Previews

Major League returns

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 05/04/2010
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Baseball fans have been counting down the days to Sunday April 4.

The 162-game Major League season begins right here and it starts with a massive New York Yankees versus Boston Red Sox showdown at Fenway Park.

The two American League East rivals are expected to slug it out in a pennant race again this season beginning with this first game of a three-match series.

Star pitchers CC Sabathia and Josh Beckett will lock horns on the mound in what promises to be a top-quality start to the 2010 season.

The Yankees are slight sportsbook favourites due to the fact that they are reigning World Series champions and have bolstered their already star-studded ranks with yet more high-profile signings during the close season.

Will the New York Yankees reign supreme again this season? - Latest Major League Baseball Betting

Out have gone veterans such as Melky Cabrera, Hideki Matsui and Johnny Damon and in their place have come a collection of rising stars like outfielder Curtis Granderson, designated hitter Nick Johnson and starting pitcher Javier Vazquez from the Atlanta Braves.

The Red Sox have added centre fielder Mike Cameron, third baseman Adrian Beltre and star pitcher John Lackey to their own ranks.

However, this could prove to be a transitional season with the likes of veteran performers David Ortiz, Josh Beckett, Jason Varitek and Mike Lowell all in the last year of big-money contracts.

Meanwhile, the new season really kicks into gear on Monday night when the majority of the rest of the teams begin their respective campaigns.

Opening day sees last year's beaten World Series finalists Philadelphia Phillies travel to Washington for a National League East series which they are expected to win at a canter.

The Phillies are bidding to become the first franchise to make three consecutive trips to the World Series since the St Louis Cardinals in the 1940s and have added coveted right-hander Roy Halladay to their already potent pitch mix.

Divisional rivals New York Mets play host to perennial Jekyll and Hyde side Florida Marlins.

The Mets are hoping the acquisition of Jason Bay from the Boston can help them bounce back from a 2009 season to forget.

They spent big and moved to a new stadium but finished the campaign with a horrible 70-92 record following a horrendous run of injuries.

Other highlights on opening day include Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs going head-to-head at Turner Field, Los Angeles Angels at home to Minnesota Twins and last year's Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols in action for St Louis Cardinals on the road in Cincinnati.

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