Aaron Judge strikes season’s very first crowning achievement, brand-new guidelines in impact

Major League Baseball’s 2023 opening day is here.

We’ll see the launching of revamped lineups, gamers in brand-new uniforms, young gamers attempting to show their worth and veterans wishing to reveal they have actually still got it. We’ll likewise see the guideline modifications play out in regular-season video games for the very first time.

Aaron Judge seeks to follow up his record-breaking 62-homer season as the New York Yankees have the very first video game of the day — in your home versus the San Francisco Giants.

All 30 groups are in action Thursday, and U.S.A. TODAY Sports will supply the current rating updates, analysis and more throughout the day. Follow along.

Aaron Judge starts 2023 with a massive blast

NEW YORK CITY — American League single-season record-holder Aaron Judge supplied the very first crowning achievement of the 2023 season when he clocked the 2nd pitch he saw for a solo shot on Thursday.

Judge, the ruling AL MVP, drilled a 92 miles per hour sinker from San Francisco Giants starter Logan Webb and transferred it 422 feet into the center field netting at Monument Park in the very first inning to get the Yankees on the board.

Judge struck an AL-record 62 crowning achievement last season and likewise led the league in 5 other offending classifications for New York, which is seeking its 2nd straight AL East crown.

— Scooby Axson 

Mets’ Justin Verlander starts season on hurt list

The New York Mets’ injury concerns continue as among their co-aces will not be with the club to start the season.

Just prior to they took the field in Miami for their opener versus the Marlins, the Mets exposed that Justin Verlander — whom they signed to a two-year, $86.6 million offer this offseason — will be placed on the hurt list with a teres significant stress in his arm.

“Looking back, it’s something that was lingering. I thought it was something I was working through,” Verlander stated Thursday. “In my bullpen yesterday, I still felt a teeny bit of something.”

Verlander’s injury comes afterthe Mets lost closer Edwin Diaz to a season-ending ripped patellar tendon in a postgame event at the World Baseball Classic and left-hander Jose Quintana had bone graft surgical treatment on his rib previously this month.

Story continues

The group states Verlander will continue tossing and will return in a week to see how he’s advancing.

Verlander, 40, missed out on the whole 2021 season recuperating from Tommy John surgical treatment in his elbow. However, he returned much better than ever in 2015, going 18-4 with an excellent 1.75 age and winning his 3rd Cy Young award.

— Steve Gardner

• Braves at Nationals, 1:05 p.m., MLB Network

• Giants at Yankees, 1:05 p.m., YES

• Orioles at Red Sox, 2:10 p.m., NESN

• Brewers at Cubs, 2:20 p.m., MARQ

• Tigers at Rays, 3:10 p.m., BSSUN

• Phillies at Rangers, 4:05 p.m., BSSW

• Blue Jays at Cardinals, 4:10 p.m., BSMW

• Mets at Marlins, 4:10 p.m., MLB Network

• Pirates at Reds, 4:10 p.m., BSOH

• Twins at Royals, 4:10 p.m., BSKC

• White Sox at Astros, 7:08 p.m., SportsNet SW

• Rockies at Padres, 9:40 p.m., BSSD

• Angels at Athletics, 10:07 p.m., NBCS-CA

• Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 10:10 p.m., SportsNet LA

• Guardians at Mariners, 10:10 p.m., MLB Network

The brand-new shift guideline: At the start of each pitch, groups need to have at least 2 infielders on either side of 2nd base, with all 4 placed on the infield dirt. Infielders might not change positions unless there is a replacement.

Pitch clock: There is a 30-second timer in between batters and a time frame in between pitches. After getting the ball from the catcher or umpire, pitchers are needed to start their movement within 15 seconds with the bases empty or within 20 seconds with runners on base. Hitters need to remain in the batter’s box and all set for the pitch by the time the clock reaches 8 seconds.

Larger bases: The bases are now 18 inches square (formerly 15 inches). That reduces the range in between initially, 2nd and 3rd base by 4.5 inches. (Home plate – which remains the very same size – to very first base is 3 inches much shorter.)

