not identified for his protection — threw out Pirates baserunners at residence plate in each the Tenth and eleventh innings, however the Pirates lastly scraped throughout a run within the twelfth whereas the Miami offense stored failing to attain.
The information to observe popping out of this recreation, nonetheless, was that David Bednar, the Pirates’ All-Star nearer, did not get the save and was apparently unavailable regardless that he is on the energetic roster. Second-year lefty Jose Hernandez as an alternative picked up his first profession save. Bednar missed time this spring with a lat damage, so let’s have a look at if one thing is happening along with his well being. — David Schoenfield

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The knock on Juan Soto lately — the one blemish on a generational participant — has been his protection within the outfield. The numbers supported what eyes indicated: It has been ugly.
He has insisted he is higher than that, and that he is labored at it. On Thursday, he confirmed that off in an enormous spot, throwing out Mauricio Dubón, the game-tying run, at residence plate from proper subject within the ninth inning. Soto pounded his chest. He let loose a scream. The play was reviewed and stood. Moments later, Clay Holmes secured the sport’s closing out within the Yankees’ 5-4 comeback win.
Soto had his first signature Yankee second. And it got here on protection — simply as all of us anticipated. –– Jorge Castillo

Recap | Box score | Highlights
The Giants retooled their roster as a lot as any workforce within the offseason, including Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, Jordan Hicks and Tom Murphy, plus extremely touted middle fielder Jung Hoo Lee from Korea. Their linchpin, nonetheless, stays ace starter Logan Webb, who has a 3.07 ERA over the previous three seasons and led the majors with 216 innings final season.
Sadly, his 2024 begins with among the identical points as final season: A scarcity of assist. In 2023, regardless of a 3.25 ERA that ranked fourth within the NL — plus that workload — Webb completed simply 11-13 as a result of some shaky offensive assist (he had 18 video games the place he allowed two runs or fewer and received simply 9 of them). On Thursday, the dearth of assist got here from the bullpen. He left after six innings with a 3-2 lead, however the Padres scored 4 runs within the seventh inning off the Giants’ bullpen, with Jake Cronenworth delivering a key two-run double off Ryan Walker. Good comeback for San Diego, powerful loss for the Giants. — David Schoenfield

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The phrase from the Blue Jays camp out of spring coaching painted the image of a rejuvenated Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: He is misplaced some weight, he is been extra joyful, he is extra assured and he put collectively persistently good at-bats, hitting .463 in Grapefruit League play. The hope is he can discover his MVP-level stroke of 2021 after two good-not-great seasons in 2022 and 2023. His first hit of 2024: a mammoth 450-foot blast over the batter’s eye in middle subject at Tampa off a cutter from Zach Eflin, matching his longest residence run of 2023. That might be a pleasant confidence enhance for the younger slugger, who reached the majors in 2019 however continues to be simply 25 years outdated.
The Jays are attempting Guerrero within the second spot within the batting order, primarily flipping spots with Bo Bichette. Certainly, you may argue that Bichette has handed Guerrero because the face of the Blue Jays (he is definitely been extra priceless through WAR the previous two seasons). You’ll be able to’t argue with this: The Toronto offense is not as deep because it was even a pair years after ending eighth in runs within the AL final season. They want each of their younger begins to ship. — David Schoenfield

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We noticed Royce Lewis‘ star-crossed profession on full show Thursday: The No. 1 total choose within the 2017 draft, Lewis twice tore his ACL as a minor leaguer, lacking all of 2021 and most of 2022 in consequence. He nonetheless remained a prime prospect and reached the majors for his first prolonged keep in 2023 — solely to play simply 58 video games as a result of an indirect pressure and hamstring. However when he did play, he appeared like a star — hitting over .300 with energy, together with 4 grand slams in lower than a month.
He started 2024 with a house run in his first at-bat, ripping a 423-foot blast to left subject after which singled in his second at-bat. Nonetheless, when Carlos Correa then doubled, Lewis limped into third base and was changed by a pinch runner (and do not blame chilly climate because it was 65 levels in Kansas Metropolis). The Twins’ lineup wants Lewis raking within the three-hole. Let’s hope it is not critical. — David Schoenfield

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Miles Mikolas brought about a little bit of a stir earlier this month when he stated the Dodgers have been enjoying “checkbook baseball.” On Opening Day, he obtained a first-hand take a look at what that checkbook has supplied. It obtained them Mookie Betts ($365 million), who reached base 3 times, together with a solo homer. It obtained them Freddie Freeman ($162 million), who reached base 3 times, together with a two-run homer. It obtained them Shohei Ohtani ($700 million), who reached base 3 times, together with a double. And it obtained them Tyler Glasnow ($136.6 million), who allowed three baserunners in six innings. The Dodgers have written numerous checks currently, particularly amid their $1.2 billion offseason. They’re cashing in early. — Alden Gonzalez

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All spring, the Reds stated they’d sufficient depth to cowl something that got here their manner. Little did they understand how rapidly it will be examined as they opened the season with a suspension and a myriad of accidents. However up stepped journeyman Nick Martini who hit two residence runs to propel Cincinnati to a straightforward win over Washington. Martini got here into the sport with 354 profession at-bats — and simply eight profession residence runs — however he was the Opening Day spark for a workforce who has playoff aspirations. On the mound, the Reds obtained a stable debut from newcomer Frankie Montas who shut out the Nationals over six innings whereas giving up simply 4 hits with out issuing a stroll. That Opening Day mixture of energy and pitching is strictly what the group drew up this offseason after they added veterans to a younger and gifted group of prospects. Cincinnati must be within the NL Central race all yr. — Jesse Rogers

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Can the Tigers contend within the AL Central? It has been an extended standing query as they have been in an prolonged rebuilding section — but when they get performances on the mound like they did at the moment, they’re going to be in fine condition. Tarik Skubal and three relievers shut down the one power the White Sox have: a veteran lineup that has produced prior to now. It additionally helps to have Javy Baez producing. He batted eighth for Detroit on Opening Day — singling to proper on an 0-2 pitch from left-hander Garrett Crochet within the third inning and finally scoring the lone run of the sport.
In the meantime, Crochet was the lone brilliant spot for the White Sox. In his first profession begin he struck out eight over six innings, however sadly for Chicago, he had no assist on the plate. — Jesse Rogers

Recap | Box score | Highlights
Corbin Burnes allowed a first-inning residence run to Mike Trout however was in any other case completely dominant in his Orioles debut. That was the one hit he allowed in his six innings as he struck out 11 of the 19 batters he confronted, with seven of these Okay’s coming along with his curveball. The Angels had no likelihood. With Kyle Bradish and John Means beginning the season on the IL, the Orioles are searching for their huge offseason acquisition to get off to a sizzling begin — in contrast to final season with the Brewers, when Burnes uncharacteristically struggled early on along with his management and had a so-so 3.97 ERA by way of his first 10 begins. Even with out Bradish and Means, the Orioles have an opportunity to get off to a blazing begin: Of their first 36 video games, solely six are towards groups that made the playoffs final season, and people six are residence video games towards the Brewers and Twins. — David Schoenfield

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