The Cleveland Indians begin their quest to return to the World Series when they open the 2017 season Monday against the host Texas Rangers, one of their chief competitors in the American League. The Indians coughed up a three games-to-one lead in the 2016 Fall Classic against the Chicago Cubs and have added to a batting order that produced their first pennant since 1997.

Cleveland opens 2017 with second baseman Jason Kipnis and outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall on the disabled list due to shoulder injuries, but slugger Edwin Encarnacion was signed as a free agent and it could have former All-Star outfielder Michael Brantley back Monday after he missed most of last season due to a shoulder injury. “He continues to trend in the right direction,” Indians manager Terry Francona told reporters of Brantley, “and I think that’s really good enough.” The Rangers add Mike Napoli to their lineup after the first baseman/designated hitter recorded career highs of 34 homers and 101 RBIs with Cleveland last season while Jonathan Lucroy and Carlos Gomez – who each joined the team late in 2016 – also key the offense. Yu Darvish gets the start for Texas and should be primed for a big season, teaming with Cole Hamels for one of the top 1-2 punches in the majors, and 2014 Cy Young winner Corey Kluber goes for the Indians.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Indians RH Corey Kluber (2016: 18-9, 3.14 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Yu Darvish (2016: 7-5, 3.41)

Kluber looks to put together another Cy Young Award-worthy season after matching his career high in wins last season to lead the team. The 30-year-old Alabama native, who posted a 9-1 record after the All-Star break last year, has completed at least 215 innings and struck out at least 227 in three straight seasons, and he limited opponents to a .210 batting average on the road in 2016. Adrian Beltre is 4-for-10 with a homer versus Kluber, who is 2-1 with a 3.67 ERA in four career games against Texas.

Darvish returned from Tommy John surgery last season to strike out 132 in 100 1/3 innings and limit opponents to a .214 batting average despite an average record. The 30-year-old from Japan makes his first Opening Day start after sporting a 2.84 ERA in 12 2/3 innings during the spring and is 46-30 in 100 major league games – averaging more than six innings. Encarnacion is 5-for-16 with two homers career against Darvish, who did not face the Indians last year but is 1-2 with a 3.12 ERA against them overall.

WALK-OFFS

1. Beltre (calf), who led the Rangers with 104 RBIs and belted 32 homers last season, will open the season on the disabled list.

2. Cleveland INF Jose Ramirez will move to 2B in place of Kipnis and rookie 3B Yandy Diaz is expected to get the start Monday.

3. Texas 2B Rougned Odor, who led the team with 33 homers last season, signed a six-year contract extension on Thursday.

After losing three key players to injury during spring training, the Colorado Rockies are eager to turn the page with Monday’s season’s opener against the host Milwaukee Brewers. The Rockies saw first baseman Ian Desmond (hand), catcher Tom Murphy (forearm) and outfielder David Dahl (rib) go down with injuries this spring but could still have the firepower to surprise in the NL West.

While Colorado hopes to have its trio of injured players back in late April, the Rockies appear to have the pieces in place to contend under new manager Bud Black. The Rockies are especially encouraged by their revamped bullpen, which added veteran Greg Holland to a proven group led by Adam Ottavino, Mike Dunn and Jake McGee. The rebuilding Brewers must contend with the World Series champion Chicago Cubs in the NL Central but hope to take a step forward with several new faces, including closer Neftali Perez. Milwaukee also has a pair of intriguing names at first base, where Eric Thames hopes to continue his success from the Korean Baseball Organization while holding off a challenge from 26-year-old Jesus Aguilar, whose stellar spring training stats earned him a roster spot.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rockies RH Jon Gray (2016: 10-10, 4.61 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Junior Guerra (2016: 9-3, 2.81)

Gray is set to become the team’s 18th opening day starting pitcher in 25 years after recording a Rockies rookie record with 185 strikeouts last season. The 25-year-old posted a 4.91 ERA on the road last season compared to a 4.30 ERA at hitter-friendly Coors Field. Gray received a no-decision against Milwaukee in his only previous start against the Brewers on Aug. 23, 2016, when he allowed two runs and struck out 10 over six innings.

