MLB

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 ...

](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/fantasy/2023/02/07/fantasy-baseball-updated-top-200-player-rankings-2023-mlb-season/11172314002/) [We ranked the top 250 for 2023](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/fantasy/2023/02/07/fantasy-baseball-updated-top-200-player-rankings-2023-mlb-season/11172314002/). 1 prospect in MLB?](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/03/24/mlb-100-names-to-know-2023-gunnar-henderson-top-prospects/11528553002/) [Expectations are high](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/03/24/mlb-100-names-to-know-2023-gunnar-henderson-top-prospects/11528553002/) for the favorite to win American League Rookie of the Year. [has shown new life, new energy and gusto](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/03/28/low-budget-guardians-have-higher-expectations-2023/11553806002/). [opened the spring with a starting rotation](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/columnist/bob-nightengale/2023/03/26/2023-mlb-opening-day-9-questions-entering-season/11544922002/) of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino, Nestor Cortes and Frankie Montas. [has arrived](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/03/27/anthony-volpe-meet-new-york-yankees-opening-day-shortstop/11547643002/), at age 21, and will jog out to his position on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon to hold down one of the most prestigious positions in sports. [it was permanently implementing a provision](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/27/mlb-rules-2023-shift-pitch-clock-bases/11358317002/) in use since 2020 that every half inning after the ninth begins with a runner on second base. [Larger bases](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/28/mlb-shift-rule-explained-2023-season/11364513002/): The bases are now 18 inches square (previously 15 inches). [is a Tri-State kid](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/03/27/anthony-volpe-meet-new-york-yankees-opening-day-shortstop/11547643002/), pride of Watchung, New Jersey, and Morristown’s Delbarton School, from where you can reach Yankee Stadium in less than an hour, with cooperation from various bridges and thoroughfares. [Pitch clock](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/28/mlb-shift-rule-explained-2023-season/11364513002/): There is a 30-second timer between batters and a time limit between pitches. (Home plate – which stays the same size – to first base is 3 inches shorter.) [Pickoff limits](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2023/02/28/mlb-shift-rule-explained-2023-season/11364513002/): Pitchers are limited to a maximum of two pickoff attempts per plate appearance. The Oakland A’s ($62.2 million) ranked fifth among teams who made the most money while the Pittsburgh Pirates ($51.5 million) ranked eighth and the Kansas City Royals earned $27.8 million.

MLB, Fanatics and Topps have created a new patch that players will wear when they make their debut in the majors.

Anthony Volpe will make his big league debut at shortstop with the “Topps has been a great partner to baseball for decades, and I think this particular initiative is crucial to the development of deeper fan engagement.” That figure has since been beaten out by a 1952 Mickey Mantle card, which sold for

The 2023 MLB season begins Thursday afternoon. Here are the top plays from all 15 Opening Day games!

With Opening Day here, Scott Pianowski ranks all 30 MLB teams to see which squad has the most fantasy juice.

On a busy opening day, every team is in action. Between M.L.B.'s new rules and some intriguing player movement, you might want to get caught up.

history to qualify for both the batting title and the E.R.A. Earlier in the day, the Yankees put Gerrit Cole up against a major breakout candidate in Logan Webb of the San Francisco Giants. If Ohtani plays the way he did in the last two seasons, he might make that Judge contract look tiny by comparison. He has made it clear he will walk away to find a chance to win. He’s a 55-60 runner but it plays up on the bases because he has great instincts both for reading pitchers and reading situations. Here’s a look at some of the [new rules](https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/02/24/sports/baseball/mlb-rule-changes.html?action=click&pgtype=Article&state=default&module=styln-mlb-season&variant=show®ion=MAIN_CONTENT_1&block=storyline_levelup_swipe_recirc) taking effect this season: The Yankees, whose games averaged a major league-high 3 hours 13 minutes last season, beat the San Francisco Giants, 5-0, in the first game of the day. While at shortstop, he’s got great hands and gets himself into the right position to make plays more than most shortstops I see. So it’s safe to say the team thinks Volpe, 21, has a bright future. After months of speculation about how new rules will change the game and a spring training filled with fast games and plenty of flubs, opening day of the 2023 Major League Baseball season is finally here. As for the effects of that clock on the game? (Switching to overhand pitching in the late 19th century was probably more extreme, but let’s put that aside.)

