The New York Mets are dominating on the mound early on and will try to spoil the Washington Nationals' home opener when the teams begin a three-game series in the nation's capital on Thursday. The Mets have allowed a total of 13 runs in their 4-1 start after Noah Syndergaard and four relievers combined to allow five hits in Wednesday's 4-2 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at home.

The Boston Red Sox are off to a 5-1 start as they play their home opener versus the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday with their pitching staff - especially the starters - mostly responsible. Boston lost its season opener 6-4 on March 29 when Tampa Bay stunningly scored six runs in the eighth inning but won its next three against the Rays before sweeping a pair of games at Miami, including a 4-2 victory in 13 innings Tuesday.

It could have turned out worse for the Miami Marlins, facing two of baseball’s better teams in the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Red Sox to open the season. The Marlins begin their first road trip of the season Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies after winning twice in a six-game homestand that featured three extra-inning contests, a six-game hitting streak for new second baseman Starlin Castro and a bit of confidence from a Miami team picked to finish last in the National League East.

The Oakland Athletics look to post consecutive victories for the first time this season when they host the American League West-rival Texas Rangers on Thursday afternoon for the finale of their four-game set. Oakland hopes to win the series as it cruised to a 6-2 win on Wednesday after splitting the first two contests.

The San Diego Padres are off to a 1-5 start and will be without their top outfielder for at least the next week as Wil Myers landed on the 10-day disabled list with right arm nerve irritation. Myers hopes to return when eligible but definitely will be missed by the struggling Padres, who host the Colorado Rockies on Thursday afternoon for the finale of their four-game series.

The Chicago White Sox hope to continue an early-season power surge when they open their home schedule with the first of three games against the Central Division-rival Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon. Chicago leads the major leagues with 14 home runs in five contests after belting two more and holding on for a 4-3 victory Wednesday at Toronto to salvage the finale of a three-game set.

The temperatures are expected to be in the low-to-mid 30s when the Minnesota Twins hold their home opener on Thursday against the Seattle Mariners. But that is just fine with the two starting pitchers - Seattle's James Paxton and Minnesota's Kyle Gibson - both of whom grew up dealing with cold.

As anticipated, the New York Yankees' big bats are hammering the ball all over Yankee Stadium. The slugging Yankees will try to make it three wins in a row to begin their home schedule when they begin a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday night.

The Pittsburgh Pirates were the last team to suffer their first loss of the season, and they’ll try to resume their hot start when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday for the opener of a four-game series. The Reds are starting a seven-game road trip following two consecutive days off.

After winning three of the final four contests of their season-opening six-game road trip, the St. Louis Cardinals will turn to a reliable arm when they play their home opener Thursday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Adam Wainwright, who is beginning his 13th season with St. Louis, will be activated from the disabled list to make the start after the team concluded its trek with a 6-0 triumph in Milwaukee on Wednesday.

The first team to score Thursday will breathe a sigh of relief when the Milwaukee Brewers host the Chicago Cubs. The National League Central rivals both are coming off shutout losses – two straight for the Cubs – heading into the four-game series.