The Major League Baseball (MLB) season is set to kick off soon, and fans across the United States are eagerly anticipating the first pitch. The 2023 season will see 30 teams compete in two leagues – the National League and the American League – in a bid to win the coveted World Series trophy.

The reigning champions of the MLB are the Atlanta Braves, who defeated the Houston Astros in the 2022 World Series. The Braves will be looking to defend their title this season, but they will face stiff competition from the other teams in the league.

Each team will play a total of 162 games over the course of the regular season, which runs from late March to early October. The teams will play against their divisional opponents a total of 19 times each, and they will also play against teams from the other divisions in their league and from the other league as well.

The National League consists of 15 teams, divided into three divisions – the East, Central, and West. The East Division includes the Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies, and Washington Nationals. The Central Division includes the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, and St. Louis Cardinals. The West Division includes the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, and San Francisco Giants.

The American League also consists of 15 teams, divided into three divisions – the East, Central, and West. The East Division includes the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, and Toronto Blue Jays. The Central Division includes the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers, Kansas City Royals, and Minnesota Twins. The West Division includes the Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers.

The teams with the best records in each division at the end of the regular season will qualify for the playoffs, which begin in early October. The two wild card teams – the teams with the best records in each league that did not win their division – will also qualify for the playoffs. The playoffs consist of a series of best-of-five and best-of-seven games, culminating in the World Series in late October.

There are several players to watch this season, including reigning National League MVP Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies and reigning American League MVP Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels. Other notable players include Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels, Mookie Betts of the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets.

The MLB has implemented several rule changes in recent years, aimed at making the game more exciting and faster-paced. One of the most significant changes is the introduction of the universal designated hitter rule, which allows a designated hitter to bat in place of the pitcher in all games, regardless of whether the game is played in an American League or National League park.

Another significant rule change is the implementation of a three-batter minimum for relief pitchers, aimed at reducing the number of pitching changes in a game and speeding up the pace of play. Additionally, the MLB has introduced a pitch clock in the minor leagues to speed up the time between pitches.

The MLB has also made efforts to increase diversity and inclusion in the league, including initiatives aimed at increasing the representation of women and people of color in front office and coaching positions. The league has also introduced programs aimed at encouraging participation in baseball among underrepresented groups, including the Play Ball initiative, which provides free equipment and resources to youth baseball and softball programs across the country.

In conclusion, the MLB season is set to be an exciting one, with 30 teams competing for the World Series trophy. Fans will be watching closely to see if the Atlanta Braves can defend their title or if another team will take home the championship.