The ebbs and flows of baseball, the adjustments and counter-adjustments, are central to its strategy and, ergo, its soul. And as the 2016 Major League season begins, there is a serious strategic battle taking place between pitcher and hitter.

All 30 teams have added something to the agenda for this campaign — whether it’s a new scoreboard, new mascot, a sweet retro uniform or a delectable new food item designed to appeal to the masses.

If for no other reason than the timing of Francisco Liriano’s first pitch, this Opening Day was special for the Pirates. Pittsburgh native Jackie Evancho sang the national anthem, and James Conner, the University of Pittsburgh running back battling Hodgkin lymphoma, threw out the ceremonial first pitch to thunderous applause from the hometown fans.

Can the Mets actually throw more heat this year? Will teams respect the outfield arms with the most velocity? And will the Cubs follow throw on playing deeper in the outfield? These are just a few of the things we can measure with Statcast, as we look ahead to 2016.

If Fox Mulder and Short Round are wearing baseball caps, you should too.

In a World Series rematch, Matt Harvey and the Mets meet Edinson Volquez and the Royals on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

Today’s showdown between the Blue Jays and Rays will have a special feel, and not just because Marcus Stroman and Chris Archer, two of the Majors’ ascendant stars, are toeing the rubber.

This afternoon, Francisco Liriano will throw the first pitch of the 2016 season to Matt Carpenter. Shortly thereafter, Andrew McCutchen will dig into the right-handed batter’s box at PNC Park to face Adam Wainwright.

Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal (right forearm strain) and second baseman Howie Kendrick (strained left calf muscle) will open the season on the disabled list. But manager Dave Roberts said Saturday before the club’s final exhibition game against the Angels that the club expects both to return in time for the April 12 home opener against the D-backs.

Baseball is back. The 2016 regular season begins with a nationally televised tripleheader, capped off by a World Series rematch between the Mets and Royals.

Major League Baseball is back, and on Sunday and Monday, the days we’ve been waiting for since the Royals won the World Series on Nov. 1 will be celebrated and will lift the lid on a week ahead packed with action.

Michael Conforto is the latest in a long line of Mets to put together impressive debut seasons.

When he fractured his right elbow sliding into home plate Friday night, D-backs outfielder A.J. Pollock said it felt like he was in a nightmare, like it wasn’t really happening.

Opening Day may be a symbol of baseball’s annual rebirth. But it is also real. Great events, important events, memorable events, maybe even strange events, all occur on Opening Days.

The annual MLB.com predictions are in, but before anybody starts planning a parade down Michigan Ave. or starts printing World Series tickets for Rogers Centre, there’s the matter of the 162-game slate and 30 teams battling their way to October.

Rockies manager Walt Weiss announced Saturday that righty Jordan Lyles will start Friday’s home opener against the Padres, that lefty reliever Jason Gurka and outfielder Brandon Barnes claimed the final undecided roster spots, and that lefty Jake McGee will be the closer.

A new coaching strategy, perhaps.