Opening Day`23: 4 storylines to watch for Major League Baseball`s

Welcome to MLB Opening Day 2023! After one of the most exciting preludes to a regular season in recent memory -- from offseason chaos to players (and fans) learning baseball's new rules and enjoying faster-paced games to an epic World Baseball Classic -- it's time to play ball.

All 30 teams are in action today, starting with a pair of 1:05 p.m. ET contests in Washington and the Bronx, where 21-year-old top shortstop prospect Anthony Volpe becomes the youngest player to start on Opening Day for the New York Yankees since Derek Jeter. Speaking of debuts, Jacob deGrom makes his for the Texas Rangers, who play at home against prized offseason acquisition Trea Turner and the defending National League champion Philadelphia Phillies (4:05 p.m. on ESPN+).

Later, Jose Abreu faces his former team, the Chicago White Sox, as the newest member of last year's World Series champion Houston Astros (7 p.m. on ESPN). It all leads up to the game's best player, Shohei Ohtani, taking the mound for the Los Angeles Angels in one of four West Coast night games to close things out.

In other words, we won't blame you for playing hooky.

What are we looking for as the season gets started? Our reporters give their pregame takes from the ballpark, plus we'll post lineups as they are announced and live updates throughout the day, including takeaways from each game as it concludes.

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