3. Realmuto (R) C More >Twins Expect to see lefty Brad Hand in a variety of high-leverage situations. Even with Marcus Semien and his 133 OPS+ and 45 home runs now playing for the Texas Rangers, the Toronto Blue Jays still have a stacked lineup. 4. While the delayed schedule and some bad weather will cost us a full slate of games on Thursday, we still have seven games to handicap starting off with the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs at 2:20 p.m. Rowdy Tellez (L) DH 2. Pavin Smith (L) RF Roman Quinn (S) CF, Royals (Danny Duffy) at Indians (Shane Bieber), 7:10 ET, 1. Jose Peraza (R) 2B, Rockies (German Marquez) at Rangers (Lance Lynn), 8:05 ET, 1. Those new additions, coupled with the continued development of Jazz Chisholm Jr., Jesus Sanchez and others should make this an improved offensive unit, but they still have a long way to go. 3. 4. 4. Jake Lamb (L) 1B Rangers (Jon Gray) at Blue Jays (Jos Berros) 7:07 p.m. Friday. RF AJ Pollock8. Martinez1B Freddie FreemanC Will Smith3B Max MuncyCF Trayce ThompsonSS Gavin LuxLF Chris Taylor2B Miguel Vargas (R)SP Julio Uras, 2B Luis Arraez3B Jean SeguraCF Jazz Chisholm Jr.1B Garrett CooperDH Jorge SolerRF Avisal GarcaC Gary SanchezSS Joey WendleLF Bryan De La CruzSP Sandy Alcantara, LF Christian YelichSS Willy Adames1B Rowdy TellezC William ContrerasDH Jesse Winker2B Luis UrasCF Garrett Mitchell (R)3B Brian AndersonRF Tyrone TaylorSP Corbin Burnes, CF Byron Buxton2B Jorge PolancoSS Carlos CorreaRF Max Kepler3B Jose Miranda1B Alex KirilloffDH Nick GordonLF Joey GalloC Christian VzquezSP Sonny Gray, CF Brandon NimmoRF Starling MarteSS Francisco Lindor1B Pete Alonso2B Jeff McNeilDH Daniel VogelbachLF Mark Canha3B Eduardo EscobarC Omar NarvezSP Justin Verlander, 3B DJ LeMahieuRF Aaron Judge1B Anthony RizzoDH Giancarlo Stanton2B Gleyber TorresLF Oswaldo CabreraCF Harrison BaderSS Oswald Peraza (R)C Jose TrevinoSP Gerrit Cole, CF Esteury Ruiz (R)RF Ramn LaureanoLF Seth Brown1B Jess Aguilar3B Jace PetersonDH Tony Kemp2B Aledmys DazC Shea LangeliersSS Nick AllenSP Paul Blackburn, SS Trea TurnerLF Kyle Schwarber1B Rhys HoskinsC J.T. 2. Adam Frazier (L) 2B 2. 5. 3. Yandy Diaz (R) 1B Carlos Correa (R) SS Francisco Mejia (S) C Ender Inciarte (L) CF More >NL WESTDodgers 9. Infielder Michael Massey and first baseman-left fielder Nick Pratto have the potential to be long-term pieces and will get long looks in spring training. Check back for updates as teams announce their starting lineups for all of Thursday's games, beginning with an AL East Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees showdown at 1 p.m. Brandon Crawford (L) SS Yuli Gurriel will start the season on the DL, but Houston has plenty of depth. Taylor was a. DavisLF Michael Conforto3B Wilmer FloresSS Brandon CrawfordC Joey BartSP Logan Webb, CF Julio Rodrguez2B Kolten Wong1B Ty FranceRF Teoscar Hernndez3B Eugenio SurezC Cal RaleighDH AJ PollockLF Jarred KelenicSS J.P. CrawfordSP Luis Castillo, RF Lars Nootbaar2B Brendan Donovan1B Paul Goldschmidt3B Nolan ArenadoC Willson ContrerasLF Tyler O'NeillCF Dylan CarlsonDH Nolan GormanSS Tommy EdmanSP Adam Wainwright, 3B Yandy DazSS Wander FrancoLF Randy Arozarena2B Brandon LoweRF Manuel MargotDH Harold Ramirez1B Isaac ParedesC Christian BethancourtCF Jose SiriSP Shane McClanahan, 2B Marcus SemienSS Corey Seager1B Nathaniel LoweRF Adolis GarcaDH Mitch GarverLF Jurickson ProfarC Jonah Heim3B Josh JungCF Leody TaverasSP Jacob deGrom, RF George SpringerSS Bo Bichette1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.C Alejandro Kirk3B Matt ChapmanLF Daulton VarshoDH Brandon Belt2B Whit MerrifieldCF Kevin KiermaierSP Alek Manoah, RF Lane ThomasSS CJ AbramsDH Joey Meneses1B Dominic SmithLF Corey Dickerson3B Jeimer CandelarioC Keibert Ruiz2B Luis GarcaCF Victor RoblesSP Josiah Gray. No active hurler has more consecutive Opening Day starts than Felix Hernandez, who gets the ball for the 10th straight time to begin a regular season. Avisail Garcia (R) RF More >Mets Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) SS Mitch Garver is the team's best current option to serve as designated hitter, but using him regularly in that role would likely mean carrying a third catcher on the roster. Dylan Bundy gets the nod on Opening Day for the first time in his career, and Colby Rasmus, a career .252/.318/.463 hitter versus righties, should add to an already potent Orioles lineup. RF Teoscar Hernandez4. 