MLB Opening Day 2023 live updates: New season, new rules. What to know before first pitch.
Major League Baseball‘s 2023 opening day is here.
We’ll see the debut of overhauled rosters, players in new uniforms, young players trying to prove their worth and veterans wanting to show they’ve still got it. We’ll also see the rule changes play out in regular-season games for the first time.
All 30 teams are in action Thursday, and USA TODAY Sports will provide the latest score updates, analysis and more throughout the day. Follow along.
MLB Opening Day games, TV schedule
- Braves at Nationals, 1:05 p.m., MLB Network
- Giants at Yankees, 1:05 p.m., YES
- Orioles at Red Sox, 2:10 p.m., NESN
- Brewers at Cubs, 2:20 p.m., MARQ
- Tigers at Rays, 3:10 p.m., BSSUN
- Phillies at Rangers, 4:05 p.m., BSSW
- Rockies at Padres, 4:10 p.m., BSSD
- Blue Jays at Cardinals, 4:10 p.m., BSMW
- Mets at Marlins, 4:10 p.m., MLB Network
- Pirates at Reds, 4:10 p.m., BSOH
- Twins at Royals, 4:10 p.m., BSKC
- White Sox at Astros, 7:08 p.m., SportsNet SW
- Angels at Athletics, 10:07 p.m., NBCS-CA
- Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., SportsNet LA
- Guardians at Mariners, 10:10 p.m., MLB Network
What are the MLB rule changes for 2023?
The new shift rule: At the start of each pitch, teams must have at least two infielders on either side of second base, with all four positioned on the infield dirt. Infielders may not switch positions unless there is a substitution.
Pitch clock: There is a 30-second timer between batters and a time limit between pitches. After receiving the ball from the catcher or umpire, pitchers are required to begin their motion within 15 seconds with the bases empty or within 20 seconds with runners on base. Hitters must be in the batter’s box and ready for the pitch by the time the clock reaches 8 seconds.
Larger bases: The bases are now 18 inches square (previously 15 inches). That decreases the distance between first, second and third base by 4.5 inches. (Home plate – which stays the same size – to first base is 3 inches shorter.)
Pickoff limits: Pitchers are limited to a maximum of two pickoff attempts per plate appearance. If a pitcher attempts a third pickoff throw and doesn’t get the runner out, it’s an automatic balk and all runners move up one base.
Read more on everything you need to know about the rule changes here.
MLB Opening Day starters
- Braves LHP Max Fried (14-7, 2.48 ERA in 2022) vs. Nationals LHP Patrick Corbin (6-19, 6.31)
- Giants RHP Logan Webb (15-9, 2.90) vs. Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (13-8, 3.50)
- Orioles RHP Kyle Gibson (10-8, 5.05 with Phillies) vs. Red Sox RHP Corey Kluber (10-10, 4.34 with Rays)
- Brewers RHP Corbin Burnes (12-8, 2.94) vs. Cubs RHP Marcus Stroman (6-7, 3.50)
- Tigers LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5, 4.05) vs. Rays LHP Shane McClanahan (12-8, 2.54)
- Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25) vs. Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (5-4, 3.08 with Mets)
- Mets RHP Max Scherzer (11-5, 2.29) vs. Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (14-9, 2.28)
- Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (5-12, 3.91) vs. Reds RHP Hunter Greene (5-13, 4.44)
- Rockies RHP German Marquez (9-13, 4.95) vs. Padres LHP Blake Snell (8-10, 3.38)
- Blue Jays RHP Alek Manoah (16-7, 2.24) vs. Cardinals RHP Miles Mikolas (12-13, 3.29)
- Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (10-10, 3.75) vs. Royals RHP Zack Greinke (4-9, 3.68)
- White Sox RHP Dylan Cease (14-8, 2.20) vs. Astros LHP Framber Valdez (17-6, 2.82)
- Angels RHP Shohei Ohtani (15-9, 2.33 ERA) vs. A’s LHP Kyle Muller (1-1, 8.03 with Braves)
- Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (12-4, 2.54 ERA) vs. Dodgers LHP Julio Urías (17-7, 2.16 ERA)
- Guardians RHP Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 ERA) vs. Mariners RHP Luis Castillo (8-6 2.99 ERA)
What Roger Clemens thinks of MLB’s new pitch clock
The way Roger Clemens, the seven-time Cy Young winner, figures it, he would be an even better pitcher now with the pitch clock.
“I would have used it to my advantage,’’ Clemens said recently. “Back in my day, if you got ahead of a guy 0-and-2, you’d waste a pitch. I’d just hold it and get a pitch clock violation. Now, I’ve got him 1-and-2, and I’d just stand on the mound holding the ball. They wouldn’t know when I was going to throw the next one not. I could even get a second violation and make it 2-and-2. I’d have a huge advantage with the hitter not knowing when I was going to throw that ball. “I called 90 to 95% of my pitches anyway, so I never would have felt rushed with a pitch clock.’ — Bob Nightengale
Read Bob Nightengale on the rule tweaks here.
MLB’s five most important players for 2023
As Major League Baseball’s 2023 season dawns, USA TODAY Sports examines five players who may not take home any individual hardware, but whose teams’ success may hinge on their health and production.
Yankees’ Nestor Cortes: The game moves quickly at the big league level, both between the lines and in a team’s pecking order. For Nestor Cortes, the 5-10 Yankees left-hander, he’s no longer the surprise All-Star, the nice little story of persevering through nearly eight years of minor league ball and organization hopping to stick in New York.
Astros’ Kyle Tucker: It is not Tucker’s team to inherit. But now would be time to take that next step toward MVP candidate.All the tools are there: Tucker, at 25, slugged 30 home runs and produced a 128 adjusted OPS last season, and smacked two homers in Game 1 of the World Series. His 129 weighted runs created plus put him in a rent district with Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Your ultimate guide to fantasy baseball player rankings 2023
USA TODAY is here to get you fully prepared for your fantasy drafts with exclusive rankings and essential information to help win your league championship. Here is your complete draft kit, including overall player rankings and position by position rankings.
Who are MLB’s best young players?
With a pitch clock and a shift ban heralding a new and potentially action-infused era in the game, the rookies and first-year players leaving a mark on the season will have grown up with these rules in the minor leagues, where game experimentation has been the norm for a decade.
Now, those players are ready for prime time – and ready for a major impact. That’s reflected in USA TODAY Sports’ list of 100 Names You Need To Know for 2023.
This collection of talent from all 30 teams reflects not necessarily the top prospects, but rather those you will almost certainly see bubble up from the bushes this year. The players are ranked by both prospect pedigree and path to find a significant role this season.
Here is the complete list of all 100 players.
Five bold predictions for the 2023 MLB season: Steals, saves and a breakout star
Instead of trying to make logical sense of everything this opening day, let’s allow our minds to wander and consider some (admittedly long-shot) predictions that could define the 2023 season. Maybe Trea Turner stealing 65 bases, Shohei Ohtani sweeping AL MVP and Cy Young, Brandon Belt hitting 30 dingers for the first time and more.
— Steve Gardner