More than a dozen Jacksonville-area players are on Opening Day rosters, either active or IL, for the 2023 Major League Baseball season.

Notable: Lawrence has had the movement on his pitches working of late, including the World Baseball Classic with Panama. Notable: After tumultuous off-season, Clevinger returns to AL Central with White Sox; likely to occupy No. 3 or No. Position: Pitcher Position: Catcher Position: Outfielder Position: First baseman Position: Infielder

In free agency and through trades, the A's added infielder/outfielders Aledmys Diaz and Jace Peterson, Japanese flamethrower Shintaro Fujinami, ...

"The Athletics spent the offseason bringing in some cheap veteran talent in Aledmys Diaz, Jace Peterson and Jesus Aguilar in hopes that they can help keep things respectful on the field. That said, even the additions feel like baby steps for a franchise that probably won’t show much urgency until its stadium situation is settled, and has to continue relying on outwitting the opposition in an era where innovation is hard to keep secret for long." "75 wins may not seem like a big accomplishment, but the over/under win total for the A's over at FanDuel is 59.5. The reason I think the A's could win as many as 75 games this season is that their depth is a lot better than last season. It’s very possible A’s owner John Fisher suddenly becomes more willing to invest in the franchise when the team relocates. I’m penciling them in for closer to the 70 wins FanGraphs is projecting.

Homecourt advantage in the playoffs for Boston becomes impossible with a loss tonight.

In the rare moments the ball is put in play against him, the ball is often hit hard and in the air. In recent years the Astros have sent players like Gerrit Cole and Justin Verlander to the mound on Opening Day. The Celtics have been the best team in the league from an efficiency standpoint all season, and the last 10 games have been no different. The kind of game that tends to come down to the final possessions, and in a situation like that, it's hard to pass up getting points. Plus, baseball is not easy to bet at any time of the season, and it's even more difficult early in the season. Boston's doing it on both ends as well, as their offensive efficiency is second in the league, and it's the same story on defense. I expect Milwaukee to turn up the defensive intensity tonight, and we will see a close, hotly-contested affair. It ranks seventh in the league in that span. It's the two best teams in the East going at it. The MLB season is full of unexpected trials and tribulations. [The five reasons Lamar Jackson hasn't gotten the contract he's seeking](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/five-reasons-why-lamar-jackson-doesnt-have-his-big-contract-and-five-counterarguments-for-each/). Opening Day is the day when anything is possible.

When top prospects Jordan Walker and Anthony Volpe make their MLB debuts on Opening Day, they'll be two of the first players to usher in a new era in the ...

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Former Tigers on MLB rosters include infielder DJ LeMahieu (Yankees), infielder Alex Bregman (Astros), pitcher Aaron Nola (Phillies), pitcher Kevin Gausman ...

Fraley begins his fifth MLB season and his second with Cincinnati after three years with the Seattle Mariners. Gausman, who pitched at LSU in 2011 and 2012, begins his 11th MLB season and his second with the Blue Jays. Austin Nola, a native of Baton Rouge and Aaron’s older brother, made his MLB debut in 2019 with the Seattle Mariners, and he collected 10 home runs and 31 RBI in 79 games. Bregman, a product of Albuquerque, N.M., made his MLB debut with Houston in July 2016, and he has helped lead the Astros to the 2017 and 2022 World Series titles as the club’s starting third baseman. 2 overall selection by the Astros in the 2015 MLB Draft, Bregman was a two-time first-team all-American at LSU, and he was named the recipient of the 2013 Brooks Wallace Award as the nation’s best shortstop. Aaron Nola, a Baton Rouge native, enters his ninth season in the Philadelphia rotation, and he was instrumental in the Phillies’ drive to the 2022 National League pennant.

MLB, Fanatics and Topps have created a new patch that players will wear when they make their debut in the majors.

Anthony Volpe will make his big league debut at shortstop with the “Topps has been a great partner to baseball for decades, and I think this particular initiative is crucial to the development of deeper fan engagement.” That figure has since been beaten out by a 1952 Mickey Mantle card, which sold for

The early slate of games brought plenty of action and drama on Opening Day. Follow it all here.

