It’s nearly Opening Day, with the joy and promise of a brand new season radiating all through the game and past. It’s time to eat baseball in each kind attainable, together with, after all, speaking baseball. Whether or not it’s water-cooler chats, Slacks from the house workplace, household dinners or group chats, you’re going to wish some baseball subjects prepared. Everybody has a World Collection choose, however not everybody is ready with an A-plus Juan Soto nugget.
That’s the place we are available. We don’t simply need you speaking baseball, we wish to equip you to wow and amaze whoever you’re with. Right here’s one truth per workforce to make you sound good.
Blue Jays: Playoff Vlad and Playoff Ernie
This duo actually introduced the offense in October. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit .397 and slugged .795 for the AL pennant-winning Blue Jays final postseason. He hit eight residence runs, tied for the second-most in a single postseason behind Randy Arozarena’s 10 in 2020. Guerrero’s eight profession postseason residence runs, all final 12 months, are already two greater than some other Blue Jays participant in a profession. His 29 hits tied Arozarena for second-most in a postseason run. Teammate Ernie Clement set the report with 30 hits throughout Toronto’s run. His 10 multihit video games additionally set a report, with Guerrero once more tying for second-most, with 9.
Orioles: O’Pening Day O’Neill
We hope Mr. Splash is prepared for Thursday. Tyler O’Neill has homered in a whopping six straight Opening Day video games, probably the most consecutive seasons with not less than one Opening Day residence run, in response to the Elias Sports activities Bureau. Why whopping? As a result of no different participant has ever had a streak longer than 4 straight Opening Days, achieved by 1994-97 Todd Hundley, 1977-80 Gary Carter and 1955-58 Yogi Berra. The one gamers to homer on greater than six Opening Days in a profession, whatever the consecutive issue, are Frank Robinson (eight) and Ken Griffey Jr. (seven). Will O’Neill be a part of them and lengthen his streak? We’ll discover out very quickly.
Junior Caminero picked up within the World Baseball Traditional proper the place he left off in 2025, crushing homers. Caminero’s three residence runs had been tied for probably the most of any participant on this 12 months’s WBC. The whole was additionally tied for probably the most in a single World Baseball Traditional earlier than turning 23, with 2017 Carlos Correa. As a reminder, Caminero completed the 2025 season with 45 homers, turning into the second-youngest participant with a 45-homer season in MLB historical past, based mostly on age on the ultimate day of the season, in response to Elias. Caminero was 22 years and 85 days previous on the final day. Solely 1953 Eddie Mathews (21 years, 349 days) was youthful, when he hit 47 residence runs.
Garrett Crochet can be beginning on Opening Day once more in his second 12 months with the Pink Sox. This would be the third profession Opening Day begin for Crochet in his third season as a starter. The final pitcher to make an Opening Day begin in every of his first three or extra seasons during which he had not less than one begin was 1886-1890 Matt Kilroy, in his first 5, per Elias. Earlier than Crochet, the final pitcher to make an Opening Day begin in even every of his first two seasons making not less than 1 begin was 1910-11 Hippo Vaughn. Discuss a uncommon feat.
Aaron Decide’s residence run manufacturing has been prolific. Final season was the fourth time in his profession that he hit not less than 50 residence runs. That tied Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire and Babe Ruth for probably the most 50-homer seasons. Will Decide have a record-breaking fifth season with 50 homers this 12 months? After all, it wasn’t all concerning the lengthy ball. Decide additionally received the AL batting title, main the Majors at .331. His 53 homers had been probably the most that season by a participant who received a batting title. The one different gamers to win a batting title in a 50-homer season are 1956 Mickey Mantle (52 HR) and 1938 Jimmie Foxx (50).
Guardians: Traditional José Ramírez
One other season, one other excellent efficiency from José Ramírez in 2025. It was his second season with not less than 30 residence runs and 40 stolen bases. The one different gamers in MLB historical past with a number of such seasons are Bobby Bonds (4), Barry Bonds and Alfonso Soriano. Solely Bobby Bonds and Ramírez did so in consecutive seasons. Can he do it once more? Even a 3rd straight 30-30 could be notable. The one participant to report not less than three consecutive 30-30 seasons is Barry Bonds (1995-97).
