MLB Opening Day 2024: Updates, scores, highlights, analysis and more

Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill just made MLB history by becoming the first player to hit a home run in five consecutive Opening Days. This achievement is as random as it is incredible, and it's quite the introduction for O'Neill in his first game with the Red Sox after spending six years in St. Louis.

Better yet, O'Neill made history against the team that drafted him in Seattle. Boston's acquisition of the Canadian slugger this winter went somewhat under the radar, considering the fan base's hopes for bigger splashes, but I think a healthy version of O'Neill could make this underrated Red Sox lineup that much more dangerous.

This is a list not of the 50 best players in MLB — Rob Manfred is not a better baseball player than José Ramirez — but, rather, of the top 50 people set to influence the 2024 MLB season. At least for this exercise, think of these folks as the characters in your favorite TV show, not numbers on a box score.

The criteria is subjective and the ordering imperfect, but the pudding is in the process. On this list are All-Stars, prospects and players you’ve maybe never heard of — not to mention owners, agents, managers, one former interpreter and three guys named Jackson.

May this list provide to you, the beautiful reader, a snapshot of what to know and whom to care about as the 2024 season begins. Read it all here.

Opening Day is a special day in Cincinnati, no matter who is on the Reds roster.

Just three times since joining the National League in 1890 have the Reds played the first game of the season away from the Queen City: in 1966 due to rain and in 1990 and 2022, both due to a schedule altered by an offseason lockout. Although not actually legislated in baseball’s rulebook regarding scheduling, it has become the unofficial standard for the oldest professional baseball franchise in America to begin the season at home.

Hours before first pitch, the Findlay Market Parade — first held in 1920 — sparks the festivities with a massive celebration down Race Street, about a mile north of the ballpark, as team alumni and other local figures welcome the new season. This year, 44,030 then made their way into a sold-out Great American Ball Park to witness the Reds claim their first victory of 2024, a comfortable 8-2 win over the Washington Nationals.

But while the Cincinnati crowd likely would’ve been buzzing Thursday afternoon regardless of who was on the mound or in the lineup, the makeup of the 2024 Reds unquestionably gave this season’s first game a different kind of energy – especially in relation to where the organization was a year ago.

Read the full story here.

The Cubs took a short-lived lead in the ninth-inning on a missed foul ball by the home plate umpire.

But the Rangers responded quickly, with pinch hitter Travis Jankowski hitting a 396-footer to right field.

The orange wave of 45,000 rose in unison, before a pitch had even been thrown, to honor the arrival of a wry, bespectacled, 74-year-old billionaire.

Optimism is a bizarre beast.

Opening Day 2024 at Camden Yards was more than a celebration; it was a coronation, a reminder of a glorious past and a glimpse at an exhilarating future. For a franchise that has been a punchline for most of the 21st century, an organization sputtering along in disarray, the unfettered positivity of Thursday afternoon was a different universe.

Beneath an overcast, early-spring sky, the defending AL East champion Orioles pulverized the visiting Los Angeles Angels by a score of 11 to 3. The crown jewel of Baltimore’s offseason, 2021 NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes, delivered an 11-strikeout masterpiece. Face of the franchise Adley Rutschman tallied two hits and two RBI. Franchise veterans Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins both homered. It looked like 2012, sounded like 1983 and felt like 1966.

Read the full story here.

The 200-inning starter is practically extinct. Just five pitchers cleared the threshold in 2023, down from 36 in 2013, 44 in 2003 and 52 in 1993. Even 190 innings has become a rarity. Last season, 18 teams had zero starting pitchers throw 190 innings. Ten teams had one. The Phillies had two: Aaron Nola (193 2/3 IP) and Zack Wheeler (192 IP).

The Seattle Mariners, though, had three: Luis Castillo (197 IP), Logan Gilbert (190 2/3 IP) and George Kirby (190 2/3 IP).

No team’s starting pitchers logged more innings last year than Seattle’s 901 1/3. And they might throw even more in 2024. Dependence on starting pitching has plummeted league-wide, but the Mariners do not appear to have gotten the memo.

Read the full story here.

The last thing the Cubs needed was an injury to ace Justin Steele, who was rolling vs. the Rangers but then appeared to injure his hamstring on a chopper between the mound and the foul line in the fifth.

There were already questions about whether the Cubs' rotation had enough depth, and losing Steele for any amount of time would put serious stress on the team’s other starters.

Cubs southpaw Justin Steele ran out of gas down the stretch in 2023, but it didn’t take away from a breakout season. So far Thursday, Steele has picked up right where he left off last year, rolling through the world champion Rangers in the first three innings, with five strikeouts and zero hits allowed.