FULLERTON, Calif. – Cal State Fullerton baseball is once again well represented in the MLB on opening day. The Titans have seven former players on opening ...

Mike Harkey is the bullpen coach for the New York Yankees in his eighth season with the team while P.J. In addition, the baseball team has established its own Twitter ( [FullertonBSB](https://twitter.com/FullertonBSB)) and Instagram accounts ( [fullertonbsb](https://www.instagram.com/fullertonbsb/)). Mark Kotsay is set for his second season as the manager of the Oakland Athletics while Phil Nevin is in his first full season as the Los Angeles Angels Manager. Los Angeles Dodger, Phil Bickford, returns for his third year with the organization in 2023. Pilittere is in his second season as the assistant hitting coach with the Colorado Rockies. In two years with the Marlins, Floro has 25 saves and a 2.91 ERA. In 49 games with the Giants last season, Davis had a .263 batting average with 20 runs and 14 RBI. In his first season with the Blue Jay's, Chapman hit .229 with 83 runs, 76 RBI and 27 home runs. Davis begins his first full year with the San Francisco Giants after a mid-season trade from the New York Mets last year. Lorenzen had an 8-6 record in 18 starts a year ago with the Angels. Turner earned his first all-star game selection in 2017 with the Dodgers before helping lead the team to a World Series title in 2020, its first since 1988. The Titans have seven former players on opening day rosters along with two managers and three other coaches throughout the league.

MLB Opening Day is off to an exciting start, with still more to come. With the early window wrapped up, eight more teams are looking to start the 2023 regular season with a victory. Those teams no longer include the Houston Astros, who saw the start of ...

Offseason chaos. A historic World Baseball Classic. New rules. After a wild winter, MLB's regular season starts today with all 30 teams in action.

[Shane Bieber](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/40912/shane-bieber) vs. [Zac Gallen](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/39910/zac-gallen) vs. [German Marquez](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/34874/german-marquez) vs. [Dylan Cease](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/34943/dylan-cease) vs. [Alek Manoah](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/42436/alek-manoah) vs. [Mitch Keller](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/33722/mitch-keller) vs. [Pablo Lopez](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/39671/pablo-lopez) vs. [Eduardo Rodriguez](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32675/eduardo-rodriguez) vs. [Corbin Burnes](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/39878/corbin-burnes) vs. [Kyle Gibson](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/31053/kyle-gibson) vs. [Logan Webb](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/41216/logan-webb) vs. [Max Fried](https://www.espn.com/mlb/player/_/id/32685/max-fried) vs.

The Astros began their World Series title defense Thursday against the White Sox, but it didn't go as they planned.

Major League Baseball announced that players making their first appearances will wear debut patches on their jerseys. The patch will appear on different ...

Major League Baseball's opening day can offer an occasionally instructive peek under hood, even if it's merely just 1/162nd of the season to come.

[per The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/4365441/2023/03/30/2023-san-francisco-giants-opening-day-roster/), then told his parents to put the kibosh on plans to travel to New York and see his debut. No opening day magic can match that of players who stick on the roster and are set to make their major league debuts, like vaunted prospects Walker and Volpe. Alas, Oakland scrapped out two runs off Aaron Loup in the bottom of the eighth inning to steal Ohtani's win and, more significantly, deal the Angels a setback in their aim to end a near decadelong playoff drought. The result was somewhat predictable: Kluber recorded 10 outs and gave up five runs to the exuberant young Orioles lineup, including a home run to burgeoning star Adley Rutschman. The Yankees won their opener and Volpe’s alma mater, Delbarton School, got a no-decision – the team postponed its game Thursday to show up, jerseys and all, at Volpe’s debut. Petersburg, Florida, Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg made the rounds, expressing a significant amount of confidence a long-awaited deal for a new stadium would come together by year’s end. And of the five games that exceeded the three-hour mark, three could certainly cite extenuating circumstances – final scores of 10-9, 11-7 and 10-9. And now Outman, 25, has an opening day homer to his credit, too. And it will do nothing to expedite or ensure the healthy return of Carlos Rodon, the $162 million lefty whose forearm injury will keep him out until May. The news coming out of spring training – average game time, 2 hours, 35 minutes – seemed too good to be true. Or Gerrit Cole, the $324 million ace, mowing through the San Francisco Giants, striking out 11 in six innings, the highest-paid pitcher in total value teaming with the position player earning more than any other annually to send an immediate message to the American League. Sometimes that uh-oh feeling is quite warranted, as much as some of the oh-wows that might emerge when the sport’s presents are unwrapped, one by one.

