What you need to know about Royals Opening Day

The wait is nearly over, we will have real baseball being played tomorrow, if weather permits. The Royals will host the White Sox for the 2019 season opener, as they look to put last year’s 104-loss slog behind them. This year the team hopes to build around a younger, speedier core that may not contend for a title, but could bring a more exciting style of play to watch and an improvement in the standings.

Parking lots at the Truman Sports Complex open at 9 a.m. on Thursday, with gates open at Kauffman Stadium at 1 p.m. Parking is $15 at the gate (cash only) and $12 if purchased in advance here. First pitch is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. Brad Keller gets the nod for the Royals against White Sox left-hander Carlos Rodon. All fans will receive a free 2019 magnetic schedule.

Pre-game ceremonies will begin at 2:25. Before the game, Salvador Perez and Alex Gordon will be presented with their 2018 Gold Glove Awards, which should be a familiar ceremony for them at this point. The national anthem will be performed by Return 2 Zero, a four-man a-cappella group. Brothers Aaron Rodriguez (Navy), Jesse Rodriguez (Army), Gabriel Rodriguez (Air Force) and Mark Rodriguez (Marines) — will throw out the first pitch. Their brother, Jonnie Rodriguez, who also served in the Marines but has since died, will also be recognized. Whiteman Air Force Base will present the colors and a B-2 bomber from the base will fly overhead.

Fox Sports Kansas City will air nine continuous hours of Royals content on opening day. Three episodes of Royals Rewind will kick off at 12:30pm, taking a look back at the best games of last year. Price Chopper Royals Live pregame will begin at 2pm. The broadcast will feature live coverage of opening day ceremonies and firsthand reports from multiple players about the game and the season. FSKC will re-air the game in its entirety at 6:30pm.

Returning on the broadcast will be Ryan Lefebvre and Rex Hudler with reporter Joel Goldberg and pre- and post-game analysis from Jeff Montgomery. New for broadcasts this year is the super slow-mo camera, which will be available for all home games. You can listen to broadcasters Denny Matthews and Steve Physioc on radio through 610 Sports KCSP in Kansas City and on the Royals Radio Network.

If you can’t catch the game on TV, you will be able to catch it on Fox Sports Go on your phone or computer.

The weather is looking wet for tomorrow, although temperatures will be much warmer than last year’s frigid opener. Gametime temps are expected in the mid-60s with increasing heavy showers through the afternoon. If the weather does turn sour and they are forced to postpone, the game will be rescheduled for Friday, March 29 (that is why there is always an off-day after Opening Day).

Where will you be watching Opening Day?