Twenty-four MLB teams have now played their opening game of 2009, with the remaining six scheduled to do so today.\u00c2\u00a0 The baseball season has well and truly begun and that means it’s time to launch our regular guide to games that Brits can follow at a convenient time here in the UK.<\/p>\n
Every Monday morning, we provide a summary of the games that are scheduled to begin before midnight over the working week ahead.\u00c2\u00a0 The aim is to give British fans a ‘heads up’ on the games and pitching match-ups that they can enjoy during the evening.\u00c2\u00a0 Opening day deserved a post of its own, so we will break with tradition and publish the rest of this week’s guide today.\u00c2\u00a0 All times are listed in British Summer Time (BST).\u00c2\u00a0 <\/p>\n
Tuesday 7<\/strong> – The six teams that haven’t started their seasons yet don’t have to wait much longer.\u00c2\u00a0 The three games are all being played under daylight, which is good news for us.\u00c2\u00a0 The action begins at 19.05 as the White Sox host the Royals in a contest that was postponed yesterday due to ‘cold weather’.\u00c2\u00a0 Gil Meche and Mark Buehrle are the scheduled starters, although keep a check on MLB.com to make sure that the game hasn’t fallen victim to the elements once again.\u00c2\u00a0 The other two contests begin at 21.05.\u00c2\u00a0 Reigning NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum takes the mound for the Giants against Jeff Suppan and the Brewers, while we have a re-run of the 2008 ALCS in Boston as Josh Beckett and the Red Sox take on James Shields and the Rays.<\/p>\n Wednesday 8<\/strong> – We have three more early games tomorrow.\u00c2\u00a0 The mercurial Daniel Cabrera makes his debut for the Nationals in their game against the Marlins from 17.10.\u00c2\u00a0 Chris Volstad will start for Florida.\u00c2\u00a0 The Braves and the Phillies continue their series at Citizens Bank Park with Javier Vazquez and Joe Blanton toeing the rubber from 20.05.\u00c2\u00a0 Finally, it’s the Rockies (Franklin Morales) versus the D-Backs (Doug Davis) at 20.40.<\/p>\n Thursday 9<\/strong> – You can always count on Thursday to provide an early game or two.\u00c2\u00a0 Thursday is often referred to as the ‘getaway day’ on account of the fact that many games are played early to allow one or both of the teams more time to travel to their weekend series destination(s).\u00c2\u00a0 This week, all but two of the eleven games are being played in daylight.<\/p>\n We start at 17.35 with the Mets versus the Reds (Perez vs Arroyo), closely followed two minutes later by the Tigers against the Blue Jays (Rick Porcello makes his Major League debut for Detroit in this one).\u00c2\u00a0 At 18.10, it’s Jarrod Washburn and the Mariners against Glenn Perkins and the Twins.\u00c2\u00a0 Two games begin at 18.35: A.J. Burnett is scheduled to make his Yankee debut against the Orioles; Garza and Matsuzaka are the starters for the latest Rays-Red Sox clash.\u00c2\u00a0 Chris Carpenter is slated to make his long-awaited return from injury for the Cardinals five minutes later against the Pirates.<\/p>\n At 19.05, Carl Pavano, the former king of the Yankee treatment table, will be looking to remind us that he can actually pitch.\u00c2\u00a0 He makes his debut for the Indians against Brandon McCarthy and the Rangers.\u00c2\u00a0 At the same time, the Royals take on the White Sox (Davies versus Contreras).\u00c2\u00a0 The final early game begins at 20.35 and sees Clayton Kershaw making a start for the Dodgers against the Padres.<\/p>\n Friday 10<\/strong> – There are five early games on Good Friday.\u00c2\u00a0 The Rangers and the Tigers get the action started at 18.05.\u00c2\u00a0 Then there are two games beginning at 20.05 (Cubs versus Brewers, Blue Jays versus Indians) and two at 20.10 (Yankees versus Royals, Phillies versus Rockies).<\/p>\n