MLB Opening Week

On March 29th, 2024, the MLB season returned after five long months. Twenty-six teams played on Opening Day, besides the Braves vs. Phillies and Brewers vs. Mets which were postponed, due to rain delay, until the next day. 
by Jayden Barwick and Drew Caraway

(photo by Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)

Opening Day Scores:
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    Thursday March 28th

• Angels vs. Orioles: LAA-3 ~ BAL-11
• Nationals vs. Reds: WSH-2 ~ CIN-8
• Giants vs. Padres: SF-4 ~ SD-6
• Cardinals vs. Dodgers: STL-1 ~ LAD-7
• Blue Jays vs. Rays: TOR-8 ~ TB-2
• Twins vs. Royals: MIN-4 ~ KC-1
• Tigers vs. White Sox: DET-1 ~ CWS-0
• Pirates vs. Marlins: PIT-6 ~ MIA-5
• Yankees vs. Astros: NYY-5 ~ HOU-4
• Cubs vs. Rangers: TEX-4 ~ CHC-3
• Guardians vs. Athletics: CLE-8 ~ OAK-0
• Rockies vs. Diamondbacks: AZ-16 ~ COL-1
• Red Sox vs. Mariners: BOS-6 ~ SEA-4

    Friday March 29th 

• Brewers vs. Mets: MIL-3 ~ NYM-1

• Braves vs. Phillies: ATL-9 ~ PHI-3

(MLB.com)

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Opening Week Records (as of April 10th, 2024)

AL:
East:
Yankees: 10-2
Red Sox: 7-4
Orioles: 6-4
Rays: 6-6
Blue Jays: 6-6
Central:
Guardians: 8-3
Tigers: 7-4
Royals: 7-4
Twins: 3-6
White Sox: 2-9
West:
Angels: 6-5
Rangers: 6-5
Astros: 4-7
Mariners: 4-8
Athletics: 4-8
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NL:
East:
Braves: 7-3
Phillies: 5-5
Nationals: 5-6
Mets: 4-7
Marlins: 1-11
Central:
Pirates: 9-3
Brewers: 7-3
Cubs: 7-4
Reds: 6-5
Cardinals: 6-6
West:
Dodgers: 10-4 
Padres: 6-8
Diamondbacks: 5-7
Giants: 4-8
Rockies: 3-9
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Pirates and Tigers Hot Start
The Pirates won on opening day against the Miami Marlins by a total score of 6-5 in the 12th inning. Bryan Reynolds had himself a day, going 2-5 at the plate with a homerun and 2 RBI’s. The Pirates then went on to win their next three games against the Marlins.

​The Tigers on the other hand, opened up the season with the White Sox. The Tigers won the game 1 to 0 with Tarik Skubal throwing 6 innings and recording 6 K’s. The Tigers then went on to win their next 2 games against the White Sox. Both of these teams are looking to continue their hot start to the season, and look like they can do it. (MLB.com)

(Image via Newsday.com)

(photo by Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports)

So Many Injuries
There have been a good amount of players already struck to the IL (injury-list) only a little over a week into the season. Some notable names are Shane Bieber (Guardians P, Tommy-John, out for season), Spencer Strider (Braves P, Elbow, Untimable return), Royce Lewis (Twins 3B, Quad Strain, 4-6 weeks) and Eury Perez (Marlins P, Tommy-John, out for season). Not to mention some pre-season injuries like Sandy Alcantara (Marlins P), who is out for the season, and Gerrit Cole (Yankees P), who is out until at least June. With a ton of pitchers being injured, it makes fans wonder, “Is this something to do with the pitch clock?” 
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Justin Verlander says, “It’s obviously a pandemic, and it's gonna take years to work itself out.” (heavy.com)
    
By April 11th, it will have been 2 full weeks since Opening Day. Many teams look very promising for the upcoming road ahead, teams like the Yankees, the Braves, the Dodgers, and of course the Pirates. But there are also a few wild card teams that could make a splash, like the Reds or the Royals. Only time will tell.

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