1B Matt Olson4. 2. Yadier Molina (R) C Jonathan India (R) 2B Major League Baseball is back for a full 162-game 2021 season after a very unique 2020. 4. Freddy Galvis (S) SS Eugenio Suarez (R) SS Anthony Santander (S) RF 8. 5. TheLos Angeles Dodgersbegin their title defense with a trip to face theColorado Rockiesat Coors Field. Matt Carpenter (L) DH 7. 6. 8. 8. 2. The start of the season will feature Clayton Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers as they begin their World Series title defense, and will be the first chance for St. Louis Cardinals fans to check out offseason acquisition Nolan Arenado and San Diego Padres fans to see what ace Yu Darvish can do in his new home. 3. Mike Moustakas (L) 3B Mitch Haniger (R) RF Robinson Chirinos (R) C Ronald Acuna Jr. (R) RF 2. Jorge Polanco (S) 2B Any of them could play their way into a significant role with an impressive showing this spring. J.T. Yasmani Grandal (S) C Xander Bogaerts (R) SS Kenta Maeda (R) P, 1. 6. Nick Castellanos (R) RF Gio Urshela (R) 3B 8. 2. David Fletcher (R) 2B Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B Leury Garcia (S) LF More >Angels 4. The son of 16-year MLB veteran Bobby Witt Sr., the younger Witt . It's unclear who will hit leadoff for Baltimore, with Trey Mancini, Timothy Beckham and even Chris Davis up for consideration; Mancini has the early edge. 3B Austin Riley5. Realmuto (R) C Christian Yelich (L) LF RF Jackie Bradley Jr.9. Realmuto3B Alec BohmDH Darick HallRF Nick CastellanosCF Brandon Marsh2B Bryson StottSP Aaron Nola, DH Carlos SantanaCF Bryan ReynoldsLF Andrew McCutchen1B Ji-Man Choi3B Ke'Bryan HayesSS Oneil CruzRF Jack Suwinski2B Rodolfo CastroC Austin HedgesSP Rich Hill, 2B Ha-Seong KimRF Juan Soto3B Manny MachadoSS Xander Bogaerts1B Jake CronenworthDH Nelson CruzLF Matt CarpenterC Austin NolaCF Trent GrishamSP Yu Darvish, 2B Thairo EstradaCF Mike YastrzemskiRF Mitch HanigerDH Joc Pederson1B J.D. And Ryan Braun will be playing first base on Opening Day. Yoenis Cespedes (R) DH 5. 2. I have constructed a quiz on the website Sporcle to test your knowledge, with the following. 9. DH Max Muncy5. Yuli Gurriel (R) 1B 1 prospect, Bobby Witt Jr., playing third base. With a stacked lineup and pitching staff, the Bronx Bombers enter the regular season looking like a major World Series contender. Dansby Swanson (R) SS Lorenzo Cain and Christian Yelich will be key new bats at the top of the lineup. All 30 MLB teams were scheduled to be in action April 1, and there are some intriguing matchups on the Opening Day schedule. Nelson Cruz (R) DH 2. 7. Here's how WBC offenses stack up with MLB's best, Las Vegas prepared to give A's 'better opportunity', Female minor league manager shadows Lovullo, Paxton (hamstring) unlikely for start of season, Jays' Guerrero to miss WBC with inflamed knee, Rangers, LHP Smith agree to 1-year, $1.5M deal, 7 Cubs combine for 1st spring no-no since 2017, Scherzer tries to test pitch clock limits, gets balk. Cron (R) 1B This still looks like an average-at-best offense, though, and they don't have the pitching to pick up the slack. Rio Ruiz (L) 3B 3. Freddie Freeman (L) 1B 3. Happ is scheduled to make his first career Opening Day start. Tommy Pham (R) CF Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. Andrelton Simmons (R) SS Bo Bichette (R) SS 6. 30-26 1 of 10 The Astros are returning nearly all the key players from their World Series championship team. 2. 6. 7. Brandon Lowe (L) 2B And Chris Sale is always a must-watch on the mound. