The Los Angeles Angels begin its season on the road against the Houston Astros in an AL West divisional matchup on Opening Day.
The best sports day in America is finally here baseball fans! Major League Baseball Opening Day marks the beginning of baseball being played every day through October.
The Los Angeles Angels unfortunately don’t get the pleasure of being home on Opening Day as it begins its season with a four-game road series against the Houston Astros and won’t have its home opener until April 3.
Regardless, a divisional matchup to kick off the season is always exciting and the Angels will send right-hander José Soriano to the mound to try and get started on the right foot after the team won just 72 games in 2025 and missed the playoffs for the 11th straight season.
Soriano earned the opportunity to start the first game of the season after going 10-11 with a 4.26 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 152 strikeouts over 169 innings (31 starts) last season. Soriano was a consistent out-getter for the Angels and new manager Kurt Suzuki gave him the nod.
He will face an Astros lineup that looks pretty much the same as it did last season, with one new addition that joined the team in February via trade.
1. Jose Altuve (2B)
2. Yordan Alvarez (DH)
3. Isaac Paredes (3B)
4. Carlos Correa (SS)
5. Joey Loperfido (LF)
6. Cam Smith (RF)
7. Christian Walker (1B)
8. Yainer Diaz (C)
9. Jake Meyers (CF)
Houston acquired Loperfido from the Toronto Blue Jays for outfielder Jesus Sanchez on Feb. 13. Loperfido joins a veteran clubhouse looking to get back to the postseason after missing the mark in 2025.
To no surprise, the Astros are throwing right-handed ace Hunter Brown to shut down the Angels offense that ranked 25th in runs scored (673) a year ago. Brown finished third in American League Cy Young voting after going 12-9 with a 2.43 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 206 strikeouts in 185.1 innings (31 starts), also earning his first All-Star selection in the process.
1. Zach Neto (SS)
2. Mike Trout (CF)
3. Nolan Schanuel (1B)
4. Jorge Soler (DH)
5. Yoan Moncada (3B)
6. Jo Adell (RF)
7. Josh Lowe (LF)
8. Logan O’Hoppe (C)
9. Oswald Peraza (2B)
Neto is coming off back-to-back 5.1 WAR seasons and will lead off for the Halos, followed by Trout, who appears to be back to his normal self after reaching a sprint speed of 29.9 feet per second earlier this spring. He returns to center field, his natural position that he hasn’t gotten to play much due to injury.
Los Angeles needs to be aggressive early and not let Brown settle in or else it could be a long afternoon.
First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. ET on local networks and MLB.TV.