The Los Angeles Angels meet the Cincinnati Reds in an Opening Day matchup. The game marks the debut of Josh Hamilton as an Angel. Plenty of expectations surround Hamilton and the rest of the team that boasts a heavy lineup including 2012's breakout star Mike Trout and slugger Albert Pujols.
Cincinnati kept almost the exact same roster that helped with them 97 games last season, along with the NL Central title. They lost their opening playoff series to eventual Word Series champions, San Francisco Giants. In the offseason, the Reds brought in Shin-Soo Choo to play center and lead off the batting order. Johnny Cueto gets the honorary Opening Day start for the Reds after going 19-9 last season. He is injury free to start the season off. Last year he posted a 2.78 ERA paired with 170 strikeouts.
Jered Weaver will start for the Angeles. This will be his fourth straight Opening Day appearance for the Angeles. Los Angeles brings in a lineup that has the 2012 AL Rookie of the Year with Trout. The team will hope he can capitalize off a strong rookie year with a better 2013 season. Pujols opened last season with one of the worst batting droughts of his career, going 139 at-bats before he finally got a hit. That was 33 games worth of appearances before making his bat connect. He is coming off of right knee surgery, but he did his three home runs in spring training that gives fans hope.
The temperature at Great American Ball Park is expected to be in the 40's at first pitch. This will be the third time in the last five years that the Reds have had below-average temperatures at the start of the season.
Watch the Los Angeles vs. Cincinnati Reds Opening Day game live stream, click here.