Opening Day is such a national holiday, such a relief after months without baseball, that even if every game were an uneventful 6-2 matchup with no ...

(For the record, the first hitter to earn a time violation was Baltimore’s Austin Hays, and later in that game, Boston’s Rafael Devers became the first hitter to strike out on a time violation.) But Opening Day was absolutely not that game, with replacement Robertson -- who, it should be noted, also is on the Top 10 list of active saves leaders -- coming in and shutting down the Marlins in order to finish off a 5-3 victory. Stroman clearly took the violation in stride: He went on to throw six scoreless innings and strike out eight in a 4-0 Cubs victory. Cruz won this round, in an incredible way, by turning on a 101.3 mph heater from Greene in the third inning. He kept hitting the rest of the day, helping the O's score seven runs in the fourth and fifth innings combined to give them a lead they would never relinquish in a 10-9 victory. He is, of course, widely thought to be the long-awaited heir apparent to Derek Jeter at shortstop. 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cle@sea"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-664034","title":"Ty France"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-136","title":"Seattle Mariners"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"hitting","title":"hitting"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"highlight","title":"highlight"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"in-game-highlight","title":"in-game highlight"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"game-action-tracking","title":"game action tracking"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"opening-day","title":"Opening Day"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"opening-week","title":"Opening Week"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"eclat-feed","title":"Eclat feed"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"fan-duel","title":"Fan Duel"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"international-feed","title":"International Partner feed"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"apple-news","title":"Apple News"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"send-to-news-mlb-feed","title":"Send To News MLB feed"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"2-yahoo-mlb-ads-feed","title":"2-Yahoo MLB Ads Feed"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"yahoo-in-game","title":"Yahoo In-Game"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/mxmkyjiwmmvpwmbjat5b","title":"Ty France's three-run homer (1)","type":"video","url":"/video/ty-france-homers-1-on-a-fly-ball-to-right-field-j-p-crawford-scores-kolte"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"**7\\.

The Oakland A's lost 102 games in 2022. In the offseason, they dealt away star catcher Sean Murphy to Atlanta and starting pitcher Cole Irvin to Baltimore.

[Gabriel Moreno](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/morenga01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.soxon35th.com&utm_campaign=2023-03-29_br) to Arizona for Daulton Varsho. [Carlos Correa](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/correca01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.soxon35th.com&utm_campaign=2023-03-29_br) in it. Taylor](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/taylomi02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.soxon35th.com&utm_campaign=2023-03-29_br) to Minnesota. [Gio Urshela](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/u/urshegi01.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.soxon35th.com&utm_campaign=2023-03-29_br), Hunter Renfroe, and Brandon Drury to the lineup have given them some much-needed depth. They may not have the amount of lineup thunder that some other playoff teams have, but this is a well-balanced lineup and a good team overall. [Adalberto Mondesi](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/mondera02.shtml?utm_medium=linker&utm_source=www.soxon35th.com&utm_campaign=2023-03-29_br) to Boston and [Michael A. Contributions from some young position players and veteran pitchers powered the Redbirds to October, and although their stay was short, they can’t be upset with the year as a whole. They also signed Zach Eflin to the largest free-agent deal in their franchise history (yes, you read that correctly). Seager and Semien are all-star type players, and Nathaniel Lowe is one of the more underrated players in the game. There’s no question they have talent, after all, they have arguably the best two players in baseball on their team. There’s a world in which the Cubs make the playoffs this year, but an awful lot would have to go right. They have a pitching staff that can compete with most teams in baseball, but they never have enough offense to get the job.

By Jayson Stark, Patrick Mooney, Nick Groke, C. Trent Rosecrans and Andy McCullough. MLB's 15 games on Opening Day averaged 2 hours and 45 minutes Thursday, ...