Guerra ranked as one of the biggest surprises in the majors last season, when he became the Brewers’ most consistent starter as a 31-year-old rookie. He began this spring training with several strong outings but allowed a total of 16 runs (11 earned) over his final two starts against Oakland and Cleveland. “I was probably over-thinking a little too much out there,” Guerra told reporters. “Just trying to think too much to each hitter instead of just going out there and doing my thing.”

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rockies opened the 2015 season in Milwaukee and cruised to a 10-0 victory.

2. Milwaukee RHP Matt Garza (groin strain) will begin the season on the 10-day disabled list.

3. Colorado 3B Nolan Arenado has hit the third-most home runs in the majors (83) over the last two seasons.

The Detroit Tigers may soon run out of time with a star-laden roster loaded with veterans, but they hope to have enough in the tank to make a return to the postseason in 2017. That quest begins in Chicago on Monday, when the Tigers and White Sox open their regular seasons in the first of three games at Guaranteed Rate Field.

Veteran slugger Miguel Cabrera returns for his 10th season in Detroit to anchor the lineup and 34-year-old Justin Verlander gets the Opening Day start after authoring a spectacular rebound in 2016. “You could make the argument that he is a better pitcher now than he was before,” manager Brad Ausmus recently told reporters of Verlander. “Certainly, he’s had a renaissance. He’s doing some things better than he was in his Cy Young prime.” The rebuilding White Sox have endured four straight losing seasons and will be hard-pressed to end that streak in the challenging American League Central division. Gone is ace Chris Sale, yielding the top spot in the rotation to fellow left-hander Jose Quintana, who will be making his first Opening Day start.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers RH Justin Verlander (2016: 16-9, 3.04 ERA) vs. White Sox LH Jose Quintana (2016: 13-12, 3.20)

Verlander’s win total and ERA were his best since 2012 and his league-leading 254 strikeouts represented his highest total since 2009, helping him finish second to Boston’s Rick Porcello in the Cy Young Award voting. He posted a sparkling 1.96 ERA after the All-Star break and was 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in three meetings with the White Sox. Chicago first baseman Jose Abreu is 11-for-29 with four homers against Verlander, who had a 3.16 ERA in seven appearances this spring.

Quintana has been the model of consistency for the White Sox, making at least 32 starts and throwing 200-plus innings in four straight years while posting ERAs between 3.20 and 3.51. The 28-year-old earned his first All-Star nod last year and finished with career highs in wins, innings (208) and strikeouts (181). Quintana, whose name has been involved in trade rumors as the club retools, is 5-4 with a 4.08 ERA in 17 career starts against Detroit and has been hit hard by Cabrera (15-for-43) and Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez (17-for-39).

WALK-OFFS

1. Tigers RF J.D. Martinez was placed on the 10-day disabled list Friday with a right midfoot sprain.

2. Chicago opened last season with a win at Oakland as it burst out of the gate with a 23-10 record before finishing 78-84.

3. Detroit 3B Nick Castellanos entered Friday hitting .375 with four homers and eight doubles in 20 games this spring.

Two teams hoping to improve their standing in the American League West square off Monday as the Oakland Athletics host the Los Angeles Angels in the season opener for both clubs. After three consecutive playoff appearances, Oakland has suffered at least 93 losses each of the last two years – hence its back-to-back last-place finishes in the division.

