ST. LOUIS -- Opening Days are special at each MLB ballpark, but few can match the star power and pomp and circumstance of Busch Stadium¡¯s Opening Day, a day many locals consider to be akin to a cherished holiday.
Not only will the world-famous Clydesdales be in attendance for a lap around the warning track, but also National and Cardinals Hall of Famers Ozzie Smith, Tony La Russa, Joe Torre, Ted Simmons, Scott Rolen, Ray Lankford, John Tudor, Vince Coleman, Matt Holliday, Jason Isringhausen, Jos¨¦ Oquendo, Jim Edmonds and Matt Morris are scheduled to be on hand when the Cards host the Twins.
Aces Pablo L¨®pez and Sonny Gray will be on the mound to start the game, but both have something to prove following rocky showings in Spring Training. L¨®pez was 0-4 with a 6.62 ERA over five spring starts for Minnesota, while Gray was 0-3 with a 12.56 ERA and eight homers allowed in four spring starts.
Here are some frequently asked questions surrounding Opening Day:
When is the game and how can I watch or listen to it?
The 3:15 p.m. CT start will be the regular-season debut of Twins.TV. Radio coverage can be found at TIBN, WCCO 830, The Wolf 102.9 FM, Audacy, and LosTwins.com. In St. Louis, fans can watch television coverage on FanDuel Sports Midwest or listen on radio at KMOX 1120 AM/104.1 FM or WIJR AM 880 En Espanol.
What are the lineups?
Twins
- Matt Wallner, RF
- Carlos Correa, SS
- Byron Buxton, CF
- Trevor Larnach, DH
- Ryan Jeffers, C
- Ty France, 1B
- Willi Castro, 2B
- Jose Miranda, 3B
- Harrison Bader, LF
Cardinals
- Lars Nootbaar, LF
- Willson Contreras, 1B
- Brendan Donovan, 2B
- Nolan Arenado, 3B
- Alec Burleson, DH
- Iván Herrera, C
- Jordan Walker, RF
- Victor Scott II, CF
- Masyn Winn, SS
Burleson, one of the Cards¡¯ best pure hitters and someone who likely needs to play four to five times a week because of his production at the plate, beats out Nolan Gorman for the Opening Day DH start. Manager Oliver Marmol has debated using Nootbaar, Scott and Winn in the leadoff spot, but Nootbaar gets the nod for the opener.
Who are the starting pitchers?
Twins: Pablo L¨®pez. It¡¯s the third straight Opening Day start for L¨®pez, who has established himself as the rock of Minnesota¡¯s rotation. He turned in an excellent start in the opener last year, but L¨®pez scuffled for much of the first half before turning in an outstanding second half and finishing with numbers close to his yearly norms. L¨®pez is a cerebral pitcher who throws five pitches: four-seam fastball, sweeper, changeup, curveball and sinker.
Cardinals: Sonny Gray. The 35-year-old right-hander will be facing his former team from the 2022 and ¡¯23 seasons, but that is hardly Gray¡¯s biggest concern. Instead, it is Gray¡¯s reduced velocity and how it affected him late last season and in Spring Training. Gray, who set two Cardinals strikeout records in 2024, pitched to a 4.59 ERA and yielded 13 of his 21 home runs after the All-Star break. This spring, Gray allowed 20 earned runs and eight home runs over 14 1/3 innings. The Cardinals' hope is that Gray¡¯s velocity will go from 89-90 mph to 93-94 mph when pitching before nearly 50,000 fans on Opening Day.
How might the bullpens line up after the starter?
Twins: The bullpen could be the club¡¯s greatest strength. Flamethrower Jhoan Duran still holds down the ninth, with Griffin Jax as his primary setup man and Cole Sands also pitching high-leverage innings from the right side. Danny Coulombe is the only lefty and will be deployed tactically. Louie Varland or Jorge Alcala would probably be the leading candidate if Minnesota needed someone to pitch multiple innings.
Cardinals: If Gray doesn¡¯t last long, St. Louis will likely turn to left-hander Steven Matz, who was moved to the bullpen for the early portion of the season when pitch counts usually remain limited. However, if the Cards can take the lead into the latter innings, they should have a decided advantage. Ryan Helsley had a club-record 49 saves last season and he figures to be even tougher this season with a new cutter. JoJo Romero and Phil Maton give the Cards options from each side to get the ball and the lead to Helsley.
Any injuries of note?
Twins: Third baseman Royce Lewis is out due to a strained left hamstring and it could be a while before he¡¯s back. Infielder Brooks Lee will also begin the season on the IL as he recovers from lower back tightness, though the hope is that his stay will be shorter. Relievers Brock Stewart (left hamstring) and Michael Tonkin (right shoulder) are also on the IL. Infielder Mickey Gasper suffered a laceration of his left ankle late in camp but appears to be good to go.
Cardinals: Gray admitted recently that he received a platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection late last season for inflammation in the flexor tendon in his right forearm -- a development that delayed his offseason throwing program and could be the reason behind his reduced velocity thus far.
Who¡¯s hot and who¡¯s not?
Twins: Ty France had a tremendous spring, looking healthy and productive, and racking up hits and doubles. France battled a right foot injury last year, but it does not seem to be bothering him anymore. Matt Wallner hit for a ton of power this spring, giving hope for a possible breakout season. Carlos Correa had a rough spring at the plate as far as results, but Correa said he feels fine and on time at the plate as the season begins.
Cardinals: Willson Contreras, who surprised the Cardinals with how easily he handled the transition from catcher to first baseman, hit a monstrous Statcast-projected 435-foot homer in his final swing of Spring Training. Also, the beefed-up Contreras hit .405 with an on-base percentage of .511.
Also, keep an eye out for the speedy Victor Scott II, who worked hard over the offseason to improve his swing and homered four times in Spring Training. Scott homered at Minnesota¡¯s Target Field in 2024.
Anything else fans might want to know?
Twins: It¡¯s the third straight year the Twins have opened on the road, and they¡¯ve won each of the previous two. ... It¡¯s the second time Minnesota has opened against a National League team, following a 6-5 loss at Milwaukee in 2021. The Twins have never played a season opener at home against an NL opponent. ... When Wallner takes the field, he will be the first player other than Max Kepler to start in right for the Twins on Opening Day since 2016 (Miguel San¨®).
Cardinals: Thursday¡¯s game is the earliest the Cardinals have opened a season. St. Louis is 5-9 all-time in March and 0-2 at Busch Stadium. ... This is the Cards¡¯ 134th season of competing in the National League. ... Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 1:15 p.m. CT. ... All fans 21 and older in attendance will receive a Cardinals Magnet Schedule presented by Budweiser.