MLB 2023 Season Preview
By MLB Correspondent Mia Barahona
As opening day for the 2023 MLB season approaches, you can’t help but feel excited and filled with joy–the joyous feeling as your team embarks on a season-long journey.
However, this opening day seems to be different; with the controversial rule updates, games around the world, the unfortunate injuries to our favorite superstars, and the exciting debuts of new uniforms for various teams, there are new curiosities to look forward to.
“You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you’re a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.” — Joe DiMaggio
Rule Updates
- Pitch Clock: Pitchers have 15 seconds to throw a pitch with the bases empty and 20 seconds with runners on. Batters have 10 seconds to be in the batters box ready to swing. There are 30 seconds between batters. Pitch clock violations will be called strikes on the batter or called balls on the pitcher.
- Shift Limits: All four infielders are required to be on the infield dirt or infield grass with 2 infielders on each side of second base. The infielders can only shift when the ball is released from the pitcher’s hand.
- Bigger Bases: The new bases have gotten bigger by 3 square inches–from the original 15 square inches to 18 square inches.
- Team Matchups: For the first time since Major League Baseball was established, all teams from both the AL and NL will play each other in a single season. Games within the division have been reduced to 13 games per team down from 19 games.
MLB games around the world
- Mexico City: San Francisco Giants vs. San Diego Padres (April 29-30)
- London: St. Louis Cardinals vs. Chicago Cubs (June 24-25)
- Little League Classic (Williamsport, PA): Philadelphia Phillies vs. Washington Nationals (August 20)
Key Injured Players
Beginning season on IL
- Jose Altuve (broken thumb)
- Joe Musgrove (broken toe)
- Luis Severino (lat strain)
- Carlos Rodon (left forearm muscle strain)
- Trevor Story (shoulder surgery)
- Bryce Harper (Tommy John surgery)
- Joey Votto (shoulder and bicep surgery)
- Tony Gonsolin (sprained ankle)
Out for the season
- Edwin Diaz (patellar tendon tear)
- Rhys Hoskins (torn ACL)
- Gavin Lux (torn ACL)
- Liam Hendriks (diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma)
Nike City Connect Uniform Debuts
- Atlanta Braves (April 8)
- Texas Rangers (April 21)
- Seattle Mariners (May 5)
- Cincinnati Reds (May 19)
- Baltimore Orioles (May 26)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (June 27)
Standings Predictions
| AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. New York Yankees | 1. Cleveland Guardians | 1. Houston Astros | 1. New York Mets | 1. St. Louis Cardinals | 1. San Diego Padres |
| 2. Tampa Bay Rays | 2. Minnesota Twins | 2. Seattle Mariners | 2. Atlanta Braves | 2. Milwaukee Brewers | 2. Los Angeles Dodgers |
| 3. Toronto Blue Jays | 3. Chicago White Sox | 3. Texas Rangers | 3. Philadelphia Phillies | 3. Chicago Cubs | 3. San Francisco Giants |
| 4. Boston Red Sox | 4. Kansas City Royals | 4. Los Angeles Angels | 4. Miami Marlins | 4. Pittsburgh Pirates | 4. Arizona Diamondbacks |
| 5. Baltimore Orioles | 5. Detroit Tigers | 5. Oakland Athletics | 5. Washington Nationals | 5. Cincinnati Reds | 5. Colorado Rockies |
Opening Day Matchups
- Atlanta Braves vs. Washington Nationals
- San Francisco Giants vs. New York Yankees
- Baltimore Orioles vs. Boston Red Sox
- Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs
- Detroit Tigers vs. Tampa Bay Rays
- Philadelphia Phillies vs. Texas Rangers
- Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds
- Colorado Rockies vs. San Diego Padres
- Toronto Blue Jays vs. St. Louis Cardinals
- Minnesota Twins vs. Kansas City Royals
- New York Mets vs. Miami Marlins
- Chicago White Sox vs. Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Angels vs. Oakland Athletics
- Arizona Diamondbacks vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Cleveland Guardians vs. Seattle Mariners
The Shoemaker Bugle 