2014 MLB Predictions: NL

Home opener guide for every MLB team

Five things that excite us on baseball’s first day of games

No. 5: Tanner Scheppers makes his first-career Major League start… and it’s on Opening Day.

You don’t see a player making his first-career start on Opening Day too often. Scheppers went from prospect to dominant setup man to potential closer to Opening Day starter in about one calendar year. We’re excited to see how it works out.

No. 4: James Shields vs. Justin Verlander

Two of the American League’s elite pitchers match up in the first of many spectacular pitching matchups that will occur this season. Verlander looks to regain his Cy Young form, while Shields faces a contract year and a chance for a huge payday at the season’s end.

No. 3: The MLB debut of Jose Abreu

Baseball fans love the intrigue of the unknown. And if Abreu’s monster numbers in Cuba are any indication, he’ll be a fan favorite by the end of the week. The White Sox handed him a six-year, $68 million deal because he can mash.

No. 2: Young aces

Jose Fernandez, Sonny Gray, Stephen Strasburg all pitching on the same day? Sign us up.

No. 1: The return of Ryan Braun

He’s baaaaack. Here at SWN, we love some good drama. And over the years, Ryan Braun has supplied us with tons of drama. Braun’s season was cut short last year by a 65-game suspension due to his connection to Major League Baseball's investigation into the Biogenesis clinic.

"I feel good about the team," Braun said. "I think the expectation is to try to compete to get back to the playoffs. That's our goal. I think it's realistic."

We’re excited just to see him play.