After a long offseason (made even longer by the 99-day lockout), baseball is finally back, with the first pitch set for tomorrow. So grab your peanuts and your cracker jacks — it’s time for a preview highlighting the season setup (and changes), the players to watch and the teams to beat. We’ve been waiting for this one.

Now I want fans, I want people yelling at me and telling me how much I suck. Can’t wait.

Buckle up, because the MLB season is a lengthy one — the league’s 30 teams play 162 regular-season games each, beginning tomorrow and running through early October. The squads are divided into two leagues — the American League (AL) and National League (NL) — which are further split into three divisions each: East, Central and West.

• And, as frustrating as the lockout was, it did result in an exciting change to the postseason. Twelve teams will make the playoffs (up from 10 last season) — the six divisional winners and three Wild Card teams from each league. The more the merrier.

Call David Bowie because there were even more changes made this offseason as a handful of top players moved to new teams.

• And the aforementioned Scherzer is one of the biggest — after being traded to the LA Dodgers in a blockbuster deal last season, the three-time Cy Young (an annual award given to each league’s top pitcher) winner signed with the NY Mets for a record-breaking $130 million in December.

• But don’t fret, Dodgers fans. LA made some major moves of their own, signing 2021 World Series champion Freddie Freeman, breaking the hearts of Atlanta Braves fans in the process.

Other names on the move include shortstop Trevor Story, who’s writing a new chapter with the Boston Red Sox after six seasons with the Colorado Rockies.

• Another big winner? The Texas Rangers, who landed shortstop Corey Seager and second baseman Marcus Semien from the LA Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays, respectively.

Shohei Ohtani, pitcher and designated hitter (DH), LA Angels: 2021 AL MVP, the face of baseball, a unicorn — you can call Ohtani all of these things, but words fail to do his game justice. After last year’s historic campaign (which included becoming the first player to start as a pitcher and hitter in an All-Star Game), anything’s possible this season. Sho time.

Mike Trout, outfielder, LA Angels: That’s right, the Angels boast two of the best players in baseball. Unfortunately, three-time AL MVP Trout suffered a season-ending calf injury in May 2021. If he can stay healthy this year, he might just reel in more accolades.

Bryce Harper, outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies: After departing from the Washington Nationals in 2019, Harper won his second career MVP title with his second team last season. Whether it’s his bat, his glove, his arm, or his mouth, Harper’s always must-see TV.

Wander Franco, shortstop, Tampa Bay Rays: A now-21-year-old, Franco made baseball history last year, reaching base in 43 consecutive games, tying the on-base streak record for players 20 and under. No Wander the Rays inked him for a $182 million, 11-year contract this offseason.

Juan Soto, outfielder, Washington Nationals: If you’re drawing comparisons to Red Sox legend Ted Williams (aka “The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived”), you must be doing something right. Twenty-three-year-old Soto already has a World Series title and batting crown to his name; sky’s the limit for what’s next.

Jonathan India, second baseman, Cincinnati Reds: The 2021 NL Rookie of the Year posted an impressive .269 batting average while hitting 21 home runs in his debut season. And along with that power, watch out for the 25-year-old on the basepaths — he stole 12 bags last year. Speedy and sneaky.

Walker Buehler, LA Dodgers: Buehler notched a 2.47 ERA while striking out 212 batters last season, leading many to believe he was snubbed when he didn’t receive NL Cy Young honors. No days off here — expect another lockdown season.

Jacob deGrom, NY Mets: If deGrom can stay healthy, he’s arguably the best pitcher in baseball…but that’s a major if. After an unbelievable start to the 2021 season, the four-time All-Star missed the last three months due to injury and will already be out for at least a month to begin this year. *single tear*

Gerrit Cole, NY Yankees: He may not be good at press conferences, but he is good at pitching. A former No. 1 overall draft pick and four-time All-Star, the Yankees’ ace is still searching for his first Cy Young award. Could this be the year?

American League: With the exception of the Baltimore Orioles (sorry, not sorry), the AL East will be baseball’s most competitive division this season. The Red Sox, Yankees and Rays are all stacked with starpower, but it feels like the Jays’ year to win, especially after they loaded up on talent in the offseason.

• In the AL Central, the Chicago White Sox should easily defend their 2021 division title, while the AL West will be more closely contested this season. The Angels, the Seattle Mariners, the Rangers…please, let it be anyone but the Houston Asterisks Astros.

National League: Once the laughing stock of the league, the NL East will actually be exciting this go-around — the World Series champion Braves, the Phillies and even the Mets could make a run.

• In the NL Central, the St. Louis Cardinals will make things interesting, but the Milwaukee Brewers are the clear front-runners.

• And finally, last year’s all-California NL West battle between the San Francisco Giants and the Dodgers was fun, but don’t expect it to be close this year. The supercharged Dodgers are undoubtedly the team to beat.

The season was supposed to open with a heated rivalry matchup between the Red Sox and Yankees, but Mother Nature had other plans. That said, there are still seven games tomorrow, beginning with the Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs at 2:20 p.m. ET.

• And then we’ll have daily baseball from now until the All-Star break in July. Hold on to your hats — it’s time to play ball!

Rachel Balkovec, the head coach of the Yankees’ low-affiliate club, the Tampa Tarpons, aka the first-ever female minor league manager. Balkovec will coach her first regular-season game on Friday. Game-changer.

New team name, who dis? After years of scrutiny, Cleveland’s MLB team finally changed their name and will now play their first season as the Guardians, chosen to pay homage to statues near their home at Progressive Field. A welcome change.

A whole host of MLB rules and regulations. Bigger bases, pitch clocks and robot umpires are just a few of the updates the league is trying out in the minor leagues before considering adopting them in the majors.

What better way to celebrate MLB Opening Day Eve than with a baseball movie marathon? From Moneyball to Fever Pitch to A League of Their Own (of course), there’s no shortage of options.

Whether you’re working from home or doing some online shopping (or both), there’s nothing like a new laptop to help power your day. That’s why we’ve partnered with some of our pals to give you a chance to win a brand new Apple 13-inch MacBook Pro. Best of all? It’s free to enter — good luck!