Pickoff limitations: Pitchers are restricted to an optimum of 2 pickoff efforts per plate look. If a pitcher tries a 3rd pickoff toss and does not get the runner out, it’s an automated balk and all runners go up one base.

— Steve Gardner

Read more on whatever you require to understand about the guideline modifications here.

• Braves LHP Max Fried (14-7, 2.48 age in 2022) vs. Nationals LHP Patrick Corbin (6-19, 6.31)

• Giants RHP Logan Webb (15-9, 2.90) vs. Yankees RHP Gerrit Cole (13-8, 3.50)

• Orioles RHP Kyle Gibson (10-8, 5.05 with Phillies) vs. Red Sox RHP Corey Kluber (10-10, 4.34 with Rays)

• Brewers RHP Corbin Burnes (12-8, 2.94) vs. Cubs RHP Marcus Stroman (6-7, 3.50)

• Tigers LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-5, 4.05) vs. Rays LHP Shane McClanahan (12-8, 2.54)

• Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (11-13, 3.25) vs. Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (5-4, 3.08 with Mets)

• Mets RHP Max Scherzer (11-5, 2.29) vs. Marlins RHP Sandy Alcantara (14-9, 2.28)

• Pirates RHP Mitch Keller (5-12, 3.91) vs. Reds RHP Hunter Greene (5-13, 4.44)

• Rockies RHP German Marquez (9-13, 4.95) vs. Padres LHP Blake Snell (8-10, 3.38)

• Blue Jays RHP Alek Manoah (16-7, 2.24) vs. Cardinals RHP Miles Mikolas (12-13, 3.29)

• Twins RHP Pablo Lopez (10-10, 3.75) vs. Royals RHP Zack Greinke (4-9, 3.68)

• White Sox RHP Dylan Cease (14-8, 2.20) vs. Astros LHP Framber Valdez (17-6, 2.82)

• Angels RHP Shohei Ohtani (15-9, 2.33 PERIOD) vs. A’s LHP Kyle Muller (1-1, 8.03 with Braves)

• Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (12-4, 2.54 PERIOD) vs. Dodgers LHP Julio Urías (17-7, 2.16 PERIOD)

• Guardians RHP Shane Bieber (13-8, 2.88 PERIOD) vs. Mariners RHP Luis Castillo (8-6 2.99 PERIOD)

Braves lefty Max Fried exits early vs. Nationals

Atlanta Braves ace Max Fried was travelling along in his opening day begin in Washington when he suffered an evident injury to his left leg in the bottom of the 4th inning.

Fried got the back of his leg after running over to cover very first base upon a ball struck by the Nationals’ Dominic Smith.

Fried had actually permitted one made run over 3 1/3 innings prior to paving the way to reducer Lucas Leutge with the Braves holding a 4-1 lead.

— Steve Gardner

First pitch clock infraction takes place in Cubs-Brewers video game

Veteran right-hander Marcus Stroman is the response to the trivia question fans of MLB’s brand-new pitch clock will keep in mind years into the future.

With a 1-2 depend on Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich, Stroman was required a pitch timer infraction to even the count.

Yelich ultimately strolled, however Stroman had the ability to leave the inning by coaxing Rowdy Tellez to strike into an inning-ending double play.

— Steve Gardner

The method Roger Clemens, the seven-time Cy Young winner, figures it, he would be an even much better pitcher now with the pitch clock.

“I would have used it to my advantage,’’ Clemens said recently. “Back in my day, if you got ahead of a guy 0-and-2, you’d waste a pitch. I’d just hold it and get a pitch clock violation. Now, I’ve got him 1-and-2, and I’d just stand on the mound holding the ball. They wouldn’t know when I was going to throw the next one not. I could even get a second violation and make it 2-and-2. I’d have a huge advantage with the hitter not knowing when I was going to throw that ball. “I called 90 to 95% of my pitches anyway, so I never would have felt rushed with a pitch clock.’

— Bob Nightengale

Podcast: Rob Manfred thrilled with feedback on new rules

After three years of COVID-19 restrictions and a work stoppage, normalcy has never felt so good.

