Seven curious aspects of the 2023 calendar

Start preparing your agenda for the coming year. It was published the calendar of the 2023 season, and it is very different from previous campaigns.

For the first time, all teams will meet at least once. Frustrated that your club never plays Mike Trout? That will change this year. And from now on, it will be a constant.

That means fewer games between divisional rivals, but it also makes for some really eye-catching matchups…many of which we haven’t seen in a while.

Here, some interesting aspects of the 2023 calendar:

1. The stars will play with each other all the time

Mike Trout and Bryce Harper have always shared a unique bond. They’ve been compared since their time in the minors and both made their big league debuts in 2012. They won Rookie of the Year, both have won multiple MVP awards and both will likely end up in the Hall of Fame.

However, they have only met each other seven times. That will change in 2023 when the Angels visit Philadelphia.

We will see duels between Paul Goldschmidt and Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. vs. Juan Soto, Pete Alonso against Julio Rodriguez. Everything you can imagine.

2. You’ll see a more balanced race for Wild Cards

Usually, this bid has certain disadvantages for many. For example, the Rays and Orioles tend to have a more difficult road than the Twins or Guardians, due to the competition they have in their divisions.

Each team will play 24 fewer games against their divisional rivals, compared to previous schedules. They will be 52 instead of 76.

Previously, teams played more games against rivals in the same division (76) than against the rest of the league (66).

3. You can plan a different trip every year

If you’re the type of fan who gets together with friends to follow your favorite team and see a new stadium, then you were left at the mercy of the division your club plays in.

That’s why it took Albert Pujols eight years to visit Busch Stadium for the first time with the Angels.

That won’t be a problem anymore. If the White Sox don’t travel one year to, say, Miami, don’t worry, they’ll be there the following season. Each team will visit each stadium at least once every two seasons.

4. They revive old rivalries… and start new ones

Can you believe the Giants – one of the Yankees’ main rivals when they shared town – haven’t been to Yankee Stadium since 2016? Well, they will in 2023. On Opening Day, too.

5. World Series rematches every year?

The Braves and Astros were fortunate to have met this year. But that doesn’t always happen. In fact, in the past it has only happened once every three seasons. No matter what the matchup is in October, you’ll see those teams meet again on the same ground a few months later.

The same applies to legendary World Series. Did you like the 2020 Dodgers-Rays matchup, or the 1986 Mets-Red Sox matchup? Tigers-Cardinals in 1968? You will see those duels at least once every year.

6. No one gets left behind on Opening Day.

Do you recognize that feeling when you see your team not playing on Opening Day? It won’t happen again. For the first time since 1968 – weather permitting – all teams will play on Opening Day. Additionally, all 30 teams will take to the field on July 4.

7. The fight for the best record in the league will be played every day

See a specific calendar. Perhaps two of the best teams will end up meeting at the end of the year: Dodgers-Giants, Mets-Phillies, Cardinals-Cubs, Yankees-Blue Jays.

But adding interleague series makes the fight more interesting, with matchups like White Sox-Padres, Twins-Rockies, Astros-D-backs.

Due to the three Wild Cards in each league, all of these races now feel global, with each game affecting the fate of another.

All teams have a common rival. Each set is measured to all. From beginning to end. Like we haven’t seen before. It will be absolutely fascinating.