We’re back! For one afternoon. There there’s an off day. And then another game on Saturday. And at that point the baseball season will have successfully started like so many lawnmowers that sputter and make you pull the string a couple of times before they get going. (You probably don’t have to mow your lawn yet in the Boston area but watch out for many, many ads from Scott’s featuring the guy below.)
But no matter how many days it takes, this is Opening Weekend.
And the Red Sox are starting back where
every Opening Day used to be played: Cincinnati.
The Reds are no longer the team of Joey Votto, who’s now a broadcaster on NBC. The Red Sox are looking to have their own Votto in Roman Anthony, a home grown (potential) star. And Anthony isn’t the only exciting name on the roster. Boston starts the season with Garrett Crochet taking the ball. Then trade acquisition Sonny Gray returns to the ballpark he called home from 2019-2021. And for the series finale: Connelly Early, who, because of injuries to the rotation last season, arrived a little ahead of schedule, and who will now make his first start following an Opening Day roster battle victory.
Boston faces a lefty, a righty, and another righty, for those of you counting at home trying to figure out when and where Marcelo Mayer, Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, and Masataka Yoshida will play. I think we’ll see two games for Mayer (the lineup isn’t out as of writing). Will Cora quickly start that DH/outfield rotation to keep Masa hot after the WBC? We’re about to find out. He might become a pinch-hitting wonder. There’s so much to explore at the start of the season.
Who is going to run wild on the base paths?
Who has a breakout homer season?
Is there another campaign for a Cy Young — not from Crochet (though he will likely be a contender) — but from someone else 10 years after Rick Porcello surprised everyone? It could happen.
According to Ian Browne of MLB.com, the first pitch will be thrown out by none other than Bronson Arroyo. He wasn’t as much of a legend in Cincinnati but he definitely left his mark.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Thursday, March 26: Garrett Crochet (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Andrew Abbott (— ERA / — FIP)
Saturday, March 27: Sonny Gray (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Brady Singer (— ERA / — FIP)
Sunday, March 29: Connelly Early (— ERA / — FIP) vs. Rhett Lowder (— ERA / — FIP)
When/Where to Watch
Thursday, March 26 at 4:10 PM ET on NESN
Saturday, March 28: 4:10 PM ET on NESN
Sunday, March 29: 1:40 PM ET on NESN