“I think this could go down as one of the most unbelievable opening days in history when you think about it,’’ MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told USA TODAY Sports last week in a wide-ranging interview in Miami.

“We’re back to normal. We got the most exciting set of rule changes I think ever in the game, really, certainly the biggest set. … I think we have great momentum coming into this year.’’

Manfred also discussed the improved pace of play, the financial problems of regional sports networks, MLB teams’ payroll disparities, possible expansion and other issues.

— Bob Nightengale

How to stream MLB games for free in 2023

A free subscription to MLB.TV could be just a few clicks call away – depending on your phone carrier.

MLB and T-Mobile announced the continuation of a juicy promotion available to T-Mobile customers, who can get complimentary streaming access to every game during the 2023 MLB season for those who take advantage of the deal. MLB and T-Mobile ran the same promotion in 2022.

— Richard Morin

The Los Angeles Angels are planning to pitch Shohei Ohtani more often this year, giving him the ball every fifth day, and providing he stays healthy, who can possibly put a limit on him? This international star generates about $20 million a year for the Los Angeles Angels by his presence alone. If the Angels are out of the race at the trade deadline, would they have the guts to trade Ohtani?

Absolutely. They may have no choice. Certainly, they’ll need to have a conversation with Ohtani to determine whether he has any interest in returning, and if not, the phone lines are open with operators standing nearby.

— Bob Nightengale

MLB sent memo to teams detailing adjustments to new rules

Major League Baseball, after listening to input from players and managers, made a series of adjustments to their new rules that will go into effect this year, but the pitch clock remains the same, according to a memo sent to clubs last week that was obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

The clarifications were made largely to prevent clubs from circumventing rules on instant replays involving the shift, fake PitchCom malfunctions, providing hitters time to collect themselves after being knocked down or taking a particularly large cut, and reducing an advantage pitchers could have after a batter timeout.

Read Bob Nightengale on the rule tweaks here.

There has never been a hitter not linked to performance-enhancing drugs with back-to-back 60-homer seasons. The last clean player to hit 50 or more homers in consecutive seasons was Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. in 1997-98. If Aaron Judge stays healthy, there’s no reason he can’t hit 50 homers again, but only this time, expect him to get intentionally walked more than 19 times like a year ago.

— Bob Nightengale

The New York Yankees. Yes, the Yankees have spoiled everyone by coasting to the playoffs for six consecutive years, advancing to the ALCS in three of those years, but has anyone paid attention to those pitching injuries? There are only two starters remaining from their original projected rotation: Gerrit Cole and Nestor Cortes. The Yankees still are good, but intimidating? Uh-uh. Could they possibly miss the playoffs? Don’t be shocked.

— Bob Nightengale

AL MVP: Mike Trout, Angels

NL MVP: Trea Turner, Phillies

AL Cy Young: Emmanuel Clase, Guardians

NL Cy Young: Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks

AL Rookie: Gunnar Henderson, Orioles

NL Rookie: Corbin Carroll, Diamondbacks

— Bob Nightengale

The value of MLB teams increased by 12% despite the bankruptcy filing of the Diamond Sports Group, according to Forbes, raising the average value of franchises to $2.32 billion, led again by the New York Yankees at $7.1 billion.

— Bob Nightengale

Several of the small-market owners who are crying poor, and have sub-$100 million payrolls, are actually making the most money, angering the union and large-market teams. The Oakland A’s ($62.2 million) ranked fifth among teams who made the most money while the Pittsburgh Pirates ($51.5 million) ranked eighth and the Kansas City Royals earned $27.8 million.

Meanwhile, the New York Mets, with their current $355 million payroll, lost an MLB-leading $138.5 million last year while the San Diego Padres ($55.2 million) and Chicago White Sox ($53.4 million) lost the second- and third-most money. The Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, the two largest-market teams in baseball, earned $16.3 million and $14.3 million, by comparison. The Boston Red Sox, who significantly lowered their payroll, earned $71.6 million, third behind the Seattle Mariners ($83.8 million) and the San Francisco Giants ($74.9 million).

