03-24-2024 MLB Preview - Flipbook - Page 47
MLB ’24 SEASON PREVIEW
Sunday, March 24, 2024 10
CIRCLING THE CALENDAR
Red letter dates
Mexico, Britain and Alabama are among Major League Baseball’s scheduled stops in 2024
By Jay Cohen
Associated Press
Beginning with its ninth international
opener, Major League Baseball is traveling
all over the world in 2024.
Here are some dates to remember for the
upcoming season:
Opening Day:
Thursday, March 28
Chicago Cubs at Texas Rangers: The
Rangers get another opportunity to celebrate the franchise’s first World Series
championship before they begin their
title defense against Cody Bellinger and
the Chicago Cubs on opening day. Corey
Seager is back for Texas after playing a starring role in October, winning the World
Series MVP award for the second time.
The Cubs should be in the mix for the
NL Central title after they brought back
the sweet-swinging Bellinger on an $80
million, three-year contract.
Mexico City Series:
Saturday, April 27
Houston Astros at Colorado Rockies: Big
league baseball returns to Estadio Alfredo
Harp Helú in Mexico City after the Padres
swept a two-game set against the Giants in
the Mexican capital last year. This time, it’s
Jose Altuve and the Astros taking on Kris
Bryant and the Rockies. Houston is looking for another October run after signing
closer Josh Hader to a $95 million, fiveyear contract in free agency. A healthy
season for Bryant, who appeared in just 122
games over the previous two years, could
provide a big lift for Colorado.
Craig Counsell’s return:
Monday, May 27
Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers:
Craig Counsell manages his first game in
Milwaukee since he was hired by Chicago
in November in a surprise move. The
53-year-old Counsell grew up in Milwaukee and finished his playing career with
the Brewers before becoming the team’s
winningest manager, going 707-625 in nine
seasons. Counsell’s new job adds another
element to the rivalry between the NL
Central teams, separated by about 90 miles.
World Series rematch:
Tuesday, May 28
Arizona Diamondbacks at Texas Rangers: It’s a rematch of the 2023 World Series,
won by Texas in five games. Arizona won’t
be sneaking up on anyone this time around,
not after Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and
company went on a memorable October
run. The Diamondbacks strengthened
their rotation in December, finalizing an
$80 million, four-year deal with Eduardo
Rodriguez. The Rangers should have a
strong lineup once again, and pitchers Max
Scherzer and Jacob deGrom are expected
back at some point this summer.
London Series:
Saturday, June 8
Philadelphia Phillies at New York Mets:
Bryce Harper and the Phillies face Pete
Alonso and the Mets in the opener of a
two-game series at London Stadium in
the British capital. Harper is taking over
as Philadelphia’s full-time first baseman
after beginning his big league career as an
outfielder. The two-time NL MVP hit .293
with 21 homers last year in his fifth season
with the Phillies. Alonso, who blasted 46
homers in 2023, is eligible for free agency
after this season.
Negro Leagues Tribute
Game: Thursday, June 20
San Francisco Giants at St. Louis Cardinals: The Giants play the Cardinals in
a Negro Leagues tribute game at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama. The
10,800-seat stadium, opened in 1910, is the
oldest professional ballpark in the U.S. and
a National Historic Site. The stadium was
home to the Birmingham Black Barons
from 1924-60. The game will honor Hall
of Famer Willie Mays, an Alabama native.
All-Star Game:
Tuesday, July 16
Globe Life Field — the majors’ newest
ballpark and the home of the Rangers —
hosts the 94th edition of the All-Star Game.
Texas also hosted the Midsummer Classic when the National League posted a 3-2
victory in 1995 at The Ballpark in Arlington. Globe Life Field opened in 2020, hosting a neutral-site World Series that same
year during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nl East showdown:
Tuesday, Aug. 20
Philadelphia Phillies at Atlanta
Braves: Ronald Acuña Jr. and Atlanta
open a six-game homestand with the
first of three games against Kyle Schwar-
ber and Philadelphia. Acuña is the
reigning NL MVP after powering the
Braves to their sixth consecutive NL
East title, a full 14 games ahead of the
second-place Phillies. But Philadelphia
eliminated Atlanta in four games in their
NL Division Series. The offseason acquisition of left-hander Chris Sale could
help the Braves return to the World Series
for the first time since they won it all in
2021.
Freeway Series:
Wednesday, Sept. 4
Los Angeles Dodgers at Los Angeles Angels: Dodgers left-hander Clayton
Kershaw is just 56 strikeouts shy of 3,000
for his career. The three-time Cy Young
Award winner is expected to return this
summer after he had shoulder surgery in
November, so his pursuit of the milestone
could come down to the final days of the
season. Mike Trout and the Angels are
moving on after Ohtani departed in free
agency.
Al East on the line?
Thursday, Sept. 26
Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees:
Adley Rutschman and Baltimore play
the finale of their 13-game season series
against Aaron Judge and New York. The
Orioles went 7-6 against the Yankees last
year on their way to the AL East title. They
bolstered their chance for a repeat performance when they acquired right-hander
Corbin Burnes in a trade with Milwaukee
on Feb. 1. Judge and the Yankees are looking to rebound after they went 82-80 last
season.