MLB Opening Day 2018 is upon us and it’s an historic day for baseball as all 30 teams open on the same day on the earliest Opening Day ever.
Spring is in the air and fans will soon flock to ballparks around the country for the return of America’s favorite pastime: Baseball. Opening Day 2018 arrives early, marking the earliest start date ever, and all 30 teams will play on Opening Day for the first time since 1968.
Opening Day celebrations begin on March 29. The first game of the day will be the Chicago Cubs at the Florida Marlins at 12:40pm ET.
With all 30 teams in action on Opening Day, fans will be treated to the Pittsburgh Pirates facing off against the Detroit Tigers in an interleague game, along with eight divisional matchups. Baseball fans will no doubt be watching the San Francisco Giants open at the Los Angeles Dodgers while the Houston Astros meet the Texas Rangers at home on opening weekend.
The 2018 baseball season promises lots of excitement. The Twins and Indians will play a two-game series in Puerto Rico in April and the All-Star Game in Washington DC on July 17. The MLB hasn’t been to Puerto Rico since the Mets and Marlins played there in 2010, and this will be the first All-Star Game in Washington DC since 1969. The Oakland As will celebrate their 50th anniversary on April 17 with a free game against the Chicago White Sox.
In addition to all 30 teams starting on the same day this year, another shared trait will be that safety netting has been extended in all ballparks, highlighting MLB’s commitment to fan safety after several injuries during the 2017 season prompted swift action from ballparks. In many cases, fans will have their first chance to see that netting on Opening Day.
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Looking ahead, the 2018 baseball season will wrap up on Sunday, September 30.