— Bob Nightengale

MLB teams earned an average profit of $17.7 million, last year which is down 20% from a year ago.

— Bob Nightengale 

Bob Nightengale: Blue Jays

Gabe Lacques: Yankees

Steve Gardner: Blue Jays

Stephen Borelli: Yankees

Scott Boeck: Yankees

Jesse Yomtov: Yankees

Bob Nightengale: Guardians

Gabe Lacques: Guardians

Steve Gardner: Guardians

Stephen Borelli: Guardians

Scott Boeck: White Sox

Jesse Yomtov: Guardians

Bob Nightengale: Astros

Gabe Lacques: Astros

Steve Gardner: Astros

Stephen Borelli: Astros

Scott Boeck: Astros

Jesse Yomtov: Astros

Bob Nightengale: Atlanta

Gabe Lacques: Atlanta

Steve Gardner: Atlanta

Stephen Borelli: Atlanta

Scott Boeck: Atlanta

Jesse Yomtov: Atlanta

Bob Nightengale: Cardinals

Gabe Lacques: Cardinals

Steve Gardner: Cardinals

Stephen Borelli: Cardinals

Scott Boeck: Cardinals

Jesse Yomtov: Cardinals

Bob Nightengale: Padres

Gabe Lacques: Padres

Steve Gardner: Padres

Stephen Borelli: Dodgers

Scott Boeck: Padres

Jesse Yomtov: Dodgers

Bob Nightengale: Guardians

Gabe Lacques: Yankees

Steve Gardner: Blue Jays

Stephen Borelli: Astros

Scott Boeck: Astros

Jesse Yomtov: Astros

Bob Nightengale: Phillies

Gabe Lacques: Padres

Steve Gardner: Atlanta

Stephen Borelli: Padres

Scott Boeck: Padres

Jesse Yomtov: Padres

Bob Nightengale: Guardians

Gabe Lacques: Padres

Steve Gardner: Atlanta

Stephen Borelli: Padres

Scott Boeck: Padres

Jesse Yomtov: Astros

USA TODAY Sports’ six-person panel has produced this projection of all 30 teams’ win totals this season:

Although it’s not new in 2023, MLB said this offseason it was permanently implementing a provision in use since 2020 that every half inning after the ninth begins with a runner on second base. The idea was first instituted in 2020 to cut down on long games and prevent pitchers being overused in the pandemic-shortened season. It added a new layer of strategy and increased scoring considerably in extra innings — with teams and players overwhelmingly expressing their support for keeping it.

— Steve Gardner

Let’s take a look at the new rules to see how they might impact the numbers and our quest for a fantasy baseball title this season.

Eliminating the shift: Great news for lefty hitters Corey Seager, Kyle Tucker and Kyle Schwarber, who faced the shift in more than 600 of their total plate appearances last season (or over 90% of them). Other players who should benefit from the shift rule include José Ramirez, Max Kepler, Max Muncy, Shohei Ohtani, Yordan Alvarez, Matt Olson and even right-handed hitter Eugenio Suarez.

Larger bases encourage stealing: Trea Turner, Bobby Witt Jr., Julio Rodriguez and Jake McCarthy will be among the favorites to lead their leagues in steals. Other speedsters who could run more often include Tyler O’Neill (14-for-18 in SB attempts in 2022), Amed Rosario (18-for-22), Leody Taveras (11-for-16), Lane Thomas (8-for-12), Jeremy Peña (11-for-13) and Jazz Chisholm (12-for-17). All of them ranked in the 94th percentile or above in sprint speed, but none swiped as many as 20 bases a year ago.

Pitch clock speeds things up: We do know Corbin Burnes, Shohei Ohtani, Luis Garcia, Aaron Nola and Alek Manoah are among the pitchers who tend to work more slowly. Relievers Devin Williams, Kenley Jansen, Kyle Finnegan and Ryan Helsley also like to take their time. Plus, hitters Pete Alonso and Mark Canha are among the most deliberate at the plate.

