Play Ball! Rangers vs. Royals opens 2023 spring training schedule Friday with first look at pitch clock, other new MLB rules

MLB fans and bettors get their first look at the new rules in Major League Baseball as spring training action begins today from Arizona with the first pitch of the Cactus League featuring the Texas Rangers at the Kansas City Royals at 3:05 p.m. ET. It's basically a pick'em at Caesars Sportsbook with a total of 10 runs. Both teams have new mangers: Bruce Bochy for Texas and Matt Quatraro for Kansas City.

You won't see big favorites in spring training games because starting pitchers don't go very long and a lot of guys who will not make the Opening Day roster will be in various lineups. Totals are generally higher for Cactus League games than in Florida's Grapefruit League for weather/humidity reasons. There will be ties in spring games as managers don't want to wear out their guys in a 14-inning exhibition, etc.

The three big MLB rules changes for this season are a pitch clock, larger bases and defensive shift restrictions – the first in hope of improving the pace of games, the second for a couple of reasons, and the latter to add more singles because so many left-handed batters were grounding out to a second baseman essentially playing short right field in the shift. The league-wide batting average on balls in play last season was a brutal .291, six points lower than in 2012 and 10 points lower than in 2006.

Infielders are no longer allowed to be stationed on the outfield grass before a pitcher throws to home plate and there must be at least two infielders completely on either side of second base. Infielders may not switch sides – teams can't "hide" a terrible defensive second baseman any longer. Clubs could station a right fielder as a deep second baseman in the outfield grass if it wanted but obviously risks a huge gap in right field and sure extra-base hit if the hitter can get it to that open spot. The new rule also prohibits four-outfielder alignments. The penalty for an improper defensive alignment is an automatic ball or the result of the play.

As for the pitch clock, pitchers will be required to begin their motion 15 seconds after receiving the ball with the bases empty or 20 seconds after receiving the ball with runners on base. If they don't, they will be charged with a ball. Pitchers are only allowed two disengagements from the mound (a pickoff try, for example) with a runner on first. They are allowed to step off or attempt a pickoff a third time but will be charged a balk if no out is recorded. Hitters must be in the batter's box by the eight-second mark or charged with an automatic strike.

The square bases have been enlarged to 18 inches, both for the safety of first basemen to avoid having their foot stepped on and injured by runners but mainly to increase stolen-base attempts because the basepaths have shrunk by four inches. In the minors last year, length of games was way down and stolen base attempts way up with both these rules in place.

Umpires have been instructed to begin calling violations immediately this spring with no grace period, and they will be enforced during the 2023 postseason but not used in the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Wondering who today's pitchers are in Rangers-Royals? Per MLB.com, the Rangers will use Glenn Otto (likely starter), Owen White, José Leclerc and Chase Lee at a minimum. Daniel Lynch will start the Cactus League opener for the Royals with Jose Cuas and Josh Staumont also expected to take the hill among others.

There's a second game today featuring Seattle at San Diego and then the full schedule in both Arizona and Florida starts Saturday.

So which 2023 Fantasy baseball busts, breakouts, and sleepers should you target or fade in your drafts? Visit SportsLine's Fantasy baseball cheat sheets now to get rankings for every single position, all from the model that called Joey Votto's disappointing season, and find out.