First pitch: The 3 best cities for MLB Opening Day 2023

Apr 7, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Dylan Carlson (3) slides safely past Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Roberto Perez (55) during the eighth inning of Opening Day at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 7, 2022; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Dylan Carlson (3) slides safely past Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Roberto Perez (55) during the eighth inning of Opening Day at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 27, 2023; Peoria, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres infielder Xander Bogaerts against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 27, 2023; Peoria, Arizona, USA; San Diego Padres infielder Xander Bogaerts against the Los Angeles Dodgers during a spring training game at Peoria Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

MLB Opening Day must-see: Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres

After making it all the way to the National League Championship Series in 2022, the Padres are adding more weapons to their arsenal this season. Xander Bogaerts is expected to slot in at the top of the order and take over at shortstop, with Matt Carpenter hoping to keep the magic he rediscovered last season with the New York Yankees flowing as a part of the Padres.

The sheer amount of talent on the Padres has fans buzzing about what should be a fascinating race to the top of the National League West this season between San Diego and their Interstate-5 neighbors to the north, the Los Angeles Dodgers. That quest for San Diego’s first NL West crown since 2006 begins against Colorado, a team that just inked former Padres infielder/outfielder Jurickson Profar to a one-year deal.

But Opening Day in San Diego isn’t about who the Padres are playing, but rather giving fans a first look at what this stacked lineup can do … and that’s before Fernando Tatis Jr. rejoins it in late April after finishing off the last few days of his PED suspension.

Petco Park should be buzzing on March 30 because of not only Opening Day, but also marking the start of what could be a history-making season in San Diego. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. (Eastern)