The Athletics are counting on another huge season from Khris Davis, who recorded career highs of 42 home runs and 102 RBIs last year. Davis and Trevor Plouffe had been sidelined with calf and groin injuries, respectively, but were in the lineup for Friday’s exhibition game. Los Angeles finished fourth in the AL West in 2015, five games ahead of Oakland but 10 behind third-place Houston. The Angels could be without shortstop Andrelton Simmons, who is having issues with his back, while reliever Huston Street was cleared to begin throwing after suffering a strained right lat on March 3.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Angels RH Ricky Nolasco (2016: 8-14, 4.42 ERA) vs. Athletics RH Kendall Graveman (2016: 10-11, 4.11)

Nolasco will be making the fourth Opening Day start of his career in his first full season with the Angels. The 34-year-old Californian went 4-6 with a 3.21 ERA and one shutout in 11 turns after being acquired from Minnesota but went 3-0 while allowing one unearned run over his last three outings of 2016, including an eight-inning effort against Oakland. Nolasco is 3-2 with a 3.38 ERA and a shutout in seven career starts versus the Athletics but has served up two home runs to Matt Joyce in nine at-bats.

Graveman was selected to make his first career start on Opening Day after working a team-high 186 innings last season. The 26-year-old native of Alabama was winless in his final six turns of 2016, going 0-3 despite allowing three runs or fewer four times in that span. Graveman has pitched well in six career starts against the Angels, posting a 1-1 record and 3.38 ERA with one complete game.

WALK-OFFS

1. Athletics manager Bob Melvin has yet to decide on a closer, with LHP Sean Doolittle and RHPs John Axford, Ryan Madson and Santiago Casilla on the list of candidates.

2. Los Angeles RHP Jesse Chavez is expected to start the team’s home opener on April 7 against Seattle.

3. Oakland has hired former star closer Dennis Eckersley as a special assistant.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have won the National League West each of the last four seasons, but each foray into the postseason has ended in bitter disappointment. The Dodgers begin yet another push toward their first World Series appearance since winning it all in 1988 on Monday as they open a four-game set against the visiting San Diego Padres, who are coming off their worst season in nearly 10 years.

Los Angeles won the West by four games over San Francisco and powered past Washington in the NL Division Series before bowing out to the eventual world champion Chicago Cubs in the Championship Series. Outside of trading for second baseman Logan Forsythe, the Dodgers kept most of their supporting cast intact and are hoping to stay healthier in 2017 after setting a major-league record last year by placing 28 players on the disabled list. The Padres went an NL-worst 68-94 – their worst finish since posting 63 victories in 2008 – and their prospects for improving on that mark appear dim, as they begin another rebuilding project centered around 2016 All-Star Wil Myers. San Diego will try to avoid a repeat of last year’s dubious start as it became the first team in major-league history to be shut out in its first three games last season when it was outscored 25-0 by the Dodgers.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jhoulys Chacin (2016: 6-8, 4.81 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (2016: 12-4, 1.69)

Chacin, who signed a one-year deal with San Diego in December, will draw his second career Opening Day assignment and first since 2013 with Colorado. The 29-year-old Venezuelan, who made 34 combined appearances (22 starts) with Atlanta and the Los Angeles Angels in 2016, allowed a total of two runs in his last five turns last season – going 3-0 with a 0.61 ERA over that span. Chacin gave up four runs in 4 1/3 innings of a no-decision versus the Dodgers last year and is 9-7 with a 3.61 ERA in 20 career appearances (19 starts) against them.

Kershaw gets the nod to make his seventh consecutive Opening Day start – tying Don Drysdale and Don Sutton for the club record – as he is coming off a dominant spring (2.63 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 24 innings). The six-time All-Star was limited to 21 outings last season, yet still finished 14th in the NL with 172 strikeouts while setting career-best marks in ERA and WHIP (0.72). Kershaw won both of his turns versus the Padres in 2016, yielding only four hits and a walk over 16 scoreless frames to improve to 14-6 with a 2.05 ERA in 29 career starts against San Diego.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers C Yasmani Grandal, SS Corey Seager, 3B Justin Turner and OF Joc Pederson became the fourth quartet in team history to each hit at least 25 homers in a season last year.

2. Myers batted .203 with no home runs in 79 at-bats versus Los Angeles in 2016 but was one of only three major leaguers (Mookie Betts, Mike Trout) to record at least 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases.

