The 2024 MLB season kicked off with the Seoul Series in Korea on March 20-21, with the San Diego Padres facing the Los Angeles Dodgers. The rest of the 28 teams played their first games on March 28-29.
The AL East features our hometown Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays started their 10-game on the road series in Tampa Bay, splitting it 2-2. The Orioles won’t see much of the AL East competition early in their season, playing three of their first 27 games against AL East opponents. However, they kicked off their season with a hot bat from Anthoy Santander and Adley Rutschman. The Yankees played the Houston Astros, winning 5-4 and winning the series, making the Astros start off their season with an 0-4 record. As of Tuesday, April 9, the Yankees lead the division, with the Orioles in third.
The AL Central features the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins, Kansas City Royals, and the Chicago White Sox. The Tigers faced off against the White Sox to start their season, winning the series 3-0. The Guardians played the Oakland Athletics, winning the series 3-1, while the Twins faced off against their AL Central rival, the Royals, and won the series 2-1. The current standings see the Guardians in the lead with a solid 8-2 record.
The last division in the AL, the AL West, features the Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, and the Oakland Athletics. The Angels played the Orioles, losing the series 1-2. The Rangers faced off against the Chicago Cubs, winning the series 2-1. The Mariners played an AL opponent, the Red Sox, and ended up splitting the series 2-2. The Oakland Athletics played the Guardians, losing the series 1-3. The Rangers and Angels are tied for first with 6-4 records.
The NL East features the Atlanta Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Washington Nationals, and the Miami Marlins. The Braves played the Phillies on opening day and won the series 2-1, while the New York Mets faced off against the Milwaukee Brewers and ended up losing the series 0-3. The Nationals played the Cincinnati Reds and lost the series 1-2. The Marlins haven’t had such a hot start to the season, starting 1-10, and losing their opening series 0-4. The 6-3 Braves lead the division at this point.
The NL Central features the Pittsburgh Pirates, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and the St. Louis Cardinals. The Pirates won their opening series 4-0. The Brewers played the New York Mets and swept the series 3-0. The Chicago Cubs faced off against the Texas Rangers and lost the series 1-2. Playing the Washington Nationals, winning the series 2-1, were the Cincinnati Reds. The Cardinals played the Los Angeles Dodgers, losing the series 1-3. The Pirates lead the division at 9-2.
The NL West features the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, and the Colorado Rockies. The Dodgers played the St. Louis Cardinals and won the series 3-1. The San Diego Padres faced rival San Francisco Giants and split the series 2-2. The Diamondbacks played NL West rival, Colorado Rockies and won the series 3-1. The Dodgers have a firm lead on the division at 9-4.
With a successful opening few weeks, it’s a waiting game while the first half of the season unfolds. The regular season will end around the last week in September, with the All-Star game being July 16. Will the Orioles capture last year’s success? Will the Marlins find their footing and start climbing the ranks?