[Padres](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/padres/) and the [Rockies](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/rockies/). [Brewers](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/brewers/) with [Christian Yelich](https://theathletic.com/mlb/player/christian-yelich-S9hSJGPZg4kFYlsm/) at-bat and no outs. The [Dodgers](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/dodgers/) squashed the [Diamondbacks](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/diamondbacks/), 8-2, in only 2:35 — and that was a game which featured five different Arizona pitchers and multiple mid-inning pitching changes. Pitchers get 20 seconds to begin their throwing motions with runners on base and 15 seconds to do so with the bases empty. The second is to just embrace it and find ways to use it for our advantage. In the Red Sox game against the Orioles, Devers stepped out of the batter’s box in the eighth inning and wasn’t set within eight seconds after stepping back in, resulting in his violation. “Breathing is very important to aligning the body and putting yourself in a perfect position to deliver the ball to the plate. [Reds](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/reds/) vs. Thursday, though, both the Pirates and Reds starters had a pitch clock violation and both of those plate appearances ended in home runs for the batter. I am here to report that the clock works on the West Coast, too. [Pirates](https://theathletic.com/mlb/team/pirates/) game went 3 hours and 2 minutes. The shortest of last year’s Opening Day games was 2 hours and 49 minutes.

David Purdum examines how MLB's new rule changes will affect sportsbook's and bettors' approaches to wagering on baseball this season.

"The shift is huge to me," Fortuna said. "That's one thing [larger bases] that we did adjust our numbers on based on the rule changes, and it seems to be something that the bettors are taking note of also," Blum said. "We don't really see a direct correlation from the pitch clock to more scoring," said Randy Blum, who oversees baseball odds for the SuperBook in Las Vegas. "I think it's going to be a little more offsetting than people realize, almost a wash," Halvor said. Hitters are allowed one timeout per at-bat to reset the pitch clock. Hitters must be in the batter's box with eight seconds on the pitch clock.

Defensive positioning restrictions that require two infielders on each side of the second-base bag, with their feet placed within the infield border;; And ...

[Pete Alonso](/mlb/players/2447476/pete-alonso/) and [Jeff McNeil](/mlb/players/2169895/jeff-mcneil/), as well as home plate umpire Larry Vanover. [Mets](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/NYM/new-york-mets/) committed oddest violation [Orioles](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/BAL/baltimore-orioles/), would end up plating three other runs that inning. [MLB](/mlb/) and the MLB Players Association agreed to these changes with the hope that they would improve the pace of play and incentivize more batted balls and stolen-base attempts -- or, in other words, more action. Devers was not ready to hit, and so he ended up losing a chance for one more swing. We're here to tell you that both measures moved in the intended directions.

David Purdum examines how MLB's new rule changes will affect sportsbooks' and bettors' approaches to wagering on baseball this season.

"The shift is huge to me," Fortuna said. "That's one thing [larger bases] that we did adjust our numbers on based on the rule changes, and it seems to be something that the bettors are taking note of also," Blum said. "We don't really see a direct correlation from the pitch clock to more scoring," said Randy Blum, who oversees baseball odds for the SuperBook in Las Vegas. "I think it's going to be a little more offsetting than people realize, almost a wash," Halvor said. Hitters are allowed one timeout per at-bat to reset the pitch clock. Hitters must be in the batter's box with eight seconds on the pitch clock.

A pitch timer that necessitates pitchers start their deliveries within 15 seconds with the bases empty, and within 20 seconds with someone on board;; Defensive ...

[Pete Alonso](/mlb/players/2447476/pete-alonso/) and [Jeff McNeil](/mlb/players/2169895/jeff-mcneil/), as well as home plate umpire Larry Vanover. [Mets](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/NYM/new-york-mets/) committed oddest violation [Orioles](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/BAL/baltimore-orioles/), would end up plating three other runs that inning. [MLB](/mlb/) and the MLB Players Association agreed to these changes with the hope that they would improve the pace of play and incentivize more batted balls and stolen-base attempts -- or, in other words, more action. Devers was not ready to hit, and so he ended up losing a chance for one more swing. We're here to tell you that both measures moved in the intended directions.

Scott Pianowski highlights a little-known player to consider adding in fantasy — a player who just might be the first stolen-base-specific pickup of 2023.

