The second season of the Alliance Professional Baseball League (APBL) officially got underway with a unique three-week opening slate, stretching from March 18 through April 6. Week 1 concluded with a full slate of drama, upsets, and eye-popping performances.
Reds Come Out Swinging
The Cincinnati Reds wasted no time asserting themselves as early contenders. Cincinnati posted a league-best 496 points in a convincing win over the St. Louis Cardinals (408), the highest score of the week by any team. While they didn’t record the largest margin of victory, the Reds put the rest of the National League on notice, storming out of the gates with both consistency and upside. Anthony Volpe was a major catalyst, putting up a team-leading 37 points for hitters.
Biggest Blowout Belongs to Baltimore
The most lopsided result of Week 1 came in the matchup between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox. The O’s cruised to a 342–249 win, a 93-point margin that stands as the widest gap of the week. The White Sox, meanwhile, struggled to get much going offensively, posting the lowest score of any team and landing in 14th place in the early standings.
Guardians Win the Closest Game of the Week
While several matchups were hotly contested, none were tighter than the battle between the Cleveland Guardians and Boston Red Sox. Cleveland pulled out a 337–307 victory, a 30-point edge that proved to be the narrowest margin of Week 1. The Guardians did just enough to seal the win, holding off a late push from Boston, who now sits near the bottom of the standings (12th) despite a solid showing.
Other Week 1 Results
Atlanta Braves took care of business against the LA Angels, 445–391, showing early signs of being a top-tier team in the NL.
New York Yankees started strong with a 436–399 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, showcasing one of the league’s deepest rosters.
Chicago Cubs earned a solid 396–342 win over the Texas Rangers, pulling away in the weekend stretch after a fairly even first half of the week.
Detroit Tigers pulled off the biggest upset of the week, taking down the defending champion San Francisco Giants 362–292. It was a clean and efficient win for one of the APBL’s newest franchises.
Week 2 Matchups to Watch
With Week 2 now underway, a few undefeated matchups stand out on the slate:
Cincinnati Reds vs. Detroit Tigers — Two 1-0 teams square off in what could shake up the early rankings.
New York Yankees meet the Atlanta Braves in a heavyweight clash between two of the top three scoring teams in Week 1.
Baltimore Orioles face the Chicago Cubs in a matchup between teams looking to build early-season momentum.
Looking Ahead
Week 1 offered a glimpse of who might rise to the top in 2025, but it’s still early. With new franchises making statements and old powers being tested, fans and managers alike should buckle up. This season’s just getting started.