Thursday is Opening Day 2018

Thursday marks the day baseball fans all over the country have been waiting for since November—Opening Day. This year, they had to wait a little less than usual, as this will be the earliest Opening Day ever.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will open at home Thursday against their rivals, the San Francisco Giants. This rivalry goes all the way back to Brooklyn, where the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers first started competing two centuries ago. 

Thursday, Dodgers phenom Clayton Kershaw is expected to face off against the Giants’ Ty Blach. Kershaw has the opportunity to opt out of his contract with the Dodgers following this season. Many have speculated Kershaw, already considered one of the greatest pitchers in his generation, will go all-out this year in search of his next big contract. Unfortunately for Dodger fans, that could mean this is his last Opener on the mound at Dodger Stadium.

The opening lineup is expected to be made up entirely of players who fielded the Dodgers World Series team in the fall—including last year’s breakout star and National League Rookie of the Year Cody Bellinger. One old familiar face that will be back in blue this season is Matt Kemp, who was traded back to the Dodgers in the off season.

Anyone who lives in California knows the Dodgers have been a force to be reckoned with for at least the past half-decade, and that domination is expected to continue this season.

They open against the Giants at home at 4:08 p.m. Thursday, March 29. If you weren’t one of the lucky ones to snag a ticket to the game, the Dodgers are on ESPN or catch the game the old fashioned way on KLAC AM570.

The Angels may be the team to look out for this season, since management seems to be making moves to back up their star, Mike Trout, and possibly make a postseason push.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will open away on Thursday, playing their West Coast rivals, the Oakland Athletics, in Oakland, at 1:05 p.m. Garrett Richards will start against the As’ Kendall Graveman.  The team’s home opener comes next week with a matchup versus the Cleveland Indians on Monday night. 

In the off season, the Angels picked up Shohei Ohtani from the Japanese Nippon League. Ohtani, who made his American debut at Spring Training in Arizona last month, may be a breakout pitcher and batter in the spirit of Babe Ruth—if he lives up to the hype. While Ohtani is a megastar back home in Japan, his lukewarm showing in Spring Training has Los Angeles fans cautiously optimistic.

Joining Ohtani on the roster is second baseman Ian Kinsler, traded during the Detroit Tigers’ fire sale of players after their postseason dreams went up in flames last year. The Angels’ outfield includes another former Tiger, Justin Upton, who is returning this year. Both may be just past their prime, but this could still be a strong season and it’s clear the Angels are working to build their roster. 

The Angels’ biggest hurdle? They share a division with reigning World Series champs the Houston Astros (interestingly, led by another former Tiger—Justin Verlander). 

Catch Angels Opening Day on FS-W or listen on KLAA AM830.

Clayton Kershaw (left) will pitch his eighth Opening Day with the Dodgers, while new Angel Shohei Ohtani’s debut is still in the air.