After a busy offseason, the 2023 season is fast approaching. All 30 teams are scheduled to play on Opening Day, March 30, which is the first time since 1968 that all teams will open the season on the same day.
This year, the league is introducing a new balanced schedule for all teams. It includes 13 games (four total series) against each division opponent, decreased from 19 in 2022.
Opening Day
Major League Baseball returns Thursday, March 30, with all 30 teams in action. It’s the first time since 1968 that every team will play on Opening Day, barring postponement.
The 2023 MLB season is a bit different than previous years because it features a more balanced schedule. Each team will play 52 divisional games (down from 76) and 13 games against interleague rivals.
In addition, the league increases its interleague matchups from 20 to 46, with four home-and-home series against natural Interleague rivals (Yankees vs. Mets, Cubs vs. White Sox, etc.) and another 42 against non-natural rivals.
The changes come as part of an effort to bring a faster pace to the game and increase offense. Other new rules include a pitch timer and limits on defensive shifts. These changes should help speed up games while also keeping the game safe and fair.
Week 1
The 2023 season is set to begin on Thursday, March 30, with all 30 Major League Baseball teams taking the field for Opening Day. The slate of games features nine divisional matchups and three Interleague contests.
The Houston Astros will host the Chicago White Sox on Opening Day at Minute Maid Park in Houston, Texas, at 7:08 p.m. (ET) / 4:08 p.m. (PT).
In addition to Opening Day, the 2023 regular season will include several other significant events. The 93rd All-Star Game will be held in Seattle on July 11, as well as a pair of split doubleheaders and a matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals in the Little League Classic in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
In this week’s edition of our weekly fantasy sports guide, we’re looking at some solid streaming options for the first week of the season. Whether you’re in a 12-team league or a 15-teamer, these players offer excellent value for your lineup.
Week 2
Several teams are looking to get off to a good start in 2023. The defending World Series champion Houston Astros are set to open the season at home against the Chicago White Sox.
The Cleveland Guardians will travel to Oakland for a Monday night game. They have Zach Plesac lined up to make his second start of the week, and it will be against a mostly punchless Athletics lineup.
Another team to watch is the Pittsburgh Pirates, who should be in a strong position after a solid start. They are expected to start a strong rotation and will try to take advantage of their talented bullpen.
Despite MLB’s attempts to introduce a more balanced schedule, this scheduling scheme will likely result in games being postponed or played in less-than-optimal weather conditions. This is particularly true in April, when the weather turns back to winter in many northern cities.
Week 3
Week 3 features a number of matchups that can make for exciting fantasy baseball. A few players to watch include Joey Wiemer and Jack Suwinski.
Another game that should be of interest is the Houston Astros-New York Yankees. This series is a prime example of how MLB has changed the interleague schedule.
It used to be that teams could pick and choose their schedules, but now every team plays a certain number of games against all of the other league’s teams.
That means teams like the Giants and Mariners will have to see a lot of their natural rivals. The result is a more balanced schedule. This also reduces the amount of travel for those teams, which they prefer to do. For instance, they won’t have to go across the country to play three-city series like they did in 2022.
Week 4
The 2023 season kicks off with all 30 teams playing their first game on the same day – an unprecedented move that will bring back Jackie Robinson Day. Highlights include the Houston Astros opening against the Chicago White Sox, the New York Yankees hosting the San Francisco Giants and the Cleveland Guardians visiting the Seattle Mariners.
But the most dramatic scheduling change will occur on May 7 – the day that Shohei Ohtani makes his MLB debut against the team you root for. That’s because in 2023, every team will be matched up against all 14 other teams in the other league, three games each, for the first time ever.
Week 5
Another week is behind us and the conference race has taken shape. It’s still possible for Kent State to win the MAC, but there is a lot of baseball left that can go either way.
The 2023 Major League Baseball schedule has been announced, featuring several exciting matchups. Some highlights include the 93rd All-Star Game in Seattle on July 11, two-game series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs at London Stadium as part of the MLB World Tour and a Little League Classic between the Philadelphia Phillies and Washington Nationals in Williamsport, Pennsylvania on August 20.
The 2023 MLB schedule features a significant reduction in the unbalanced schedule from 76 games against divisional rivals to 52, including 13 home and away series against each opponent. Non-divisional intraleague games will also be trimmed down to 64 (32 home and 32 away) instead of 66.
Week 6
The 2023 MLB schedule is loaded with fun, interesting games to watch. This season will also see a handful of new teams and several more of the league’s most popular stars return to the bigs.
That’s why it’s important to know when your favorite team will be playing this year — and in what cities. We’ve created an advanced MLB schedule grid to help you find the game you want, when you need it.
If you’re looking for a fun baseball game, we have plenty of options in Week 6. The Cleveland Guardians take on the Seattle Mariners at 10:10 p.m. This game could be one of the most entertaining matches of the season.
Week 7
Despite the financial woes of Regional Sports Networks (RSNs), baseball games are once again available to fans across a wide variety of video platforms. Streaming apps such as fuboTV, DirecTV Stream and YouTube TV offer a variety of live MLB games without the need for cable or satellite TV.
The 2023 MLB season will feature 52 regular-season games, two Division Series and a League Championship Series. Additionally, a Major League Baseball All-Star Game will be held in Seattle on July 11 (Fox and FS1).
Week 8
With a plethora of rule changes occurring this year, MLB teams are working hard to prepare for the changes. During spring training, they are making adjustments that will help them be better suited to the new season.
One of the biggest changes that will affect the 2023 season is the shift to a more balanced schedule. This allows each team to play 52 divisional games, 46 interleague games and 64 intraleague games.
Major League Baseball’s plan is an attempt to make the schedule more fair and equitable in a world with multiple wild-card spots in each league. But with 15-team leagues, that’s not an easy task.
Week 9
As the 2023 season gets underway, a majority of MLB fans and non-fans are more excited about the upcoming season than last year. In fact, a Seton Hall poll shows enthusiasm for baseball up by 20 points compared to last year’s season.
The league also made a bold move in the spring, cutting 26 minutes from every baseball game. While it wasn’t just a way to make life easier for fans, it’s also a way to improve the product.