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.3. Check back for updates as teams announce their starting lineups for all of Thursday's games, beginning with an AL East Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees showdown at 1 p.m. J.D. Mauricio Dubon (R) CF, 1. Boston Red Sox Opening Day Starting Lineups 2013-2022. Brock Holt (L) 3B 5. Francisco Cervelli (R) C 9. Jaylin Davis (R) RF Infielder Kevin Smith and outfielders Cristian Pache, Conner Capel and Brent Rooker headline a long list of players who could steal roster spots and perhaps even starting jobs with strong showings in spring training. 6. Chad Pinder (R) 2B 8. We're tracking batting orders from across the league as teams start to play in front of their home fans again for the first time since the pandemic began. Salvador Perez (R) C Red Sox at Yankees (1:05 p.m.)FAQ, lineups, pitchers, more >. 4. Yordan Alvarez (L) DH DH J.D. Newcomer Dee Gordon will add speed to the top of a Seattle lineup spearheaded by sluggers Robinson Cano, Nelson Cruz and Kyle Seager. A year after acquiring Francisco Lindor in a blockbuster deal, the Mets went all-in on the free-agent market, adding Starling Marte, Mark Canha and Eduardo Escobar on the offensive side of things. Nico Hoerner (R) 2B 4. Brad Boxbergerwas officially named closer on Tuesday withArchie Bradley returning to his multi-inning relief role andYoshihisa Hirano working as a setup man. Eight more season-opening matchups will wait for Friday, with the Red Sox and Yankees kicking it off after their opener was postponed on Thursday. The last was in 2017. An offense-first catcher such as GarySanchez seems like the perfect platoon partner behind the plate for the light-hitting Jacob Stallings, and he would also add another power bat to a lineup in need of middle-of-the-order thump. 4. 3. Jose Osuna (R) DH 3B Justin Turner6. ET)FAQ, lineups, pitchers, more >. Mike Moustakas (L) 2B 5. 7. Scott Kingery (R) 2B 7. Even after losing George Springer and Carlos Correa the past two offseasons, the Astros lineup is still loaded with young stars Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez leading the way alongside steady veterans Jose Altuve and Michael Brantley. 6. DJ LeMahieu (R) 2B Stowers is a candidate to break camp with a spot on the roster as a fourth outfielder and DH option. Willson Contreras (R) C Jonathan Schoop (R) 2B Buster Posey (R) C Orlando Arcia (R) SS, 1. Omar Narvaez (L) C The 22-year-old hit .231/.275/.344 with a. Projecting every 2022 MLB lineup, rotation Predicting '22 lineups, rotations, closers April 7th, 2022 Here's how each club's lineup and starting rotation is predicted to look on Opening Day: AMERICAN LEAGUE EAST BLUE JAYS 1. Former top prospect Nolan Jones was acquired in a trade with Cleveland in November, and he'll have a chance to carve out a role in the outfield. 4. 8. 4. 2. SP matchup: Nathan Eovaldi (BOS) vs. Gerrit Cole (NYY) -- It's a rematch of the 2021 AL Wild Card Game, when Eovaldi outpitched Cole, and both pitchers are also making their third straight Opening Day starts for their clubs.See this new face: Trevor Story, who had 24 home runs and 20 stolen bases for the Rockies in 2021, will get his welcome to the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry as Boston's new second baseman. Randal Grichuk (R) CF The Athletics ranked last in the majors in batting average (.216) and OPS (.627) last season and finished 29th in runs (568). With Mike Trout (36 games) and Anthony Rendon (58 games) both healthy and ready to go for Opening Day, the Angels lineup stands to be vastly improved. Paul DeJong (R) SS Matt Davidson (R) DH 7. Jeimer Candelario (S) 3B Alec Bohm (R) 3B Not sure who is starting for your team? Avisail Garcia (R) RF 5 or 6 spot. Brian Anderson (R) 3B 4. 9. 8. 2. We'll get an immediate sense on Friday. 3. Nick Solak (R) 2B In other action, an Apple TV+ doubleheader will combine Max Scherzer's Mets debut against his former team, the Nationals, with another Angels-Astros tilt from Anaheim. 1. 4. Marcus Semien (R) 2B Backup catcher Luke Maile is the only position player the Guardians added to the 40-man roster this offseason, which is less than ideal for a team that ranked 18th in runs scored and 21st in OPS last year.