— Steve Gardner

Anthony Volpe has arrived, at age 21, and will jog out to his position on Opening Day at Yankee Stadium on Thursday afternoon to hold down one of the most prestigious positions in sports. And that alone speaks both for the Yankees’ hopes for the young man and his potential to fulfill them. — Gabe Lacques

Where did Anthony Volpe grow up?

Anthony Volpe is a Tri-State kid, pride of Watchung, New Jersey, and Morristown’s Delbarton School, from where you can reach Yankee Stadium in less than an hour, with cooperation from various bridges and thoroughfares. He attended Jeter’s last All-Star Game at the old Yankee Stadium in 2014 and wore No. 7 as a tribute to Mickey Mantle, his grandfather’s favorite player.

— Gabe Lacques

How big is Anthony Volpe?

Listed at 5-11 and 180 pounds, Anthony Volpe a bit smaller than most of the big-money shortstops the Yankees bypassed. But his career .881 OPS in the minor leagues shows that frame can generate power, and Volpe should continue to fill out for the next several years.

“I think he’s got all the makeup tools,” ruling AL MVP and newly minted captain Aaron Judge stated previously this month. “My thing has always been, if you’re the best player, it shouldn’t matter your age. You should be up helping the New York Yankees. It doesn’t matter if you’re 19 or 41. “If you’re the best guy for the job, you should be playing.”

— Gabe Lacques

How old is Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe?

Heralded shortstop possibility Anthony Volpe will be 21 years, 336 days old on Opening Day. Only 4 Yankees have made their MLB debuts on Opening Day at a more youthful age:

1951 Mickey Mantle: 19 years, 179 days

1930 Ben Chapman: 21 years, 111 days

1962 Joe Pepitone: 21 years, 183 days

1932 Frankie Crosetti: 21 years 191 days

— Bob Nightengale

What is the Yankees’ existing pitching rotation?

One American League GM anticipates that the Yankees would lose out on the playoffs this spring, and this was prior to their rotation took struck after hit. The Yankees opened the spring with a beginning rotation of Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino, Nestor Cortes and Frankie Montas. Only Cole and Cortes remained healthy, with Severino the current to go down with a lat stress. Clarke Schmidt and Domingo German are the replacements and Jhony Brito might be he 5th starter, if required.

— Bob Nightengale

The fact is that this is a spring in which Terry Francona has actually revealed brand-new life, brand-new energy and gusto. This is the healthiest he has actually felt in years. He dumped his strolling boot, tossed away his crutches and handed out his electrical golf cart.

There’s simply something about handling a young, skilled and athletic group, thinking it can go where no Cleveland baseball group has actually gone given that 1948.

“This is as energetic as I’ve seen him,’’ stated Guardians GM Mike Chernoff, “in the 11 years he’s been here. It is truly, truly enjoyable to see. And so helpful for our group. People feed off that energy that he brings.

“But even when he remained in remarkable discomfort, and refraining from doing well, he’s still truly, truly excellent, and in my viewpoint, the very best supervisor in baseball.’’

— Bob Nightengale

Houston Astros All-Star 2nd baseman Jose Altuve suffered a damaged right thumb when he was struck by a pitch in a World Baseball Classic quarterfinal versus Team U.S.A. that needed surgical treatment. General supervisor Dana Brown stated there is no schedule for Altuve’s return.

Altuve, the 2017 American League MVP who turns 33 in May, is an eight-time All-Star and Brown informed press reporters his loss is a “massive blow.” The Astros, the ruling World Series champs, will likely lack Altuve well into May.

— Gabe Lacques

Edwin Diaz, the Mets’ exceptional more detailed whose $105 million agreement was a vital part of the club’s enormous offseason costs in hopes of a World Series run, fallen apart to the grass in the middle of Puerto Rico’s event after removing the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. Subsequent tests exposed a patellar tendon injury that will sideline Diaz an approximated 8 months, Mets GM Billy Eppler stated. It is a blow to his Puerto Rican siblings and his Mets colleagues both.

