MLB Opening Week 2024: Schedule, how to watch ESPN games, more

MLB Opening Week is finally here.

All 30 teams will play in 15 games on Opening Day -- Thursday -- with Angels-Orioles kicking off the fun in the late afternoon after two of the day's first games were canceled due to weather. Later on, the reigning champion Rangers open their season by hosting Cody Bellinger and the Cubs on ESPN.

Thirty of the best pitchers across the majors will take the mound, including 20 All-Stars, four pitchers who will be debuting for new clubs and one whowill make his first career start on Opening Day.

Additionally, ESPN will broadcast a number of games during Opening week, including two games of an American League showdown between the Yankees and Astros.

What are the most important things to know from the offseason going into the 162-game marathon that is the 2024 season? What are the most exciting matchups on Thursday? What are some storylines to watch? And what other Opening Week games can you watch on ESPN?

We have you covered on everything you need to be prepared for Opening Week, from season previews and analysis to the Opening Day schedule and ESPN's other games.

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Opening Day schedule

(All times ET)

3:05 p.m.: Los Angeles Angels at Baltimore Orioles

The pitching matchup: Patrick Sandoval vs. Corbin Burnes

4:10 p.m.: Detroit Tigers at Chicago White Sox

The pitching matchup: Tarik Skubal vs. Garrett Crochet

4:10 p.m.: Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals

The pitching matchup: Pablo Lopez vs. Cole Ragans

4:10 p.m. on ESPN+: New York Yankees at Houston Astros

The pitching matchup: Nestor Cortes vs. Framber Valdez

4:10 p.m.: Pittsburgh Pirates at Miami Marlins

The pitching matchup: Mitch Keller vs. Jesus Luzardo

4:10 p.m.: San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres

The pitching matchup: Logan Webb vs. Yu Darvish

4:10 p.m.: St. Louis Cardinals at Los Angeles Dodgers

The pitching matchup: Miles Mikolas vs. Tyler Glasnow

4:10 p.m.: Toronto Blue Jays at Tampa Bay Rays

The pitching matchup: Jose Berrios vs. Zach Eflin

4:10 p.m.: Washington Nationals at Cincinnati Reds

The pitching matchup: Josiah Gray vs. Frankie Montas

7:35 p.m. on ESPN: Chicago Cubs at Texas Rangers

The pitching matchup: Justin Steele vs. Nathan Eovaldi

10:07 p.m.: Cleveland Guardians at Oakland Athletics

The pitching matchup: Shane Bieber vs. Alex Wood

10:10 p.m.: Boston Red Sox at Seattle Mariners

The pitching matchup: Brayan Bello vs. Luis Castillo

10:10 p.m.: Colorado Rockies at Arizona Diamondbacks

The pitching matchup: Kyle Freeland vs. Zac Gallen

Opening Week on ESPN

(All times ET)

Thursday

4:10 p.m. on ESPN+: New York Yankees vs. Houston Astros

The pitching matchup:Nestor Cortes vs. Framber Valdez

7 p.m. on ESPN:Chicago Cubsvs.Texas Rangers

The pitching matchup: Justin Steele vs. Nathan Eovaldi

Friday

9:30 p.m. on ESPN+:Boston Red Soxvs.Seattle Mariners

The pitching matchup: Nick Pivetta vs. George Kirby

Saturday

2:10 p.m. on ESPN+:Detroit Tigersvs.Chicago White Sox

The pitching matchup: Kenta Maeda vs. Michael Soroka

Sunday

2:10 p.m. on ESPN+:New York Yankeesvs.Houston Astros

The pitching matchup:Clarke Schmidt vs. TBD

7 p.m. on ESPN:St. Louis Cardinalsvs.Los Angeles Dodgers

The pitching matchup:Steven Matz vs. Gavin Stone