AL West: Sonny Gray scratched, Astros closer, Rangers win

The A's were forced to scratch their ace from his Opening Day start, because of food poisoning. Instead, Rich Hill got the start for Oakland.

Following the game on Monday, A's manager Bob Melvin announced that Chris Bassitt would take the hill on Tuesday, and Gray would finally make his season debut on Wednesday. If Gray would have been able to go, it would have been his third straight Opening Day start, making him the first A's player to accomplish that feat since Dave Stewart between 1988-1992.

More news from around the American League West:

• The Cubs put a beating down on the Angels, defeating them 9-0 to open the season. Bill Shaikin of the LA Times says that unlike the Cubs, the Angels are not projected to be very good this year.
• Texas used 'little league style' to defeated King Felix and the Mariners on Opening Day. They were able to down the Mariners 3-2, using only one hit to guide their winning effort. Yes, that's right. The Rangers won the game with only one hit.
• Matthais Ellis of Looking Landing talked about this new era of Mariners baseball, also known as Monday to Mariners fans.
• Even after trading for Ken Giles, the Astros have decided to go with Luke Gregerson as the team's primary closer. Giles struggled during his first spring with Houston and manager A.J. Hinch didn't rule out the chance that the 25-year-old could see some save chances during the season.