The Major League Baseball season has officially begun! Teams are now in their second series of the year, with the Opening Series behind us. With that said, let’s take a look at the best moment for each team in their Opening Series.
AL East
Baltimore Orioles- After a solid debut season at the catcher position, Adley Rutschman started his sophomore campaign with a bang, hitting a solo homer in his first plate appearance en route to a 5-hit game that included four RBIs.
Boston Red Sox- After taking the loss on Opening Day, the Red Sox were down to their final out in Game 2 when Orioles RF Ryan McKenna made an error on a Masataka Yoshida popup, giving the Red Sox more life, which would lead to Adam Duvall’s walk-off two-run homer, completing a 4 for 5, four RBI day at the plate for Duvall.
Tampa Bay Rays- As they finished the three-game sweep over Detroit, LHP Jeffrey Springs threw six hitless innings, including 12 strikeouts on the outing.
Toronto Blue Jays- In what was the best game of Opening Day, Toronto won a back-and-forth over the Cardinals in St. Louis, 9-8. George Springer was the highlight as he had five hits in six at-bats.
New York Yankees– After setting the American League single-season home run record with 62 homers last season, many wondered what reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge would have for an encore. Well, the Yankees Captain showed a glimpse of what it might be, hitting a home run on his first swing of the season in the first inning off Giants’ starter Logan Webb, leading the Yankees to a 5-0 win.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox- Visting the reigning World Series champion Houston Astros for their Opening Series, the White Sox put a damper on the Opening Day celebration as Dylan Cease’s 10 strikeouts lead the way for Chicago in their 3-2 Opening Day win.
Cleveland Guardians- In their second game of the season against Seattle, the Cleveland offense came to life, especially LF Steven Kwan, who had five RBIs in the 9-4 Cleveland win.
Detroit Tigers- Despite getting swept by Tampa Bay, the Tigers had a bright spot in Austin Meadows who had a three-hit game on Opening Day
Kansas City Royals-Despite getting swept by Minnesota, RHP Jordan Lyles turned in a good outing against the Twins, going 5.1 innings with 1 ER.
Minnesota Twins- To complete the sweep in Kansas City, the Twins beat the Royals 7-4 with new acquisition Joey Gallo swatting two homers.
AL West
Houston Astros- Houston looked to get their first win of the season in Game 2 of the series vs Chicago, and Yordan Alvarez came through in the seventh inning with a three-run double to help the Astros deliver that win, 6-3.
Los Angeles Angels- After a tough Opening Day loss, the Angels bounced back against Oakland, scoring 11 runs in the third inning en route to a 13-1 win over the A’s in the second game of the series.
Oakland Athletics- The A’s eeked out a close 2-1 win over the Angels on Opening Day thanks to a clutch go-ahead single by Aledmys Diaz in the eighth inning.
Seattle Mariners- The Mariners took the Opening Day win over the Guardians, 3-0, behind a six-inning, six-strikeout performance by ace starting pitcher Luis Castillo.
Texas Rangers- Texas demolished the reigning NL champion Phillies in their Opening Series, including scoring 16 runs in their Game 2 win.
NL East
Atlanta Braves- The Braves’ superstar duo of Ronald Acuna Jr and Matt Olson hit back-to-back homers in the first inning en route to a 7-1 win over the Nationals in their second game of the season.
Miami Marlins- Miami had a rough Opening Series vs the Mets, but took home the win in Game 2 behind a dazzling performance from Jorge Soler, who hit a 407-foot solo homer in the second, and made some superb plays in the outfield.
New York Mets- In his first-ever Major League start, Japanese starter Kodai Senga threw 5.1 innings with eight strikeouts and only gave up 1 ER, in a 5-1 Mets victory.
Philadelphia Phillies- The Phillies had a rough start to the season, but Bailey Falter was a bright spot for Philadelphia, going 5.1 innings allowing 2 ER.
Washington Nationals- In Game 3 of the series, LHP MacKenzie Gore showed why he should still be regarded as a future star starting pitcher as he led the Nationals to a 4-1 win by going 5.1 innings with six strikeouts and allowing just 1 ER.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs- Following a great showing for Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic, Marcus Stroman showed more of his talent on Opening Day, throwing six innings, racking up eight strikeouts, and only giving up three hits against Milwaukee.
Cincinnati Reds- The Reds hit three homers (Jake Fraley, Kevin Newman, and Jonathan India) in Game 2 to take the 6-2 win over the Pirates.
Milwaukee Brewers- William Contreras came through in the eighth inning with a go-ahead two-run single to lift the Brewers over the Cubs, 3-1, in Game 2 of the series.
Pittsburgh Pirates- Oneil Cruz hit a 111 MPH missile into the seats in the second inning of Pittsburgh’s Opening Day 5-4 win over the Reds.
St. Louis Cardinals- Jordan Walker recorded his first career MLB hit on Opening Day vs the Blue Jays.
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks- Kyle Lewis’s pinch-hit go-ahead homer in the eighth inning gave Arizona the 2-1 win over the Dodgers in the second game of the series.
Colorado Rockies- CJ Cron tore the cover off the baseball, recording four hits, including two homers and five RBIs in the Rockies’ 7-2 Opening Day win over the Padres.
San Diego Padres- Xander Bogaerts hit his first homer in a Padres uniform in the first inning of Game 3 of the Padres’ Opening Series vs the Rockies.
San Francisco Giants- The Giants bounced back in Game 2 after losing Opening Day to the Yankees, led by SS Brandon Crawford’s three-hit day, including his first homer of the season.
Los Angeles Dodgers- Trayce Thompson recorded the first three-homer game of the MLB season, as he led the Dodgers to a 10-1 win over the Diamondbacks in Game 3 of the series.
(Photo via Charles Krupa/AP)