3. This campaign will mark the first since 1950 in which announcer Vin Scully, who retired at the end of the 2016 regular season, will not serve as the Dodgers’ regular play-by-play announcer.

Neither the Houston Astros nor the Seattle Mariners have won their division since 2001, but an active offseason by both clubs could make them the teams to beat in the American League West in 2017. The two clubs who appear to be in the best position to end Texas’ two-year hold on the division begin a four-game set on Monday, when the Astros attempt to win on Opening Day for a fifth consecutive season when they host the Mariners.

Despite finishing over .500 in back-to-back years for the first time since 2005-06, Houston (84-78) never put much of a scare into Texas after a 17-28 start, ending the season 11 games back. The Astros hope to avoid another rocky beginning after adding Carlos Beltran, Brian McCann, Josh Reddick and Nori Aoki to an offense that already boasts the talents of two-time AL batting champion Jose Altuve and impressive 22-year-old shortstop Carlos Correa. Seattle (86-76) has not reached the postseason since setting the major-league record for regular-season victories with 116 in 2001, but the club ended last year second in the West – their highest finish since 2007. The Mariners traded for former All-Star shortstop Jean Segura, Danny Valencia and Jarrod Dyson over the winter to add more balance to the sixth-highest scoring offense last season, which was led by three players who hit at least 30 homers in Nelson Cruz, Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Mariners RH Felix Hernandez (2016: 11-8, 3.82 ERA) vs. Astros LH Dallas Keuchel (2016: 9-12, 4.55)

Hernandez has thrived on Opening Day over his career (6-1, 1.49 ERA) and will attempt to continue that success as he makes his ninth consecutive and club-record 10th such start overall. The 2010 AL Cy Young Award winner was stymied by a calf injury in June and July that cost him nearly six weeks, and he went 7-4 despite a 4.48 ERA in 15 outings upon his return. Hernandez struggled mightily in two September starts against Houston last year, losing both while surrendering 14 runs (nine earned) over 10 frames.

Keuchel will draw his third straight Opening Day assignment after winning his first two and appears poised to rebound after having his disappointing 2016 season ended prematurely due to a rotator cuff injury. The Oklahoma native went 20-8 with a 2.48 ERA during his 2015 AL Cy Young Award-winning campaign and has been on point in four exhibition outings, going 1-0 with 2.70 ERA. Keuchel, who was 1-1 with a 4.26 ERA in three turns versus Seattle last year, has struggled mightily in his career against Cruz (9-for-22, three homers) and Valencia (8-for-16, two home runs).

WALK-OFFS

1. Cano batted .351 with nine homers and 25 RBIs against Houston last season – two more blasts and 10 more RBIs than he had against any other opponent.

2. Altuve hit .389 versus the Mariners last year – one of seven clubs he batted that well against – while his seven doubles and six stolen bases against Seattle were the most he had against any foe in 2016.

3. Seattle (30-30) and Houston (28-25) were first and tied for second in the AL, respectively, in one-run games in 2016.

Toronto and Baltimore begin journeys they hope take them deeper into the playoffs when the Blue Jays visit the Orioles on Monday afternoon in a rematch of last year’s American League wild-card game. Toronto eventually swept Texas 3-0 in an AL Division Series before losing to Cleveland 4-1 in the AL Championship Series and appears to have a rotation deep enough to challenge East favorite Boston for the division title after finishing four games behind the Red Sox last season.

The Blue Jays and Orioles were each 89-73 last season before Toronto prevailed 5-2 in the wild-card game on Edwin Encarnacion’s three-run homer in the bottom of the 11th inning. The Blue Jays lost Encarnacion, who averaged 38.6 home runs in his last five seasons with Toronto, via free agency to Cleveland but hope Kendrys Morales can at least replicate the 30 home runs and 93 RBIs he delivered with Kansas City in 2016. The biggest change in the Orioles lineup comes behind the plate as Welington Castillo arrives to replace Matt Wieters, who left for Washington after spending the first eight years of his career with Baltimore. The Orioles’ Kevin Gausman takes the ball in what he hopes to be the first of many Opening Day assignments as he replaces the injured Chris Tillman (right shoulder) and opposes Marco Estrada, who is feeling better after a 2016 marred by back pain that never really went away.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (2016: 9-9, 3.48 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Kevin Gausman (2016: 9-12, 3.61)

