It's opening day for Major League Baseball and with the new season comes new and revamped rules aimed at accelerating game-play and boosting fan interest in the game.

Of the changes, the switch-up in pitching time is perhaps the most significant. The pitch clock has been shortened to 15 seconds when bases are empty and 20 seconds when runners are on in order to speed up the game. 

Fans and analysts alike have expressed concern that the change could increase the number of injuries in pitchers around the league.

Other notable changes include a defensive set-up that requires two outfielders to be on either side of second-base and expanding the size of bases.

Fans will have plenty of opportunity to watch the new rules in effect on opening day as there are 15 games slated today.

Opening Day Games

(All times ET)

Braves at Nationals, 1:05 pm

Giants at Yankees, 1:05 pm

Orioles at Red Sox, 2:10 pm

Brewers at Cubs, 2:20 pm

Tigers at Rays, 3:10 pm

Phillies at Rangers, 4:05 pm

Blue Jays at Cardinals, 4:10 pm

Mets at Marlins, 4:10 pm

Pirates at Reds, 4:10 pm

Twins at Royals, 4:10 pm

White Sox at Astros, 7:08 pm

Rockies at Padres, 9:40 pm

Angels at Athletics, 10:07 pm

Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 10:10 pm

Guardians at Mariners, 10:10 pm

—----------------

The changes to the game are pretty significant for this upcoming season and it will be interesting to see what ramifications they have.

Share:
More In Sports
Shaq: NBA Is 'a Little Bit Broken'
With the Golden State Warriors signing its fifth All-Star, some wonder whether the league has forever changed. "I just miss the days when guys would compete against each other ... Now with the world we live in, there's so much pressure on these kids to win," Shaquille O'Neal told Cheddar.
Shaq Embarks on First World DJ Tour
The basketball star, who has been DJing since the 80s, tells Cheddar that he initially decided to start spinning after attending a Public Enemy concert and meeting Chuck D and Terminator X. "I got enough money to go to the pawn shop, get some turntables and taught myself how to DJ." His "Summer of Shaq" tour began June 9 and runs through August 5.
Cristiano Ronaldo: A Reality Star In the Making?
Facebook is in talks to launch a 13-episode series about the Portuguese soccer star for its Facebook Watch platform. It's reported Ronaldo could make $10 million from the series but it's unclear if Facebook's investment in original content would turn into viewers, says Taylor Lorenz, a staff writer at The Atlantic.
Is LeBron the Next Oprah?
After signing a $154 million contract with the L.A. Lakers, some are wondering if the basketball legend has some ulterior motives in moving to the West Coast. “I think he’s primarily going to become a dominant producing force and maybe becomes an Oprah-type person, who launches his own channel,” Sean O’Connell, managing editor at Cinemablend tells Cheddar.
The Winner of the 2018 World Cup? Vladimir Putin
Russia's shocking win over Spain in the Round of 16 got the team one step closer to its first ever World Cup championship. But while there's still a lot of game left to be played, The Banter's Jeffrey Marcus says, regardless of the outcome, President Vladimir Putin has already achieved his goal.
What U.S. Must Do to Win a Spot in the Next World Cup
While many soccer fans will be tuning into the round of 16 starting this weekend, some are still not over the ultimate loss — the United States not participating. However, Jeffery Marcus, publisher at the Banter, tells Cheddar he thinks that for the U.S. to have a solid chance at a 2022 World Cup, it's a matter of "finding better players and nurturing them."
WNBA President: No Bigger Advocate for Equality Than Us
The league launched an initiative aimed at empowering women and girls by partnering with organizations like Planned Parenthood and It's On Us. "This is basically encoded in our DNA and has been for the 22 years that we've been in existence," WNBA President Lisa Borders tells Cheddar.
Load More