Bobby Witt Jr. continues to point out off his power-speed mixture. He has 105 homers and 148 stolen bases in his profession, which is simply 4 years previous. He’s the one participant in MLB historical past with not less than 100 residence runs and 140 stolen bases within the first 4 years of his profession. The one different gamers with not less than 100 of every of their first 4 seasons are Julio Rodríguez, Darryl Strawberry and Bobby Bonds.
Tigers: The Skubal period continues
Tarik Skubal adopted up his 2024 Cy Younger season with one other robust marketing campaign and one other Cy Younger in 2025. He had seven begins with not less than 10 strikeouts and no walks, tying 2019 Gerrit Cole for probably the most in a season in not less than the final 125 years. Can Skubal make it three Cy Younger Awards in a row? The one pitchers to win not less than three straight are Randy Johnson (1999-2002) and Greg Maddux (1992-95), every with 4 straight.
Twins: Win streak occasions two
The Twins put collectively a 13-game profitable streak in 2025, after authoring a 12-game profitable streak in 2024. Since 1900, there have now been 12 situations of a workforce profitable 12 or extra in a row in consecutive seasons. The Twins had been the primary to take action since Cleveland received 14 straight in 2016 and had their AL-record 22-game win streak in 2017. No workforce since 1900 has achieved this in three straight seasons, but when we increase to all of MLB historical past, there’s one occasion, per Elias. The 1885-87 St. Louis Browns. Will the Twins be a part of them?
Colson Montgomery hit 21 residence runs in a 71-game rookie marketing campaign, getting off to a quick begin. He hit his tenth profession residence run on Aug. 11, in his thirty second profession recreation. That was the third-fewest profession video games to 10 residence runs in White Sox historical past, trailing solely 1934 Zeke Bonura (25 video games) and 2014 Jose Abreu (26 video games). The 23-year-old Montgomery additionally turned the youngest participant in White Sox historical past with not less than 10 residence runs in an 18-game span. What is going to he have in retailer for a full season this 12 months?
Mike Trout entered final 12 months with 378 profession residence runs, on the verge of turning into the 59th participant in MLB historical past with not less than 400 residence runs. He hit No. 400 on Sept. 20, turning into the fifteenth participant with not less than 400 residence runs and 200 stolen bases. If we take it one step additional, the 34-year-old Trout was simply the seventh participant with not less than 400 residence runs and 200 stolen bases earlier than turning 35, becoming a member of Alex Rodriguez, Sammy Sosa, Willie Mays, Henry Aaron, Barry Bonds and Reggie Jackson. Good firm certainly.
Astros: What can Brown do for you?
Hunter Brown made his first All-Star workforce in 2025 and went on to complete third in AL Cy Younger voting. An enormous motive why he was so efficient was limiting laborious contact. Brown allowed only a 32.2% hard-hit price, the second-lowest among the many 151 pitchers to permit not less than 250 batted balls this season, behind solely Ranger Suarez (31.1%). Brown completed the season with a 2.43 ERA. No pitcher in Astros franchise historical past has a number of certified seasons with a sub-2.50 ERA. At the very least, not but.
Unanimous AL Rookie of the 12 months Nick Kurtz hit 36 homers, tied for the eighth-most by a rookie in a season. Probably the most notable was a 493-foot residence run, the longest of the 2025 common season. It was the longest residence run within the Majors since Shohei Ohtani on June 30, 2023 (493 toes). It was the A’s longest residence run underneath Statcast (2015) in addition to the longest grand slam by anybody in that span. The one rookie with an extended residence run than Kurtz underneath Statcast was Aaron Decide, twice in 2017. His most notable recreation was July 25, when Kurtz turned the primary rookie in MLB historical past with a four-homer recreation.
Cal Raleigh had a season for the ages final 12 months, hitting 60 residence runs to ascertain single-season information for each switch-hitters and first catchers (min. 50% of video games at catcher). Raleigh turned the seventh particular person in MLB historical past with not less than 60 residence runs in a season. He joined Aaron Decide, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGwire, Roger Maris and Babe Ruth. Raleigh had 11 multi-homer video games, tying the MLB single-season report, additionally held by 2022 Decide, 1998 Sammy Sosa and 1938 Hank Greenberg. What is going to he do for an encore?
