MLB Opening Day 2021 cheat sheet: Full schedule, rule changes and live streams

Baseball is back! Ahead of Thursday’s Opening Day, here’s everything you need to know.

The unofficial start of spring this year is April 1, as baseball takes centerstage once again, and fans are allowed back in ballparks across America. Let’s be honest, we deserve this. A pandemic-shortened 2020 season raises all sorts of questions heading into this year, none larger than how teams plan on performing in a sports world still largely impacted by COVID-19.

On the diamond, the Los Angeles Dodgers will try to repeat with the same cast, plus a few notable new members. But not without the new-look San Diego Padres fresh on their tail. It’s a cliche, but on Opening Day, every team technically has a shot at a World Series — even the Orioles (sorry, Baltimore).

MLB Opening Day 2021 Schedule: Full list of games

Toronto Blue Jays at New York Yankees, 1:05 p.m.                                                                   Cleveland at Detroit Tigers, 1:10 p.m.
Minnesota Twins at Milwaukee Brewers, 2:10 p.m.
Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox, 2:10 p.m.                                                                      Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs, 2:20 p.m.
Atlanta Braves at Philadelphia Phillies, 3:05 p.m.
Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres, 4:10 p.m.                                                                 Texas Rangers at Kansas City Royals, 4:10 p.m.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Colorado Rockies, 4:10 p.m.                                                                           St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds, 4:10 p.m.
Tampa Bay Rays at Miami Marlins, 4:10 p.m.
New York Mets at Washington Nationals, 7:09 p.m.                                                                   Chicago White Sox at Los Angeles Angels, 10:05 p.m.                                                              Houston Astros at Oakland Athletics, 10:07 p.m.
San Francisco Giants at Seattle Mariners, 10:10 p.m.

MLB rule changes for 2021 season

The expanded postseason and universal DH have not been carried over for the 2021 campaign, but the following rules have:

-Seven inning doubleheaders

-Runner on second base in extra innings

-Position players can pitch without restriction

-26-player active rosters, with no 13 pitcher max

-Five player taxi squad

MLB Opening Day 2021 live streams

All games should be available via local broadcasts, or will be televised nationally on ESPN. Should you need other means, sign up for a free trial of Fubo.tv, or visit the MLB streams subreddit community.