The debut of Juan Soto in pinstripes and a new leader in Houston, where Joe Espada takes over as manager for the retired Dusty Baker, highlights the latest chapter in the rivalry between the Yankees and Astros, a pair of American League heavyweights who will open the 2024 season Thursday at Minute Maid Park.
The Yankees acquired Soto from the Padres in a blockbuster deal at the Winter Meetings in December and will slot him second in the lineup ahead of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton. A three-time All-Star and four-time Silver Slugger, Soto is coming off a 2023 season in which he batted .275/.410/.519 (158 OPS+) in 162 games for San Diego. He hit 35 homers, 32 doubles, a triple and had 109 RBIs.
The Astros also added a big name from San Diego, signing five-time All-Star closer Josh Hader in January to give them one of the best bullpens in baseball. Houston has one of the baseball’s deepest lineups, anchored by Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, Alex Bregman and Kyle Tucker, but has four starting pitchers opening the season on the injured list.
The Yankees went 82-80 last year and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016, although they extended their streak of consecutive seasons with a winning record to 30 (since 1993). The Astros have won six consecutive AL West titles competed in full seasons and are looking for their eighth consecutive trip to the ALCS. Last year, the Astros lost in seven games in the ALCS to the Rangers, dropping all four games at Minute Maid Park.
When is the game and how can I watch it?
Thursday at 3:10 pm CT/4:10 pm ET (watch live FREE on MLB.TV — it’s the Free Game of the Day). The Astros broadcast will be on Space City Home Network. The Yankees broadcast will be on YES.
What are the likely lineups?
Who are the starting pitchers?
Left-hander Nestor Cortes (5-2, 4.97 ERA in 2023) will make his first career Opening Day start, stepping in for the injured Gerrit Cole. A 36th-round pick in the 2013 MLB Draft out of Hialeah (Fla.) High School, Cortes will become just the fifth pitcher drafted and signed by the Yankees to start a season opener, joining Andy Pettitte (1998), Ron Guidry (1978 -80, ’82-84, ’86), Doc Medich (1975) and Stan Bahnsen (1971). Cole was drafted by the Yankees in 2008 but did not sign.
Left-hander Framber Valdez (12-11, 3.45 ERA) will make his third consecutive Opening Day start for the Astros, tying him with Dallas Keuchel for the most by a southpaw in club history. After going 7-6 with a 2.51 ERA in his first 17 starts last year and making the All-Star team, he was 5-5 with a 4.66 ERA in his final 14 starts, which included an Aug. 1 no-hitter against Cleveland . He lost all three of his starts in the playoffs, posting a 9.00 ERA.
How might the bullpens line up after the starter?
The Yanks’ bullpen has a few new names, including the additions of left-handers Caleb Ferguson and Victor González, who were acquired in separate trades from the Dodgers. Jonathan Loaisiga is being transitioned to a multi-inning role during the first half, similar to how the Yankees used Michael King early last season. Clay Holmes remains the closer, aiming to replicate the form that prompted his selection of him as a 2022 All-Star.
Hader, who signed a five-year deal, will join with former closer Ryan Pressly and Bryan Abreu to give Houston a dominated backend, but Abreu was suspended for the first two games of the season for hitting Adolis García of the Rangers with a pitch in Game 5 of the ALCS. That will leave Houston’s bullpen a man short on Opening Day, putting the onus on Rafael Montero, Brandon Bielak and lefty Bennett Sousa, and others, to pick up the slack.
A right elbow injury has knocked Cole out of what would have been his fifth consecutive Opening Day start as a Yankee. The Bombers will also be without DJ LeMahieu, who is beginning the year on the injured list with a bone bruise in his right foot. Anthony Rizzo was sidelined late in camp with a late issue, but returned to action on Monday in the club’s last spring game.
Ace right-hander Justin Verlander will start the year on the injured list as he continues to build up from a shoulder issue that put him behind entering camp. Another starting pitcher, José Urquidy, has a right forearm strain and will open the season on the IL. Starters Lance McCullers Jr. and Luis Garcia are both rehabbing from major surgeries and won’t return until midseason.
Who’s hot and who’s not?
Torres had a terrific spring from start to finish, batting .356 (16-for-45) with four doubles, three homers and seven RBIs through Monday. Rizzo also looked to be fully recovered from the concussion issues that derailed his ’23 season, batting .389 (14-for-36) with three doubles, two homers and nine RBIs through Monday. Aaron Judge had a quiet spring at the plate, batting .208 (5-for-24) with three doubles through Monday.
Bregman went 18-for-47 (.383) in Grapefruit League play, including two homers and six RBIs on Saturday against the Mets. Mauricio Dubón (.471) and Tucker (.317) also had strong springs at the plate. Alvarez hit .343 with a homer and eight RBIs and Altuve hit .250 with a homer and five RBIs. Meanwhile, starting pitchers Hunter Brown (3-0, 2.12 ERA) and Ronel Blanco (15 2/3 scoreless innings) had stellar springs.
Anything else fans might want to know?
The only other time the Astros and Yankees opened the season against each other was in 2016 at Yankee Stadium. … Houston won its first 10 games on Opening Day in the AL before losing to the White Sox last year. … Longtime Astros catcher is Brad Ausmus is the Yankees’ new bench coach.
