All the information you need on how to watch or listen to the Boston Red Sox take on the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day 2018.
Baseball is back! The 2018 regular season kicks off with the Boston Red Sox visiting the Tampa Bay Rays on Opening Day.
The Red Sox are coming off consecutive AL East division titles, winning 93 games in each of the last two seasons. The team bowed out in the ALDS both times but a reloaded lineup should improve their odds of advancing deeper into the postseason.
The Rays finished third in the division last year but were two games below .500 and five games out of a playoff spot. Tampa Bay sold off several key pieces over the winter, prioritizing payroll savings over winning. They’ve proven to be a pesky opponent in recent years but currently appear overmatched.
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Boston will use a different Opening Day starter for the fifth consecutive year. Chris Sale gets the nod this year, following in the footsteps of Rick Porcello, David Price, Clay Buchholz and Jon Lester dating back to 2014.
The start of the regular season also offers our first glimpse of J.D. Martinez playing meaningful games with his new team. The prized free agent is locked into the middle of the lineup and ready to eradicate any lingering memories of an offense that struggled to find its power stroke last year.
After spring training wrapped up on Tuesday, the players hopped on a bus from Fort Myers to St. Petersburg. They will take on the Rays in a four-game series, followed by two games in Miami against the rebuilding Marlins. The Red Sox return to Boston for the home opener on April 5.
You won’t want to miss any of the Opening Day action and we’re here to provide you with all the details on where and when to tune in!
Date: Thursday, March 29, 2018
First Pitch: 4:00 p.m. EST
Stadium: Tropicana Field
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Starting Pitchers: Chris Sale vs Chris Archer
TV: NESN
Radio: WEEI (93.7 FM in Boston – check here for local WEEI coverage in New England)
Live Steam: MLB.tv (subscription required)
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