Major League Baseball made three notable rule changes this year, and if Opening Day is any indication, they are already working.

The number of timer violations dropped from 2.03 per game at the beginning of spring training to 1.48 by the end. When it comes to stolen bases, teams and oddsmakers clearly see the new rules as an enduring advantage. [Spring training games](https://www.mlb.com/news/impact-of-new-rules-during-spring-training-2023) were 26 minutes shorter on average in 2023 compared to 2021 and 2022. The overall batting average on ground balls was .249 in 2023 spring training, up from .233 in 2022. Spring training data saw a notable jump in batting average on ground balls, especially ones pulled and up the middle. It is intended to speed the game up, and it has already proved to be incredibly effective in that respect. Runners went 21 of 23 on stolen bases on Opening Day for an average of 1.53 attempts per game. Average runs per game dropped to 8.56 in 2022, the lowest number for the league since 2015. Stolen bases saw a significant spike both in spring training and on Opening Day. Scoring is a tougher one to gauge. How effectively are they working, and what can teams, fans and even oddsmakers expect for the rest of the season? The average time needed for nine innings is slightly shorter, but it has also floated above three hours each year since 2016.

The number of players born outside the United States that featured on Opening Day rosters dipped 2% to 269 compared to last year, Major League Baseball ...

For the third consecutive season, the Houston Astros have the most internationally-born players with 16, followed by the Minnesota Twins (15), San Diego Padres (15), Miami Marlins (13) and New York Yankees (13). Venezuela (62), Cuba (21) Puerto Rico (19) and Mexico (15) rounded out the top five. The number of internationally-born players represents 28.5% of a total pool of 945 players and trails only the 2020 (291) and 2022 (275) seasons.

The percentage of Major League Baseball players born outside the 50 states remained relatively stable for the fourth straight opening day.

Puerto Rico (19), Mexico (15), Canada (10), Japan (eight), Colombia (seven), Curaçao, Panama and South Korea (four each); Bahamas and Nicaragua (two apiece), and Aruba, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Honduras and Taiwan (one each). The Dominican Republic led with 104 players, its second-most behind 110 in 2020. Venezuela was second with 62, followed by Cuba (21).

SportsLine's Mike McClure, a daily Fantasy pro with nearly $2 million in winnings, gives optimal MLB DFS lineup advice.

[Astros](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/HOU/houston-astros/) vs. The stars are aligning for him to return tournament-winning value and he comes at a price that won't break the bank. [White Sox](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/teams/CHW/chicago-white-sox/) at 7:10 p.m. Machado went 1 of 3 at the plate on Opening Day, giving him a .333 average heading into the second game of the campaign. He went 3 of 4 with two doubles and a run, finishing with three of the team's seven hits. Bogaerts has destroyed left-handed pitchers throughout his career, hitting .311 with 41 home runs and 171 RBI, making this a favorable matchup against They are both heavy favorites in the [MLB](/mlb/) odds at Caesars Sportsbook, so their stars will be popular choices in MLB DFS lineups. San Diego came up short against Colorado on Thursday, but Bogaerts was outstanding in his debut with the Padres. This allows him to find the best values on every site. And when it comes to daily Fantasy baseball, McClure is at his best. Before submitting any MLB DFS picks for Friday, be sure to [check out the MLB DFS advice, strategy and projections from SportsLine daily Fantasy expert Mike McClure](https://www.sportsline.com/insiders/mlb-dfs-optimal-fanduel-draftkings-picks-player-pool-advice-for-march-31-2023/#ttag=03312023_agg_cbssports_dfs_baseball_mlb_mikemcclure_MLBDFSFriday). There are only five games on the docket, making MLB DFS strategy a trickier task to tackle.

MLB is investigating a confrontation between Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and an Athletics fan at Thursday's season opener in Oakland.

Rendon continues to challenge the fan as he denies the claim. He missed the majority of 2022 after undergoing right wrist surgery during the season. In a 12-second video posted on social media, Rendon grabs the fan by the shirt through the guardrails and accuses the fan of calling him a "b----."

Baseball players aren't always the most fashionable, but they understand the need to look good on their first day of school. March 31, 2023.

