Opening Day: Instant overreactions for every game as MLB season begins

MLB's Opening Day is upon us. Are these games more important than the 161 other games each team will play over the remainder of the season? No. But in a much more real sense ... still no. Follow along as theScore's Michael Bradburn overreacts to everything that happens anyway. Refresh for updates.

White Sox-Brewers

Misiorowski is him

No one doubted Jacob Misiorowski more than I did. He seemed destined for a bullpen role. But this guy can pitch. He's the first Brewers pitcher with 10 strikeouts in an Opening Day start. Or maybe this is simply the benefit of facing the White Sox.

Meidroth is the greatest hitter in White Sox history who's not currently suing the team

It's pretty wild that the White Sox had never started a season with a leadoff home run in their 125-year history - until now. That honor belongs to Chase Meidroth, who, unlike Frank Thomas, isn't currently suing the franchise for using his name and number without his permission.

👉 Bet on MLB Opening Day with theScore Bet here

Nationals-Cubs

Is there still time for Cubs to cancel Pete Crow-Armstrong extension?

Crow-Armstrong began the 2026 season in a way all too familiar to Cubs fans from the second half of last year's campaign: With a strikeout.

His six-year, $115-million extension doesn't officially kick in until the beginning of 2027. Chicago should pull the chute on this before the game even ends.

Pirates-Mets

Pirates need to hire Embiid as manager

With due respect to Don Kelly, who might still prove to be a good manager, Joel Embiid is the leader the Pirates' clubhouse needs right now. What is Oneil Cruz doing here? On Opening Day. With his ace on the mound. Paul Skenes fails to make it out of the first inning for the first time in his MLB career because of this. Pick up the phone and call Embiid immediately.

Home-run celebrations are back

Celebrations like this got kind of tired when every team started having one, and they became pretty generic. The Pirates' celebration rules. We're so back.

Also, obligatory: Brandon Lowe, who has two homers in his first two at-bats with the Pirates, is on pace for 324 homers with his new team. Years after getting fleeced by the Rays in the Chris Archer trade, the Pirates are vindicated.

Brewers won the Freddy Peralta trade

Two batters into Fastball Freddy's tenure with the New York Mets, and he's given up a hit and a homer. There's just no way Brandon Sproat and Jett Williams end up being worse than this guy.

22 teams in action Thursday. Here's the slate:

Yankees 7, Giants 0

The Yankees turned to small ball because Judge is cooked

Eight of the Yankees' nine starters had at least one hit in their season-opening win against the Giants on Wednesday night. The lone guy without a knock? Captain Aaron Judge, who followed up his three-strikeout performance in the WBC final with a golden sombrero.

Ban ABS

MLB had its first-ever ABS challenge, and that's enough for me: Get rid of it.

Not only did Netflix fumble broadcasting this by almost missing it entirely, but José Caballero was proven wrong on appeal, giving the umpires a 1-0 lead in the ABS era. Out here on Day 1 of the season proving that umps are competent? Embarrassing.

Ringing in the baseball season with ... Jameis Winston, Bert Kreischer, and something called a Tony Tony Chopper?

Nothing says Opening Day quite like a journeyman NFL quarterback, a comedian drinking beer in a kayak, and some product placement.

What a confusing cast of characters.

I thought the booth of Matt Vasgersian, Hunter Pence, and CC Sabathia was actually quite good. However, I did catch myself thinking wistfully about how the upcoming CBA negotiations might at least postpone the next iteration of this. There's mercifully only two years left on this broadcast partnership either way.

If you were interested in watching the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants play baseball, you'll get to experience that Friday and Saturday.