The 2019 Major League Baseball season began on March 20, while the regular season ended on September 29. It was the 150th anniversary of professional baseball, dating back to the 1869 foundation of the Cincinnati Red Stockings. The postseason began on October 1. The World Series began October 22 and ended October 30 with the Washington Nationals defeating the Houston Astros in seven games to win their first World Series championship. The entire schedule was released on August 22, 2018.
The 90th Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held on July 9 at Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians. The American League won, 4–3, for its seventh straight victory.
This was the final season when anyone on the 40-man expanded roster could be used in games from September 1 through the end of the regular season (so-called September call-ups).
Schedule As has been the case since 2013, teams were scheduled to play 19 games against each division opponent for a total of 76 games, and six or seven games against each team from the other two divisions for a total of 66 games. The primary inter-league match-ups were AL East vs NL West, AL Central vs NL East and AL West vs NL Central.
The season began on March 20 and 21 with the Oakland Athletics and the Seattle Mariners playing in Tokyo, Japan, at the Tokyo Dome.
Excluding international openers, March 28 was the earliest Opening Day in history. The previous earliest date was March 29 of the 2018 season.
The second annual Mexico Series of games featured four matchups during the season. The first featured the St. Louis Cardinals and the Cincinnati Reds at Monterrey, Mexico's Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey on April 13 and 14. The other series, also in Monterrey, featured two games between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Angels on May 4 and 5.
The Kansas City Royals faced the Detroit Tigers at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, on June 13 for the MLB in Omaha game, only two days before the College World Series. This was the first MLB game played in the state of Nebraska.
The MLB London Series featured the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox at London Stadium in London, on June 29 and 30 making it the first regular season series played in London, under a two-year commitment.
The MLB Little League Classic at Muncy Bank Ballpark at Historic Bowman Field in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, coinciding with the Little League World Series, returned to the schedule for the third straight year. It was played between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates on August 18.
Spring training Spring training for the 2019 season began in late February and lasted through late March. Teams began workouts and practice for spring training beginning in mid February. Pitchers and catchers reported first, followed by position players a few days later.
Prior to the start of the regular season, each team played between 22 and 35 spring training games, beginning on February 22. There were several times during spring training where a team had two different squads playing different teams simultaneously. In addition to spring training games, teams occasionally played exhibition games with non-MLB teams, such as Minor League Baseball teams, independent teams, or college teams. These exhibition games were not counted in spring training standings. Spring training ended on March 26, two days before the Opening Day.
Standings
American League
National League
Postseason
Bracket
Managerial changes
General managers Offseason TeamFormer GMReason for leavingNew GMNotesNew York MetsSandy AldersonHealthBrodie Van Wagenen On June 26, 2018, Alderson took a permanent leave of absence due to recurrence of cancer. He was hired as general manager in 2010 and saw the team win the National League pennant in 2015. On October 28, 2018, after having three interims finish the rest of the season, the Mets agreed to have former agent Brodie Van Wagenen be their 13th general manager in franchise history.San Francisco GiantsBobby EvansFiredScott Harris On September 24, 2018, the Giants fired Bobby Evans after almost four seasons as general manager. The Giants made the playoffs in 2016, but are since taking a major league-best record into the All-Star break that year. Baltimore OriolesDan DuquetteContract not renewedMike Elias On October 3, 2018, the team announced that Duquette, along with manager Buck Showalter, would not be retained for the 2019 season after the Orioles had the worst record in franchise history at . Duquette was hired as general manager after the 2011 season. On November 16, 2018, Mike Elias was named the team's new general manager.Los Angeles DodgersFarhan ZaidiResignedN/A On November 7, 2018, Zaidi left the Dodgers to become the President of Baseball Operations for the San Francisco Giants. Since taking over in 2014, he oversaw the Dodgers win the NL West all five times, and the NL pennant twice from 2017 to 2018.
In-season DateTeamFormer GMReason for leavingNew GMNotesSeptember 9Boston Red SoxDave Dombrowski FiredBrian O'Halloran Dombrowski, who held the title President of Baseball Operations and was de facto general manager since Mike Hazen left the team in October 2016, was fired less than a year after Boston won the 2018 World Series, following a loss that dropped the team's record to .