Crawford's whole vibe, Penn Murfee's dirtbag professorial look, and the rest of the team going full normcore. The whole range of baseball player fashion is on display here. All smiles from Francisco Lindor, who, predictably, outshined his Mets' teammates in the pregame tunnel. Thursday's festivities featured a few people who came correct, both on the field and with their tunnel entrance fits. Every year on Opening Day, you'll hear committed fans talk about how it should be a national holiday. The

MLB is investigating a confrontation between Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and an Athletics fan at Thursday's season opener in Oakland.

Rendon continues to challenge the fan as he denies the claim. He missed the majority of 2022 after undergoing right wrist surgery during the season. In a 12-second video posted on social media, Rendon grabs the fan by the shirt through the guardrails and accuses the fan of calling him a "b----."

Major League Baseball made three notable rule changes this year, and if Opening Day is any indication, they are already working.

The number of timer violations dropped from 2.03 per game at the beginning of spring training to 1.48 by the end. When it comes to stolen bases, teams and oddsmakers clearly see the new rules as an enduring advantage. [Spring training games](https://www.mlb.com/news/impact-of-new-rules-during-spring-training-2023) were 26 minutes shorter on average in 2023 compared to 2021 and 2022. The overall batting average on ground balls was .249 in 2023 spring training, up from .233 in 2022. Spring training data saw a notable jump in batting average on ground balls, especially ones pulled and up the middle. It is intended to speed the game up, and it has already proved to be incredibly effective in that respect. Runners went 21 of 23 on stolen bases on Opening Day for an average of 1.53 attempts per game. Average runs per game dropped to 8.56 in 2022, the lowest number for the league since 2015. Stolen bases saw a significant spike both in spring training and on Opening Day. Scoring is a tougher one to gauge. How effectively are they working, and what can teams, fans and even oddsmakers expect for the rest of the season? The average time needed for nine innings is slightly shorter, but it has also floated above three hours each year since 2016.

MLB announced Friday it is investigating an altercation between Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon and a fan at the A's-Angels game Thursday.

This year's Opening Day was historic, as all 30 teams took the field for the first time since 1968. With everyone in action to begin 2023, there were plenty ...

Follow him on Twitter at [@hellapalattella](https://twitter.com/hellapalattella). Follow him on Twitter [@HarriganMLB](https://twitter.com/HarriganMLB). Follow him on Twitter [@AndrewSimonMLB](https://twitter.com/AndrewSimonMLB). Follow him on Twitter at [@MannyOnMLB.](http://twitter.com/mannyonmlb) Springer recorded five hits, which tied [the record for most hits on Opening Day](https://www.mlb.com/news/opening-day-single-game-records), while the Blue Jays had 19 hits as a team -- the most by any MLB team on Opening Day since the 2005 Cubs. Things got tense in the bottom of the ninth, as Reynaldo López, brought on to face the heart of Houston’s lineup, surrendered a 442-foot monster shot to Yordan Alvarez, but that was all the Astros would get, [putting an end to their historic run of dominance](https://www.mlb.com/news/astros-opening-day-win-streak-ends) over Opening Day. With the 2-1 Angels loss, Ohtani became the first pitcher in AL/NL history (since 1901) to give up no runs while striking out 10 or more batters on Opening Day in a game his team lost. [Adley Rutschman reached base six times](https://www.mlb.com/news/adley-rutschman-five-hits-four-rbis-2023-opening-day), blasting a first-inning home run and driving in four of Baltimore's 10 runs at Fenway Park. One of the Angels’ five hits in the game, a single in the fourth inning, came off Ohtani’s bat at 111.6 mph. [Arenado gave the Cardinals the lead](https://www.mlb.com/news/nolan-arenado-leads-cardinals-in-tough-opening-day-loss) in the bottom of the eighth inning on a two-RBI double that had Busch Stadium rocking. Judge’s blast fueled a 5-0 Yankees win in a game that saw history made on the mound. Maris also homered on Opening Day the year after his record-breaking 61-homer season in 1961, as did Mark McGwire after hitting 70 homers in 1998 and Barry Bonds after hitting 73 in 2001.

Major League Baseball is investigating a video making the rounds on social media that appears to show Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon ...