MLB Opening Day 2024: Highlights, takeaways, and best moments

What an MLB Opening Day!

All 30 groups had 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 bought issues began with Corbin Burnes delivering a dominant debut for Baltimore. Things actually heated up with eight video games beginning simply after 4 p.m. ET — highlighted by an exhilarating New York Yankees comeback win over the Houston Astros in a showdown in Texas.

The Texas Rangers raised the primary World Series banner in franchise historical past earlier than beating the Chicago Cubs in supervisor Craig Counsell’s Cubs debut. And lastly, the Arizona Diamondbacks made a loud assertion with a 14-run inning in opposition to the Colorado Rockies.

What did we see — and what did we be taught — within the first day of video games because the season will get began? We have you ever coated with the best moments from each recreation, in addition to takeaways from every matchup.

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Takeaways | Relive the day

Takeaways from each Opening Day recreation

Recap | Box score | Highlights

Everyone is discounting Boston’s possibilities within the AL East, and maybe over the lengthy haul the Red Sox merely will not have sufficient pitching depth, however the lineup has an opportunity to be excellent. Boston battled a troublesome pitcher in Seattle’s Luis Castillo, attending to him for 4 runs and three extra-base hits in 5 innings. Two of these got here from Rafael Devers, together with a powerful two-run residence run to left-center off a excessive fastball.

The most spectacular achievement of the night time, nonetheless: Former Mariners farmhand Tyler O’Neill, acquired from the Cardinals within the offseason, homered for the fifth consecutive Opening Day, breaking a file he had shared with Yogi Berra, Gary Carter and Todd Hundley (oddly, three catchers). O’Neill had an enormous 6.1-WAR, 34-homer season with St. Louis in 2021, however his manufacturing dropped the previous two seasons as he battled accidents. It’s doable 2021 was a whole fluke, but when O’Neill hits, the Boston lineup goes to attain some runs. — David Schoenfield

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Arizona Diamondbacks 16, Colorado Rockies 1

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We have a transparent winner for the wildest “You can’t predict baseball” results of the day. The Diamondbacks started protection of their National League pennant with essentially the most spectacular inning of offense on Opening Day since, nicely, ever. Their 14-run outburst within the backside of the third is an Opening Day file, the primary inning with 10 runs on Opening Day for the reason that Padres in 1997 and simply the fifth 14-run inning in any recreation of the divisional period (since 1969). Arizona did it with 13 hits — none of them residence runs.

It was a pleasant reward for a sellout crowd and for a corporation that elevated payroll within the offseason making an attempt to construct upon final yr’s playoff success. Just a few days in the past, the Diamondbacks agreed to a cope with free agent starter Jordan Montgomery, including him to a rotation that additionally introduced on Eduardo Rodriguez (though he is on the IL to begin the season). As for the Rockies, the final crew to surrender 14 runs in an inning was the 2009 Yankees — and they received the World Series that season. — Schoenfield

Cleveland Guardians 8, Oakland Athletics 0

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If the Cleveland Guardians want to commerce starter Shane Bieber at a premium, they may wish to verify the market after his Opening Day efficiency in opposition to the Athletics. Bieber, who has been rumored to be on the buying and selling block since earlier than an damage ended his 2023 season, started the ultimate yr of his contract with the Guardians by easing his method via six innings, permitting 4 hits and placing out 11 in Cleveland’s 8-0 win over Oakland. On an evening when the main focus was on the 1000’s of A’s followers who selected to protest John Fisher’s possession by partying in the parking lot rather than attending the game, Bieber — the Cy Young Award winner within the COVID-shortened 2020 season — gave the followers who did select to enter the gates no purpose to have a good time. — Tim Keown

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For a contest that ended with a pedestrian 4-3 ultimate, 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 curler coaster 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 via the order. Then Steele departed within the fifth with hamstring tightness that cropped up when he was fielding a Leody Taveras bunt.

The recreation 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 Series hero Travis Jankowski tied the sport within the ninth with a pinch-hit homer off Chicago nearer Adbert Alzolay. After the sport flipped to the automatic-runner part, the Cubs left the bases full within the Tenth. Christopher Morel practically clanged a grand slam off the left-field foul pole however it pale into the second deck and he subsequently popped out.

