Red Sox Opening Day 2017: When Is First Pitch, How to Get to Fenway, and More

BOSTON - Sunday brought nice temperatures, but everyone knows the spring starts for real Monday. That's when the Red Sox start the 2017 campaign with an afternoon contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Boston opens the season with high expectations, both internally and externally. For some, anything short of a World Series championship would be considered a failure after trading for lefthanded ace Chris Sale during the offseason and returning the young core of Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts, Andrew Benintendi, and Jackie Bradley Jr.

But it all starts with Game 1. Here's a look at what you need to know for Opening Day:

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Broadcast information

The game will be carried on NESN and WEEI (93.7). First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.

Before the game

The gates will open two hours early for the many pregame festivities, which begin at 1:30. The festivities will include Hanscom Air Force Base presenting the colors, the national anthem performed by the Boston Children’s Chorus, and a fly-over of two F-15C’s flown by the 104th Fighter Wing from Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield.

An Air Force swearing-in ceremony will take place at Fenway Park for over 30 Air Force recruits at 9 a.m.

How to get to Fenway

If you aren't feeling bold enough to drive, you can take public transportation to Fenway Park. The Green Line will take you to Kenmore Square and the commuter rail will take you to Yawkey Station. Yawkey Station is part of the Framingham/Worcester Line.

Pitching matchups

Righthander Rick Porcello, who rebounded off a disastrous 2015 to win the AL Cy Young, will take the ball for Boston. The Pirates will turn to hard-throwing righthander Gerrit Cole. It's the 26-year-old's first Opening Day start.

In Wednesday night's Game 2 at 7:10, Chris Sale takes on righthander Jameson Taillon.

In Thursday's Game 3 at 1:35, lefthander Eduardo Rodriguez will face righthander Chad Kuhl.

Lineup

The big takeaway? Xander Bogaerts hitting sixth and Pablo Sandoval hitting eighth. That's a lot of talent in the bottom half of the lineup - how will they react?

Opening Day roster

Pitchers: Fernando Abad, Matt Barnes, Heath Hembree, Joe Kelly, Craig Kimbrel, Rick Porcello, Eduardo Rodriguez, Robbie Ross Jr., Chris Sale, Robby Scott, Ben Taylor, and Steven Wright.

Catchers: Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez.

Infielders: Xander Bogaerts, Brock Holt, Mitch Moreland, Dustin Pedroia, Hanley Ramirez, and Pablo Sandoval.

Outfielders: Andrew Benintendi, Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., Steve Selsky, and Chris Young.

Big holes to fill

This will be the first season since 2002 without David Ortiz, a three-time champion who retired last season as one of the most impactful players in franchise history. Dustin Pedroia is now the longest-tenured player on the team - it will be the second baseman's 11th straight Opening Day start.

Last year's free agent prize David Price will miss the beginning of the season with an elbow strain suffered in Spring Training.