Countdown to Opening Day - 1: Kemp's return to L.A. highlights 5 games to watch Monday
In this 30-day series, theScore's MLB editors will preview the 2015 season with an in-depth look at some of the significant numbers - statistical milestones, jersey numbers and general miscellanea - poised to pop up throughout the campaign.
Congratulations, baseball fans: Sunday marks the first time in 158 days that a meaningful game will be played.
The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs kick off the 2015 season at Wrigley Field in a tune-up for Monday's Opening Day, which features 14 games, 28 teams and a pile of compelling storylines after one of the most exciting offseasons in recent memory.
Here are five games that warrant extra attention on Opening Day:
Tanaka, half speed ahead?
New York Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka sounded the alarm bells Saturday when he said to expect diminished velocity this season as he works on developing his two-seam fastball. The baseball world, however, took that to mean: I'm throwing slower this year because of my partially torn UCL. Tanaka's health will be a focal point this season and it all begins Monday at Yankee Stadium. It'll be broadcast nationally on ESPN as the first game of the day and features no shortage of storylines, including the official return of Alex Rodriguez and the debuts of new Toronto Blue Jays All-Stars Russell Martin and Josh Donaldson. TOR at NYY (1 p.m. ET)
Trout vs. King Felix
A potential playoff preview on Day 1 of the regular season: MVP Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels vs. King Felix's Seattle Mariners. The pair won a collective 185 games last year and most prognosticators project both clubs as postseason-bound in 2015. This game will feature a slew of All-Stars, Nelson Cruz's Mariners debut and an electric King's Court crowd at Safeco Field. LAA at SEA (4:10 p.m. ET)
Kemp returns to L.A. in Padres debut
Matt Kemp returns to Los Angeles nearly four months after the longtime Dodger was traded to the dramatically improved San Diego Padres. Kemp headlines nearly a dozen notables playing in their first game with their new team: Justin Upton, Wil Myers, James Shields, Will Middlebrooks, Derek Norris, Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick and Yasmani Grandal. We'd be remiss, however, to not point out that Shields and Clayton Kershaw is arguably the most compelling pitching matchup of the day. SD at LAD (4:10 p.m. ET)
Hamels takes the mound against his future (?) team
Forget scouts, the entire Boston Red Sox organization will be in attendance for Cole Hamels' first start of the season. Hamels, the subject of persistent trade rumors this offseason, gets the Opening Day assignment against Boston's revamped offense and ace-by-default Clay Buchholz. Red Sox fans are pining for pitching reinforcements for their ragtag rotation and will be treated to an up-close look at the coveted Philadelphia Phillies lefty mere hours into the season. BOS at PHI (3:05 p.m. ET)
The $210-million start
Max Scherzer makes his Washington Nationals debut in what the team hopes is the first of seven Opening Day starts for their new $210-million pitcher. Scherzer's debut is one of many: Michael Cuddyer is playing his first game in a New York Mets uniform, while Yunel Escobar (second base) and Ryan Zimmerman (first base) will both settle into their new full-time positions. This was supposed to be a Scherzer/Matt Harvey showdown, but we'll settle for Bartolo Colon batting and any game that features Bryce Harper. NYM at WAS (4:05 p.m. ET)