The Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs have already taken the field in the Tokyo Series, but now it’s time for the season to get into full gear. Here are five things to watch for on opening day as the race to the World Series starts.
Mookie Betts status – The eight-time All-Star missed the Tokyo Series with an inexplicable stomach illness. His weight has reportedly dropped from 175 to 157 pounds, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Anthony De Leon. He played in the team’s final Cactus League matchup on March 26 and could be in the lineup today.
Paul Skenes starts his Cy Young Award campaign – Skenes took the league by storm last season. He was the National League All-Star starter, rookie of the year and third in Cy Young Award voting. He is the favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award this season and he will start his campaign against the Miami Marlins.
Juan Soto’s New York Mets debut – The biggest storyline of the offseason ended with Soto signing with the New York Yankees’ crosstown rivals. His historic 15-year, $765 million raises expectations of the Mets around the league.
The new-look Yankees – After losing Soto to the Mets, the Yankees made a flurry of moves to try and replace him. They traded for Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams. The move for Bellinger allowed Aaron Judge to slide back to right field. However, the biggest change to watch will be at first base. The Yankees signed former NL MVP Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year deal. They also moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base, opting for a platoon in the hot corner.
Tarik Skubal vs. Blake Snell – Every team has one of their best arms on the mound today, but for fans who love elite pitching, this is the game to watch. The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner will face what is being viewed as the best lineup in baseball. Freddie Freeman, Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Teoscar Hernández and Will Smith will have their hands full with SKubal. Meanwhile, Snell, who shockingly signed with the Dodgers in free agency, will make his first start of the season after Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Rōki Sasaki started in Japan.
Photo: Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes delivers during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, March 1, 2025, in Sarasota, Fla. Skenes is a candidate for the 2025 NL Cy Young Award based on his body of work in 2024. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)
