New York Yankees Opening Day 2024: How To Watch; World Series Odds

NEW YORK, NY — The New York Yankees are finally back in action on Thursday, March 28, with an Opening Day game against the Houston Astros.

All 30 MLB teams will play on Opening Day for the second straight year, though the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres technically kicked off the regular season with a two-game series in Seoul, South Korea, last week. Each team walked away with one win.

Here’s what you need to know about the Yankees' first game.

How To Watch

The first pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, with Nestor Cortez expected to take the mound for the Yankees against Framber Valdez, according to MLB.com.

The television broadcast of the game has not been announced as of Monday. Out-of-market games will air on MLB.TV.

The Yankees' first home game of 2024 is set for April 5, when they host the Toronto Blue Jays. Tickets are going for as low as $95 up to $785, according to TickPick.

Projected season record, according to ESPN: 91-71.

World Series Odds

Oddsmakers are bullish about the Yankees' chances to win the World Series this year, giving them 8 percent odds to win it.

The Dodgers and Atlanta Braves enter the 2024 season with the best chance to win the World Series, according to the odds-aggregating website Oddschecker.com.

Oddsmakers gave the Dodgers about a 22 percent chance to win it all this year, and the Braves a 15 percent chance.

The Houston Astros, Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles rounded out the top five at roughly 11 percent, 10 percent and 8 percent odds, respectively, with the Phillies and Orioles tying for fifth.

2024 Storylines

Among the top storylines for this year: What will happen with new Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, who last week found himself embroiled in a gambling scandal, after his now-fired interpreter wired at least $4.5 million from the star’s bank account to a bookmaker who is under federal investigation.

Meanwhile, the A’s — in the midst of moving to Las Vegas — face an uncertain future about where they’ll play.

The Athletics’ community benefits deal with the Las Vegas Stadium Authority was unanimously approved last week. But they’ll still need three more agreements before the team can begin building a $1.5 billion planned stadium. The next planned stadium authority meeting is expected May 16.

The year will feature some big names vying for MVP, including Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, Julio Rodriguez, Corey Seager and Yordan Alvarez in the American League. Oddsmakers give Soto and Judge the best odds at 14 percent and 12 percent, respectively, with the others coming in at 9 percent, 7.5 percent, and 7.5 percent.

In the National League, oddsmakers give Ronald Acuña Jr. and Mookie Betts the best chance to win the MVP award at 16 percent and 12 percent, respectively. Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Freddie Freeman have the next highest odds at 9.5 percent, 9 percent and 7.5 percent.