We bought to observe a full season of Jacob deGrom in 2025, when he made 30 begins for the primary time since 2019 and was a professional pitcher (not less than one inning pitched per workforce recreation) for the primary time since 2020. From April 18 by July 1, deGrom allowed six hits or fewer and two runs or fewer in 14 straight begins. That marked the longest such streak by a conventional starter since not less than 1900.
Matt Olson brings a hefty streak into 2026, enjoying 782 consecutive video games courting to Could 2, 2021. His streak is the Twelfth-longest in MLB historical past. The one different streaks of not less than 700 consecutive video games to start within the divisional period (1969) are, after all, 1982-98 Cal Ripken Jr. (2,632 video games), in addition to 1975-83 Steve Garvey (1,207), 2000-07 Miguel Tejada (1,152), 1978-83 Pete Rose (745) and 1981-86 Dale Murphy (740).
Kyle Schwarber has 187 residence runs with the Phillies, third-most by a participant in his first 4 seasons with a workforce behind McGwire’s 191 with the Cardinals and Ruth’s 189 with the Yankees. And along with his re-signing in Philly this previous offseason, that’s an inventory we will proceed to trace: 40 residence runs this season, as he’s projected for, would give him 227 in 5 years with the Phillies. The one participant with that many residence runs in his first 5 years with a workforce is Ruth, with 235 with the Yankees.
Sandy Alcantara will take the mound on Opening Day. It is going to be his sixth profession Opening Day begin, three greater than anybody else within the Marlins franchise historical past. The one different Dominican-born pitchers to make greater than 5 profession Opening Day begins are Juan Marichal (10), Pedro Martinez (eight), Bartolo Colon (seven) and Mario Soto (six).
Mets: Soto homer, Soto stroll
Juan Soto has performed eight profession seasons, every with not less than a .395 on-base proportion. The one AL/NL gamers to have not less than a .395 OBP in every of their first 9 or extra seasons are Ted Williams (first 17 seasons), Stan Musial (14) and Ferris Fain. Because it stands, Soto’s streak of eight straight such seasons to start out his profession is tied for fourth, with Frank Thomas, Wade Boggs and Charlie Keller. Nevertheless it’s not simply the on-base skill. He combines that with energy. His 5 seasons with not less than 25 homers and 115 walks are tied with Jim Thome and Lou Gehrig for fourth-most in a profession, behind solely Barry Bonds (13 seasons), Babe Ruth (10) and Williams (9). Soto’s energetic streak of 5 consecutive seasons performed with these totals is tied for second-longest, with Bonds from 2000-04, behind Williams’ six from 1941-42 and 1946-49 (army service 1943-45).
Daylen Lile had a September to recollect in 2025, hitting .391 and slugging .772 in 25 video games and giving Nationals followers loads to look ahead to this season. He hit six residence runs and 7 triples within the month. He turned the sixth participant with not less than seven triples and 6 residence runs in a calendar month within the final 120 seasons, becoming a member of Willie Mays in June 1957, Babe Herman in July 1929, Ty Cobb in Could 1921, Ed Lennox in Could 1914 and Frank Schulte in July 1911.
Jackson Chourio’s second season featured extra energy and velocity, as he turned the primary participant in MLB historical past with not less than 20 homers and 20 stolen bases in a season a number of occasions earlier than turning 22. He put collectively a 20-game hit streak in July, turning into the primary participant with a streak that lengthy at age 21 or youthful since Freddie Freeman in 2011.
Cardinals: Simply hold hitting
Can the Cardinals’ offense get off to a different fast begin this 12 months? In 2025, they hit .304 as a workforce within the first 9 video games of the season, racking up 101 hits. They reached not less than 10 hits in every of these first 9 video games, the second-longest such streak to start out a season for the reason that mound was moved to its present distance (1893), behind solely 1999 Cleveland (10), per Elias.