Field managers Offseason TeamFormer managerInterim managerReason for leavingNew ManagerNotesCincinnati RedsBryan PriceJim RigglemanFiredDavid Bell Price was fired in April, and was replaced by Riggleman for the remainder of the 2018 season. Bell was hired for the 2019 season.Texas RangersJeff BanisterDon WakamatsuChris Woodward Banister was fired in September, and was replaced by Wakamatsu for the remainder of the season. Woodward was hired for the 2019 season.Toronto Blue JaysJohn GibbonsNoneContract not renewedCharlie Montoyo On September 26, 2018, the team announced that manager John Gibbons will not be retained for the 2019 season. In his second stint with the team, Gibbons finished with a record and two playoff appearances. On October 25, 2018, the Blue Jays announced that Charlie Montoyo will be the new manager for the 2019 season, signing him to a three-year deal with a club option for 2022.Los Angeles AngelsMike SciosciaResignedBrad Ausmus On September 30, 2018, it was announced that Mike Scioscia will be stepping down as manager of the Los Angeles Angels after 19 years with a record. He led the Angels to six division titles and won the 2002 World Series. He also won the American League Manager of the Year twice during his tenure. On October 21, 2018, it was announced that Brad Ausmus would be the new manager of the Angels.Minnesota TwinsPaul MolitorReassignedRocco Baldelli On October 2, 2018, it was announced that Paul Molitor will be offered a new role in the Twins organization and will be out as manager after four years. Molitor finished with a record with one playoff appearance in 2017, in which he was named the American League Manager of the Year after the season. On October 25, 2018, it was announced that Rocco Baldelli will be the new Twins manager.Baltimore OriolesBuck ShowalterContract not renewedBrandon HydeOn October 3, 2018, the team announced that manager Buck Showalter, along with general manager Dan Duquette, will not be retained for the 2019 season. Showalter went in his nine seasons at Baltimore and led the Orioles to the postseason three times, including the 2014 American League Championship Series, when they were swept by the Kansas City Royals, but in his final season with the Orioles, they finished with the worst record in franchise history and in the 2018 season overall at On December 14, 2018, the Orioles officially announced that Brandon Hyde will be the new manager of the Orioles.
In-season Team Former manager Interim manager Reason for leaving New manager Notes San Diego Padres Andy Green Rod Barajas Fired Jayce Tingler On September 21, Green was fired after four seasons with a record of . Bench coach Rod Barajas was named the interim manager of the Padres for the rest of the season. The Padres would eventually hire Jayce Tingler for during the 2020 offseason. Pittsburgh Pirates Clint Hurdle None Fired Derek Shelton On September 28, Clint Hurdle was fired after nearly nine seasons with the Pirates, with a record of . He was fired prior to the final game of the season and did not manage the final game.
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Tim Anderson (CWS) .335 OPS Mike Trout (LAA) 1.083 HR Jorge Soler (KC) 48 RBI José Abreu (CWS) 123 R Mookie Betts (BOS) 135 H Whit Merrifield (KC) 206 SB Mallex Smith (SEA) 46
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Justin Verlander (HOU) 21 L Spencer Turnbull (DET) 17 ERA Gerrit Cole (HOU) 2.50 K Gerrit Cole (HOU) 326 IP Justin Verlander (HOU) 223.0 SV Roberto Osuna (HOU) 38 WHIP Justin Verlander (HOU) 0.803
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Christian Yelich (MIL) .329 OPS Christian Yelich (MIL) 1.100 HR Pete Alonso (NYM) 53 RBI Anthony Rendon (WSH) 126 R Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) 127 H Ozzie Albies (ATL) 189 SB Ronald Acuña Jr. (ATL) 37
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Stephen Strasburg (WSH) 18 L Sandy Alcantara (MIA)Merrill Kelly (AZ)Miles Mikolas (STL) 14 ERA Hyun-Jin Ryu (LAD) 2.32 K Jacob deGrom (NYM) 255 IP Stephen Strasburg (WSH) 209.0 SV Kirby Yates (SD) 41 WHIP Jack Flaherty (STL) 0.968
Milestones Batters Paul Goldschmidt (STL): Became the first player in Major League history to hit three home runs in either his first or second game with a new team. He accomplished the feat on March 29 against the Milwaukee Brewers. Christian Yelich (MIL): With a home run in the first inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on March 31, Yelich became the sixth player in Major League history to hit a home run in each of his team's first four games of the season. With his 14th home run of the season on April 27 against the New York Mets, Yelich tied a Major League record for the most home runs in a single season before May 1. He tied the record that was set by Albert Pujols (2006) and Alex Rodriguez (2007). Zack Greinke (HOU)/: At age 35, became the oldest pitcher since 1957 to hit multiple home runs in the same game on April 2 against the San Diego Padres. Became the first pitcher since 1930 to have at least five extra-base hits through the team's first 26 games on April 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He also became the first pitcher since 1906 to hit for the cycle all in the month of April. Chris Davis (BAL): With his line drive out in the fifth inning against the Oakland Athletics on April 8, Davis set the Major League record with his 47th consecutive hitless at-bat. He broke the record that was set by Eugenio Vélez at the end of the 2010 season and the beginning of the 2011 season. Davis finally was able to put an end to the streak at 54 consecutive hitless at-bats with a single in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox on April 13. Cody Bellinger (LAD): Set the Major League record for total bases in March/April with 88 on April 26 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He finished March/April with 97 total bases. With his 14th home run of the season on April 28 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bellinger tied a Major League record for the most home runs in a single season before May 1. He tied the record that was set by Albert Pujols (2006), Alex Rodriguez (2007) and this year by Christian Yelich. By collecting his 37th RBI on April 29 against the San Francisco Giants, Bellinger set the Major League record with the most RBI by May 1. He broke the record that was held by Mark McGwire and Juan Gonzalez, who both set the record in 1998. Became the second player under the age of 25 in National League history to hit 30 home runs before the All-Star break on July 4 against the San Diego Padres. Willie Mays accomplished this feat as well in 1954. Juan Soto, Víctor Robles and Carter Kieboom (WSH):