Now that winter is in the rear view mirror, the next rite of spring is here: Baseball’s Opening Day!
As George Vecsey once said in his book
A Year in the Sun, “There is no sports event like Opening Day of Baseball, the sense of beating back the forces of darkness…” Spring training has come to an end and the 30 major league teams are headed off for the first game of the season.
Weather-permitting, this year will be the first time since 1968 that every team will start the season on the same day – Thursday, March 30. For you trivia buffs out there, the last time everyone opened the same day – 2018 – fifteen games were scheduled but two were rained out.
March 30
th also ranked third on the list for the earliest start to the season, at least here in the U.S. Both 2018 (March 29) and 2019 (March 28) saw the season start earlier. With March still on the calendar, will March-like weather be in attendance for baseball’s 2023 introduction? Here’s a look at all 15 games and the weather you can expect:
- Atlanta Braves at Washington Nationals (1:05 p.m. EDT)
Sunny skies will be common across the Nation’s Capital as the Braves and Nationals kick off the 2023 season. Bring a jacket if you’re headed to Nationals Park, as temperatures will only be in the lower to middle 40s during the pre-game, reaching a high late in the game near 50 degrees.
- San Francisco Giants at New York Yankees (1:05 p.m. EDT)
A cold front will be moving away from New York City in the early morning, and a few snowflakes may drift over Yankee Stadium in the pre-dawn hours. As the drier and colder air moves into the Bronx, temperatures will struggle to climb past the middle 40s all day, despite nearly clear skies.
- Baltimore Orioles at Boston Red Sox (2:10 p.m. EDT)
The same cold front will move through Boston early Thursday morning, too, bringing a few pre-dawn showers and maybe a flurry or two. However, clearing skies will be found over Fenway Park as game time approaches. Dress for March if you plan to go to the game, however, with temperatures only around 40 degrees at first pitch and a stiff northwest wind producing a wind chill stubbornly in the lower 30s.
- Milwaukee Brewers at Chicago Cubs (1:20 p.m. CDT/2:20 p.m. EDT)
High pressure will be passing off to the east by game time at the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, with a warm front steaming toward Chicago. This will lead to a bit of a southerly wind throughout the game, with plenty of clouds as well. Temperatures will remain locked in the middle 40s under all those clouds, although the good news is that rain should hold off until after the game ends.
- Detroit Tigers at Tampa Bay Rays (3:10 p.m. EDT)
St. Petersburg and the Tampa Bay metro will see nearly perfect weather on Thursday with bright sunshine, temperatures in the middle 80s and a lower-than-average humidity level. Unfortunately, Tropicana Field is the only stadium in Major League Baseball without a roof capable of retracting, so fans at the game will have to come
inside for the opener.
- Philadelphia Phillies at Texas Rangers (3:05 p.m. CDT/4:05 p.m. EDT)
Warm and increasingly humid weather can be expected for fans headed to Globe Life Park. Breezy south winds will help to fuel the atmosphere, leading to a few sprinkles possible during the late innings. Heavy rain should hold off well into Thursday night, with strong thunderstorms also in the bullpen.
- Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds (4:10 p.m. EDT)
Canadian high pressure will park itself over the Ohio Valley on Thursday, allowing for bright sunshine and seasonably cool temperatures for fans cheering on the Reds at Great American Ball Park. Although temperatures will be quite cool for Thursday morning’s Findlay Market Opening Day parade, only in the middle to upper 30s, expect to see the mercury reach the upper 50s by the time the first pitch is thrown.
- Colorado Rockies at San Diego Padres (1:10 p.m. PDT/4:10 p.m. EDT)
Albert Hammond once sang, “It Never Rains in Southern California,” but unfortunately he’ll be wrong this year. Showers and thunderstorms will be common around Petco Park, particularly so in the late morning. The one glimmer of hope is that the low may scoot inland by early afternoon, allowing for a break in the rain
just long enough to play ball. Temperatures will remain stubbornly in the 50s.
- Toronto Blue Jays at St. Louis Cardinals (3:10 p.m. CDT/4:10 p.m. EDT)
St. Louis and Busch Stadium will be in a similar pattern as Chicago, with the warm front pushing through the region during the early morning. In its wake, sunshine and mild temperatures can be expected, with a game-time temperature in the middle 60s. Couple that with a nice southerly breeze and home run balls will be flying!
- Minnesota Twins at Kansas City Royals (3:10 p.m. CDT/4:10 p.m. EDT)
Across the Show-Me State, Mother Nature will be ready to play at Kauffman Stadium. The day will start off similar to St. Louis with warm and breezy weather, although clouds will be on the increase as game time approaches. Rain should hold off until after the game, making for a nice day for baseball with temperatures securely in the 60s.
- New York Mets at Miami Marlins (4:10 p.m. EDT)
With high pressure anchored to the north, a strong east wind will blow into Miami on Thursday. This could lead to a midday thunderstorm near LoanDepot Park, but drier air should win out by game time, with temperatures holding steady in the upper 70s.
- Chicago White Sox at Houston Astros (6:08 p.m. CDT/7:08 p.m. EDT)
Southerly winds will be barking across Houston and Minute Maid Park on Thursday ahead of an approaching cold front. This will keep the weather rather humid throughout the day, with a stray shower or two possible leading up to first pitch. The game itself should be dry, however, with temperatures in the middle 70s.
- Los Angeles Angels at Oakland Athletics (7:07 p.m. PDT/10:07 p.m. EDT)
As low pressure makes its way southward along the West Coast, drier air will be quick to fill into the Bay Area as Thursday evening approaches. Partly cloudy skies will blanket RingCentral Coliseum as the A’s open the season, although fans will likely want a jacket as temperatures fall from near 50 degrees into the upper 40s.
- Arizona Diamondbacks at Los Angeles Dodgers (7:10 p.m. PDT/10:10 p.m. EDT)
The weather at Dodger Stadium and Los Angeles as a whole will be a squeeze play on Thursday thanks to the previously mentioned low-pressure system. This will lead to plenty of rain Thursday morning and early afternoon, although by evening, it should be exiting the region, allowing for some clearing in the hours ahead of game time. The opener will likely feature clearing skies, temperatures in the upper 40s, and star-studded baseball.
- Cleveland Guardians at Seattle Mariners (7:10 p.m. PDT/10:10 p.m. EDT)
T-Mobile Park and Seattle will enjoy a nice break from soggy weather during the day on Thursday as the season prepares to get underway. However, the leading edges of the next Pacific storm will be approaching the Washington coast on Thursday evening, and a stray shower or two can’t be ruled out before the 9
th inning is over. That said, the ballpark has a roof, so plan for 50s if you’re outdoors and 72 degrees if the roof is closed.