Playing in their 64th MLB Opening Day, fifth stadium and second city, the Texas Rangers unveiled a first in franchise history: a World Series banner.

The reigning champs began their season by revealing the most visible spoil of their first MLB title before facing the Chicago Cubs at Globe Life Field. Manager Bruce Bochy and pitcher Josh Sborz began the fun by wheeling out the Commissioner's Trophy.

"I know you've waited a long time, but we now share the World Series championship trophy with you. And we're looking forward to riding with you for another incredible season," Bochy said to the crowd.

Then came the banner, complete with Queen's "We Are The Champions."

Read the full story here.

Every player who gets to the big leagues has a unique path. The world knew Bryce Harper was born for MLB stardom when he graced the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old. But that’s not the journey for most players.

Very, very few become World Series heroes before they even get 100 at-bats under their belts. But that was the case for Texas Rangers rookie phenom Evan Carter, who introduced himself to the baseball world on its biggest stage last fall. After his call-up on Sept. 9, Carter played in just 23 regular-season games before absolutely thriving in the postseason. At 21 years old, the Rangers outfielder carried a .917 OPS in the playoffs and became the youngest player since Mickey Mantle to hit third in Game 1 of the World Series, helping Texas secure the first World Series championship in franchise history.

Read more about Carter here.

Juan Soto had a tremendous debut for the New York Yankees on Thursday.

The newly acquired slugger sparked a rally from a 4-0 hole against the Houston Astros, then secured a 5-4 win with an outfield assist on a play at the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Houston trailed, 5-4 with two men on and one out in the bottom of the ninth. Kyle Tucker hit a base hit to right field, and Mauricio Dubón rounded third for home. Soto fielded the ball and threw a strike to catcher Jose Trevino, who tagged Dubón out at home.

Officials reviewed the play and confirmed the play on field. Dubón was out. Alex Bregman then grounded into a fielder's choice to secure the 5-4 Yankees win that looked unlikely when Houston jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

Shohei Ohtani already made his Los Angeles Dodgers debut in South Korea last week, but Thursday's home opener was the moment his tenure would have felt real for many fans.

Perhaps because it was at Dodger Stadium, his expected home for the next 10 years, and perhaps because it wasn't at 3 a.m. PT.

Ohtani ended up being only a small part of the Dodgers' 7-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, the other members of the Big 3 atop the Dodgers' lineup, both homered, while Tyler Glasnow made his own debut at the stadium he attended as a child with a strong six innings of one-run ball.

All eyes were on Ohtani, though, as he played his third regular-season game in a Dodgers uniform. He began his day with a double down the right-field line (video above), a great start ... until a miscommunication on the basepaths led to him occupying third base at the same time as Mookie Betts, who led off the Dodgers with a walk.

Staked to a big lead early, Frankie Montas had a stress-free afternoon on the mound and was in command from the first pitch.

Even considering the sizable, one-year deal Cincinnati signed him to this winter, it was a bit of a surprise to see Montas get the Opening Day nod over homegrown flamethrower Hunter Greene. But the veteran righty delivered in a big way in his first start as a Red, with four strikeouts and zero walks across six scoreless frames.

The Blue Jays took control vs. the Rays with a five-run sixth inning highlighted by this blast from Vlad Guerrero Jr.

Vlad Jr. is vital to the Blue Jays' success this season, and not just because he’s a cornerstone of the franchise. The Blue Jays were the sexy pick to go to the World Series the past few seasons, but their window to be the “next great” team has closed. This season feels like a make-or-break for Toronto before changes come, and Vladdy being a special player again will play a huge part in deciding what their story will be.

Well, that was exactly what the Orioles paid for. In Corbin Burnes' first start with the club after being acquired over the winter for a batch of prospects, the 2021 NL Cy Young carved the Angels into pieces.

Across six sensational innings, Burnes punched out 11 hitters, the most in an Orioles/Browns debut since Bump Hadley fanned 11 back in 1932. The only blemish was a Mike Trout first-inning solo shot, but Baltimore's offense gave Burnes more than enough run support.

Martini continues to amplify his cult hero candidacy with his second home run of the game to put the Reds up 7-0, and the Cincinnati crowd is loving it. Reds starter Frankie Montas is cruising so far, at just 50 pitches through four innings.

For a team defined in 2023 by rookies and young players, leave it to 33-year-old journeyman outfielder Nick Martini to deliver the first homer of the Reds' season. Manager David Bell spoke before the game about his excitement to tell Martini that he had made his first Opening Day roster vs. the Nationals.

Martini didn't wait long to contribute, launching a two-run homer in the bottom of the second to put Cincinnati up 3-0. Martini played well in his limited opportunities in 2023 and could really help this Reds lineup that will be without TJ Friedl and Matt McLain due to injuries to start the season.