FT Leadoff

Intriguing Opening Day Matchups, Foreshadowing MLB's 2026 Lockout

Foul Territory Staff
March 27, 2025

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Welcome to baseball season, everyone! What better way to start the season than with an incredible slate of games?

Boston Red Sox at Texas Rangers

The Boston Red Sox will face the Texas Rangers in a battle of expected AL heavyweights.

Newcomer Garrett Crochet will be toeing the slab against former Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi at 4:05 ET.

Wyatt Langford and the Rangers will look to capitalize early and often against Alex Bregman and the Red Sox.

Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres

Michael King and the San Diego Padres are set to host Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves at 4:10 ET in what should be a season-opening pitching duel.

Atlanta is down stars Ronald Acuna Jr. and Sean Murphy, but always seems to stay competitive.

Padres CF Jackson Merrill broke out in a big way in 2024 and will look to continue rocketing his way to stardom.

Detroit Tigers at Los Angeles Dodgers

The southpaw special begins at 7:10 ET, as reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and the Tigers take on Blake Snell and the Dodgers (2-0) in Los Angeles.

Mookie Betts will be back in the lineup for the Dodgers after a stomach virus that caused him to lose almost 20 pounds kept him sidelined since the Tokyo Series.

The Tigers are looking to build on last season’s miraculous turnaround that led them to a postseason birth, but will be starting the season without Parker Meadows.

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If MLB leans into pushing for a salary cap, you can expect them to lock out the players in December of 2026, says @JeffPassan.
"Is it worth it to take a great era of MLB, that we are in the midst of right now, and absolutely torpedo it in pursuit of financial gains?"
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV)
3:52 PM • Mar 25, 2025

Full Video - ESPN insider Jeff Passan dives into the salary cap saga, how the Dodgers spend their money, and major league teams playing in minor league ballparks.
View - Jeff Passan details how the Dodgers signing Shohei Ohtani was a brilliant business move.
View - Did Rob Manfred seriously call the A’s ballpark in Sacramento “charming?”

Andrew Miller says MLB has refused the MLBPA's solutions to bottom-feeder teams that aren't willing to spend.
"The league has been very difficult, to be completely blunt. They've said no, a lot of times, that this is not something they'll touch."
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV)
5:45 PM • Mar 24, 2025

Full Video - MLBPA Special Assistant and former All-Star Andrew Miller breaks down the labor tensions in baseball.
View - Andrew Miller debunks the myth of baseball having a dynasty issue.
View - Why Andrew Miller doesn’t want baseball to follow the lead of other leagues and add a salary cap.

Watch - FT Senior Insider Ken Rosenthal dives into his predictions for the 2025 MLB season.

Watch - AJ Pierzynski, Erik Kratz, and Scott Braun react to the Twins being back on the market.

Watch - AJ Pierzynski, Erik Kratz, and Scott Braun break out their first team power rankings of the season.

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