Many fans, meanwhile, wonder whether McGwire and Griffey will contend for Roger Maris' record of 61 home runs.

McGwire, who hit 58 last year, begins his first full season with St. Louis when the Cardinals open at Busch Stadium against the Rupert Murdoch-owned Los Angeles Dodgers. Griffey, the AL MVP, and the Seattle Mariners entertain AL champion Cleveland at the Kingdome.

Home runs seem to jump every time baseball expands, shooting up nearly 25 percent in 1993 when baseball added Florida and Colorado. Maris' 61, it should be mentioned, came in an expansion season.

"It has to be tough for a kid pitcher these days just to watch ESPN," Anaheim ace Chuck Finley said. "All they show are guys hitting balls where no one has hit them before. They show them bouncing into fountains and stuff. This is not a good time to be a bad pitcher."

Even though no expansion team has ever won more than 70 games, Arizona and Tampa Bay are hoping to make good showings.

The Diamondbacks, with Andy Benes on the mound and Buck Showalter in the dugout, open at home against Colorado. Kile, a free agent signed to be the Rockies' top pitcher, faces an Arizona lineup that includes Matt Williams, Jay Bell and Devon White.

Wilson Alvarez starts for the Devil Rays at home against the Tigers, who have moved from the AL East to the Central.