Estrada, who also makes his first Opening Day start, comes with more velocity as his fastball is reaching 90 miles per hour thanks to better health. The 33-year-old Mexican posted a 4.76 ERA for the second consecutive spring training, allowing 13 hits and striking out 13 in 17 innings. Estrada is 4-1 with a 3.22 ERA in 10 games (eight starts) versus Baltimore with Manny Machado 2-for-18 with six walks and Castillo recording four home runs in 23 at-bats.

Gausman, the fourth overall pick in the 2012 draft, was 8-6 with a 3.10 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 93 innings after the All-Star break last season. The 26-year-old Coloradan is 2-3 with a 4.40 ERA in 12 games (seven starts) versus Toronto while handling Jose Bautista (1-for-13, solo home run, four strikeouts). Gausman posted a 1.98 ERA with 18 strikeouts and six walks in 13 2/3 innings of spring training.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Orioles re-signed DH Mark Trumbo after the 2016 home run champion (career-high 47) tested the free agent market.

2. The Blue Jays boasted an AL-best 3.78 ERA last season with their starters’ 3.64 ERA also tops in the league.

3. The clubs have split their last 76 regular-season meetings with Toronto winning the last two series 10-9 and 11-8.

The Kansas City Royals struggled to a .500 record last year after making two straight World Series appearances and winning the championship in 2015 but look to begin a bounce-back campaign when they visit the Minnesota Twins for the season opener on Monday. And if returning to the playoffs isn’t enough motivation for the Royals, they likely will attempt to improve in honor of right-hander Yordano Ventura, who was killed in a car crash in January.

Kansas City is counting on another big performance from Eric Hosmer, who led the team with a career-high 104 RBIs in 2016 and placed second with 25 home runs – also a personal best. Minnesota finished with 103 losses last season – the most in the major leagues – and figure to have a difficult time recording more than the 59 victories it posted. The Twins will begin the campaign without Byung Ho Park as the South Korean slugger was re-assigned to minor-league camp despite having a superb spring at the plate (.353 average, six home runs, 13 RBIs in 19 games). Robbie Grossman likely will be the team’s designated hitter and Jorge Polanco is the starting shortstop, while closer Glen Perkins (shoulder) is headed for the 60-day disabled list.

PITCHING MATCHUP: Royals LH Danny Duffy (2016: 12-3, 3.51 ERA) vs. Twins RH Ervin Santana (2016: 7-11, 3.38)

Duffy made a career-high 26 starts last season and was impressive enough to earn his first Opening Day start in the major leagues. The 28-year-old Californian took his final turn of 2016 against the Twins on Sept. 29 but struggled, yielding four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings of a no-decision. Duffy also came away with a no-decision in his only start of the year at Minnesota on Sept. 7 despite recording 10 strikeouts but earned the victory against the Twins at home on Aug. 21 after allowing just one run in 6 2/3 frames.

Santana will be making his second consecutive Opening Day start after posting a team-best ERA last season. The 34-year-old Dominican, who spent 2013 with the Royals, has recorded only seven victories in each of his two campaigns with the Twins after registering 14 for Atlanta in 2014. Santana has had his problems with Hosmer, who owns a .348 average with three homers and 11 RBIs against the veteran.

WALK-OFFS

1. Twins C Jason Castro will be backed up by Chris Gimenez, as the 34-year-old won the job over John Ryan Murphy, who was optioned to Triple-A Rochester.

2. Kansas City OF Jorge Soler could begin the season on the DL due to a left oblique strain.

3. Minnesota, which has lost eight straight season openers, announced the fifth starter’s job will go to LHP Adalberto Mejia, who beat out a group that included Ryan Vogelsong and Nick Tepesch.