With new signing Alex Bregman becoming a member of the Cubs and Dansby Swanson, the workforce now has each of the highest two picks from the 2015 MLB Draft, the place Swanson went No. 1 and Bregman No. 2. They would be the fifth pair of gamers taken 1-2 in the identical draft to be MLB teammates, per Elias. They may be a part of Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton (2022-25 MIN, 2012 Draft), Tim Beckham and Pedro Alvarez (2017-18 BAL, 2008), Paul Wilson and Ben Grieve (2001-02 TB, 1994) and B.J. Surhoff and Will Clark (1999-2000 BAL, 1985).
Following up on an excellent first season in 2024, Paul Skenes completed his second 12 months within the Majors with a microscopic 1.97 ERA en path to a unanimous NL Cy Younger Award. He turned the primary certified pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA in his age-23 season or youthful since Dwight Gooden in 1985 (1.53). He was additionally the primary certified Pirates pitcher with a sub-2.00 ERA within the live-ball period (1920). At 23 years and 122 days, Skenes turned the fourth-youngest pitcher to steer MLB qualifiers in ERA (earned runs official since 1913) by age at finish of season, older than solely 1985 Dwight Gooden (20y, 324d), 1976 Mark Fidrych (22y, 50d) and 1914 Dutch Leonard (22y, 177d), per Elias. What’s subsequent?
Elly De La Cruz was electrical but once more in 2025. On March 31, he hit two residence runs and a double, and notched a stolen base. It was the third time in his profession he had three extra-base hits and not less than one stolen base in a recreation. That broke a tie with Joe Morgan and Orlando Cepeda for probably the most such video games earlier than turning 24 years previous since not less than 1900. Three such video games are tied for the fourth-most general in that span no matter age, behind solely Honus Wagner (six), Morgan (5) and Barry Bonds (4).
Unanimous NL MVP Shohei Ohtani had one other unprecedented season, establishing yet one more 50-50 membership. This time, it was not less than 50 residence runs as a hitter and 50 strikeouts as a pitcher. The one different participant with any strikeouts as a pitcher in a 50-homer season is Babe Ruth, with three strikeouts in 1921. Ohtani’s 55 residence runs set a Dodgers franchise report for a single season, breaking his mark from 2024. Of his 55 residence runs, 51 had been out of the leadoff spot. That’s 10 greater than some other participant out of the leadoff spot in a season in MLB historical past. He’s now received MVP unanimously 4 occasions. No different participant has a number of unanimous MVP Awards within the historical past of the glory, which dates to 1931.
Corbin Carroll turned the primary participant in D-backs historical past with not less than 30 residence runs and 30 stolen bases in a season final 12 months. However that’s not all. Add in his triples and he was simply the third participant in MLB historical past with not less than 30 homers, 15 triples and 30 stolen bases in a season. He joined Jimmy Rollins in 2007 and Willie Mays in 1957. If we decrease the minimums we get one other enjoyable record. He has two seasons with not less than 10 triples, 25 residence runs and 30 stolen bases, tied with Witt and Mays for probably the most.
Franchise stalwart Logan Webb will make his fifth consecutive Opening Day begin when the Giants take the sector on Wednesday. Webb would be the second Giants pitcher to make not less than 5 straight Opening Day begins, per Elias. He’ll be a part of 1964-69 Juan Marichal, who made six straight. The one different Giants to make 5 or extra in a profession, no matter consecutive, are Marichal (10), Carl Hubbell (six), Larry Jansen, Madison Bumgarner, Mickey Welch and Amos Rusie.
Fernando Tatis Jr. reached 100 profession stolen bases on Could 3 final 12 months, to go together with his 135 residence runs on the time. He reached not less than 100 profession stolen bases and 130 profession residence runs in 547 video games, the fewest video games to achieve these marks in MLB historical past.
On Aug. 1 final season, the Rockies allowed 9 runs within the first inning to the Pirates however nonetheless went on to win, 17-16. They turned the sixth workforce to win after permitting not less than 9 runs within the first inning in MLB historical past, per Elias. They joined Cleveland on Aug. 23, 2006, the Phillies on June 8, 1989, the Phillies on Sept. 30, 1913, the Reds on Could 17, 1896 and the Cleveland Blues on June 21, 1884. You actually by no means know what you’ll see on the ballpark.