Finally, 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 course of the sector.

Whew!

What can we make of all this? If Steele’s damage is not critical, there wasn’t an entire lot to glean from one opening contest, dramatic because it was. Both groups are deep and have managers who can leverage that depth. Both groups have bullpens nicely suited to navigate tight, tense contests within the later innings. More than something although, it was a drama-filled, thrilling recreation that hopefully units the tone for the season in Arlington, Chicago and throughout the majors. — Bradford Doolittle

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The Marlins made the playoffs final season on the power off a 33-14 file in one-run video games — one of many best such data in MLB historical past. Beware of 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 recognized 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 look at popping out of this recreation, nonetheless, was that David Bednar, the Pirates’ All-Star nearer, did not get the save and was apparently unavailable despite the fact 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 examine if one thing is happening together with his well being. — 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’s 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 Dubon, the game-tying run, at residence plate from proper discipline 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 ultimate 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

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The Giants retooled their roster as a lot as any crew within the offseason, including Blake Snell, Matt Chapman, Jorge Soler, Jordan Hicks and Tom Murphy, plus extremely touted heart 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.

Unfortunately, his 2024 begins with one of many identical points as final season: a scarcity of support. In 2023, regardless of a 3.25 ERA that ranked fourth within the NL — plus that workload — Webb completed simply 11-13 due to some shaky offensive support (he had 18 video games the place he allowed two runs or fewer, and received simply 9 of them). On Thursday, the shortage of support 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. Nice comeback for San Diego, robust loss for the Giants. — 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’s 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 heart discipline at Tampa off a cutter from Zach Eflin, matching his longest residence run of 2023. That will probably be a pleasant confidence increase for the younger slugger, who reached the majors in 2019 however continues to be simply 25 years previous.

The Jays are attempting Guerrero within the second spot within the batting order, basically flipping spots with Bo Bichette. Indeed, you may argue that Bichette has handed Guerrero because the face of the Blue Jays (he is definitely been extra useful by way of WAR the previous two seasons). You cannot 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. — Schoenfield

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We noticed Royce Lewis‘ star-crossed profession on full show Thursday: The No. 1 general 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 high prospect and reached the majors for his first prolonged keep in 2023 — solely to play simply 58 video games due to an indirect pressure and hamstring. But 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 discipline and then singled in his second at-bat. However, 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 City). The Twins’ lineup wants Lewis raking within the 3-hole. Let’s hope it is not critical. –Schoenfield

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Miles Mikolas brought on a little bit of a stir earlier this month when he stated the Dodgers had been enjoying “checkbook baseball.” On Opening Day, he bought a firsthand take a look at what that checkbook has offered. It bought the Dodgers Mookie Betts ($365 million), who reached base thrice, together with a solo homer. It bought them Freddie Freeman ($162 million), who reached base thrice, together with a two-run homer. It bought them Shohei Ohtani ($700 million), who reached base thrice, together with a double. And it bought them Tyler Glasnow ($136.6 million), who allowed three baserunners in six innings. The Dodgers have written quite a lot of 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 method. Little did they know the way rapidly it could be examined as they opened the season with a suspension and myriad accidents. But up stepped journeyman Nick Martini who hit two residence runs to propel Cincinnati to a simple 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 crew who has playoff aspirations. On the mound, the Reds bought 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 once they added veterans to a younger and proficient 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 a protracted standing query as they have been in an prolonged rebuilding part — but when they get performances on the mound like they did at present, 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.

Meanwhile, Crochet was the lone vivid 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. — Rogers

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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 K’s coming together with his curveball. The Angels had no probability. With Kyle Bradish and John Means beginning the season on the IL, the Orioles are on the lookout for their massive offseason acquisition to get off to a scorching begin — not like final season with the Brewers, when Burnes uncharacteristically struggled early on together with his management and had a so-so 3.97 ERA via 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 in opposition to groups that made the playoffs final season, and these six are residence video games in opposition to the Brewers and Twins. — Schoenfield

Opening Day sights, sounds and moments