MLB Opening Day 2023: Live Updates, Game Previews

Baseball fans across the country are eagerly anticipating the start of the 2023 Major League Baseball (MLB) season, which officially kicks off on March 30th with Opening Day. After a challenging 2022 season marked by COVID-19 disruptions and a shortened schedule, the 2023 season promises to be a return to normalcy, with a full 162-game schedule and fans back in the stands.

Here are some of the key matchups


and storylines to watch on MLB Opening Day 2023:

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Francisco Giants

One of the marquee matchups of Opening Day 2023 features a classic rivalry between two National League West powerhouses, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants. The two teams finished first and second in the division in 2022, and both have high expectations for the upcoming season.

The Dodgers, led by perennial MVP candidate Mookie Betts and ace pitcher Walker Buehler, are looking to defend their 2022 World Series championship and secure their ninth consecutive division title. The Giants, meanwhile, surprised many last season by making it to the playoffs as a wild card team and are hoping to build on that success behind veterans Buster Posey and Brandon Crawford.

New York Yankees vs. Boston Red Sox

Another historic rivalry takes center stage on Opening Day as the New York Yankees face off against the Boston Red Sox. The two teams have been bitter rivals for over a century, and their matchups are always highly anticipated.

The Yankees are looking to boun
ce back from a disappointing 2022 season in which they missed the playoffs for the second straight year. They have made some key offseason acquisitions, including signing former MVP Kris Bryant, and are hoping to return to their winning ways in 2023. The Red Sox, who made it to the ALCS in 2022 before falling to the Houston Astros, are looking to build on that success and make a deep postseason run.

Houston Astros vs. Oakland Athletics

In the American League West, the Houston Astros and Oakland Athletics are set to do battle on Opening Day. The Astros, who made it to the World Series in 2022 before losing to the Dodgers, are hoping to make another deep postseason run in 2023 behind stars Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa.

The Athletics, who won 97 games in 2022 but were unable to make it past the wild card round of the playoffs, are looking to take the next step and make a run at the division title. Led by 2022 AL MVP Shohei Ohtani and slugger Matt Olson, the A's have the talent to compete with anyone in the league.

Other notable matchups on Opening Day include the defending AL champion Tampa Bay Rays taking on the Toronto Blue Jays, the Chicago Cubs facing the St. Louis Cardinals in a National League Central showdown, and the Seattle Mariners playing the Texas Rangers in an AL West matchup.

As the 2023 MLB season gets underway, fans can expect plenty of drama, excitement, and unforgettable moments. With a full schedule of games and fans back in the stands, this promises to be one of the most memorable seasons in recent memory.