Major League Baseball successfully commenced a new regular season for all their teams this year. As time passes, bettors and fans can feel excitement and nervousness. Unlike other sports, the league completes its regular season, including the postseason events, the same year.
So, everyone is busy until the end of the World Series, and their schedules are booked even at this early of the year. If you want to figure out what to look forward to this year, here’s what’s up with the 202.3 MLB
In this article
Schedule
MLB usually releases its schedule months before the new year. The league released them for the 2023 MLB season last August 24, 2022. So, fans and bettors have anticipated so much already.
Furthermore, MLB’s regular season contains 162 games for all teams, where they play each other at least once, similar to the NBA. The schedule started on the MLB Opening Day last March 30, 2023 (Thursday). Unlike the past year, all 30 teams were present during the day and were able to play.
Moreover, the postseason is scheduled to kick off on October 3, with the World Series possibly starting Game 7 on November 4. You can visit MLB’s official site here to discover who will play in the remaining days.
What’s New?
As the 2023 MLB started, the league introduced several changes and new rules for this season. A few have already been introduced in the last season but were only formally announced this year. To look into what’s up this season, you can look into the following.
Introduction of Pitch Clock
MLB implemented time limitations to their games, such that there are now 30-second timers between batters, 15 seconds for every pitch with empty bases, and 20 seconds with runners on base. The pitch clock aims to present a fast-paced play every game during this season.
However, there are also several factors to consider, such as pitchers who fail to follow the pitch timer will be charged an automatic ball. Meanwhile, batters who violate the timer will receive an automatic strike.
On top of that, batters will be charged an automatic strike if they fail to be in the box by the eight-second mark. Then, the timer will reset if the pitcher steps off the rubber once the runners are on base.
Additionally, pitchers are limited to two disengagements per plate appearance, but if the runner advances during this time, the limit resets. Also, the runner automatically advances if they fail their third pickoff attempt.
For mound visits, offensive team, and injury timeouts don’t count as disengagement. Also, if a team uses up all of their five mound visits before their ninth inning, they can receive an additional mound during their ninth inning, which will serve as an additional disengagement.
Changes in Defensive Shifts
There were also changes in the defensive team for this year’s season. The primary goal is to increase the ball batting average so that infielders can present more athleticism and restore more different outcomes on batted balls. So, there are now a minimum of four infielders, including at least two infielders completely on either side of the second base for every defensive team.
Additionally, four infielders should be within the boundary once the pitcher is finally on the rubber, and they can’t switch sides, so teams aren’t allowed to reposition themselves. If the infielders are not correctly aligned during the pitch, the offense team can select either the result of the play or an automatic ball.
Bigger Bases
Lastly, MLB changed the regular 15 inches square base to 18 inches square one, while the home plate remained unchanged. This change aims to provide players more room to operate, prevent collisions, and stay out of harm’s way.
Early Favorites to Win
After the successful opening of the 2023 MLB, several fans and bettors have also gathered and shared their prospects of who will make it to the postseason and their favorites to win the 2023 World Series. Though you can check out their live MLB odds and follow how they will continue and rise to the top from here, here are the early top favorites to enlighten you:
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves were the National League East winner after winning over the New York Mets through a tie-breaker after both teams tied 101-61. Although the Philadelphia Phillies eventually eliminated them in the Division Series, the Braves are still one of the top contenders for the 2023 MLB World Series.
Los Angeles Dodgers
It seems that the early top two favorites to win the World Series this year come from the National League, and this time, the Los Angeles Dodgers are also highly favored. Although this team is second to Diamondbacks after a slow start, they still have many talents in their arsenal, even after Trea Turner left and Tony Gonsolin hurt from a sprained ankle.
Final Thoughts
The season is just starting, but several exciting things have already occurred. With the new rules, the 2023 MLB will also set several new, refreshing actions this year. So, if you want to stay and witness more of what will take place, prepare yourself and sign up to your sportsbook account or subscribe to your favorite sports channel!
