Selection Sunday: Picking MLB's top 5 April matchups

Selection Sunday is one of the most fun days on the sporting calendar. As March Madness approaches, everybody stops to dissect college basketball's intriguing postseason matchups as they're revealed.

While all of that is going on, baseball continues to push towards Opening Day and a very intriguing April schedule. There may not be any baseball brackets to fill in for another seven months, but fans pining for the calendar to hit April can use Sunday to pick out their must-see series in the opening month.

Here are our selections for MLB's best April matchups:

Mets at Royals - April 3-5

Interleague play has many detractors in the baseball world. Nobody, however, can deny that it's given us something amazing in 2016: The first ever season-opening World Series rematch. It's a coincidence, of course - this Royals-Mets opener was set before either team even clinched a playoff spot last year - but oh, what drama it will ultimately bring us. Will the bad blood from October boil over? Will watching the Royals receive their rings affect the Mets? However it shakes out, this is setting up to be one of the all-time great season openers.

Astros at Yankees - April 4-7

Last October, a young, inexperienced Astros team that many perceived to be well ahead of its expected timeline waltzed into Yankee Stadium, knocked off a veteran Yankees squad in a one-game wild-card playoff, and proved that perhaps ghosts don't know how to cross the street. This year, Houston opens its 2016 campaign at the scene of its crime, only now it's a confident group that knows its capable of slaying dragons. New York has its experienced veterans back, and though they're all aging quickly, they have their pride. Expect intimidation, Yankee-style - and expect the Astros to stand their ground, making for possible fireworks.

Red Sox at Blue Jays - April 8-10

The Blue Jays' run to their first AL East title in 22 years took off when they acquired David Price in a deadline-day stunner. Price did all that Toronto asked of him in 2015 - until he bolted to the rival Red Sox as a free agent. So, of course the Blue Jays will open their 2016 home slate by welcoming Boston, and as of now, Price is in line to start one of the three games for the visitors. Blue Jays fans gave the lefty a hero's welcome last August, but as his new manager John Farrell can attest, there's no such thing as Canadian hospitality for Blue Jays who jump to Boston.

D-Backs at Dodgers - April 12-14

Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw formed a formidable one-two rotation punch at Chavez Ravine for three seasons. Greinke chose to opt out of his contract this offseason, however, and stunningly bolted L.A. for a massive payday in the desert. His defection to the Diamondbacks will only add to what's become a heated rivalry, and Hollywood's newest summer drama will premiere early: Greinke's lined up to make a start for Arizona during what is the Dodgers' home-opening series. Dodger Stadium will be rocking, and given the recent history here - which has already involved Arizona's new ace - there's sure to be some shenanigans.

Cubs at Cardinals - April 18-20

This rivalry is never boring, and their first meeting of 2016 comes with several layers of new drama. The teams met in the playoffs for the first time ever, and the inexperienced Cubs stunningly beat the Cardinals, a perennial playoff team. If that wasn't enough, the North Siders poached a pair of high-profile free agents from St. Louis in veteran starter John Lackey, and outfielder Jason Heyward on a mega-contract. It's a historic and heated rivalry that would draw lots of eyeballs under normal circumstances, and it's suddenly been turned up to 11. This three-game set is everything a baseball fan could ask for in an early-season showdown.