— Gabe Lacques

As Major League Baseball’s 2023 season dawns, U.S.A. TODAY Sports analyzes 5 gamers who might not take house any specific hardware, however whose groups’ success might depend upon their health and production.

Yankees’ Nestor Cortes: The video game moves rapidly at the major league level, both in between the lines and in a group’s chain of command. For Nestor Cortes, the 5-10 Yankees left-hander, he’s no longer the surprise All-Star, the great little story of standing firm through almost 8 years of minors ball and company hopping to stick in New York.

Astros’ Kyle Tucker:  It is not Tucker’s group to acquire. But now would be time to take that next action towards MVP prospect.All the tools exist: Tucker, at 25, punched 30 crowning achievement and produced a 128 changed OPS last season, and smacked 2 homers in Game 1 of the World Series. His 129 weighted runs developed plus put him in a lease district with Springer and Vladimir Guerrero Jr.

Mets’ Starling Marte: When Marte is healthy, couple of are much better, as he revealed in 2015. Heck, he played through not simply the finger however likewise quadricep and groin disorders, the latter needing postseason surgical treatment. On a group where 6 daily gamers are at least 30 and 3 beginning pitchers in between 36 and 40, upkeep will be vital. Getting their All-Star best fielder to October – when he turns 35 – may be essential.

Cubs’ Dansby Swanson: It’s essential he reveal that the 26 homers he balanced his last 2 seasons in Atlanta is his brand-new regular. That his only season as an above league-average player – that would be 2022 – is a precursor of future production and not a pinnacle. And that quarterbacking a five-time department winner provides itself to improving the culture in Chicago, a location they when anticipated to win, too.

Padres’ Blake Snell: A groin injury to begin the season restricted Snell to 24 starts, however he started out 171 in 128 innings. With Darvish idled and Joe Musgrove nearing a return from a toe injury, it is Snell who will lead the charge to begin this year. At completion, he will be a complimentary representative, heading to the marketplace for the very first time and with representative Scott Boras in tow.

— Gabe Lacques

A well-selected sleeper who outshines his preseason forecast might possibly be the distinction in winning a league champion.

Here’s one gamer at every position you must think about as a sleeper choice this season. — Steve Gardner

We ranked the leading 250 for 2023. As for how our leading 250 cleans by position, there are 152 players, 97 pitchers … and one Shohei Ohtani. Check out our total list.

— Steve Gardner

U.S.A. TODAY is here to get you totally got ready for the season with unique rankings and necessary info to assist win your league champion. Here is your total draft package, consisting of general gamer rankings and position by position rankings.

SS/3B Gunnar Henderson, Orioles: Expectations are high for the preferred to win American League Rookie of the Year. The 2019 2nd round draft choice had a strong proving (.264 with a .788 OPS) in 34 video games last season and even homered in his 2nd major-league at-bat on Aug. 31. Henderson, 21, who has power and speed, is placed to play a substantial function this season, most likely splitting time on the left side of the infield.

Who are MLB’s finest young gamers?

With a pitch clock and a shift restriction declaring a brand-new and possibly action-infused age in the video game, the novices and first-year gamers leaving a mark on the season will have matured with these guidelines in the minors, where video game experimentation has actually been the standard for a years.

Now, those gamers are all set for prime-time show – and all set for a significant effect. That’s shown in U.S.A. TODAY Sports’ list of 100 Names You Need To Know for 2023.

This collection of skill from all 30 groups shows not always the leading potential customers, however rather those you will likely see bubble up from the bushes this year. The gamers are ranked by both possibility pedigree and course to discover a substantial function this season.

Here is the total list of all 100 gamers.

Instead of attempting to make sensible sense of whatever this opening day, let’s permit our minds to roam and think about some (undoubtedly long-shot) forecasts that might specify the 2023 season. Maybe Trea Turner taking 65 bases, Shohei Ohtani sweeping AL MVP and Cy Young, Brandon Belt striking 30 dingers for the very first time and more.

— Steve Gardner

This short article initially appeared on U.S.A. TODAY: MLB Opening Day 2023: Aaron Judge homers, live updates, ratings, more