Although Major League Baseball had its 2022 Spring Training delayed due to a lockout dispute between the owners and players, the time has finally come for baseball fans, more importantly, Houston Astros fans, to hear those three beautiful words that are music to their ears.

"Let's Play Ball!"

The Astros will open their season Thursday night against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, California, and begin their quest for their fifth American League West Division title and fourth World Series appearance in the last six years.

Houston welcomes back an old familiar face this season in two-time Cy Young Award winner Justin Verlander who underwent Tommy John Surgery and missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Fans will also begin the healing process of losing 2021 Gold Glove Award-winning shortstop Carlos Correa. After negotiations with the Astros stalled, Correa signed a three-year contract worth $105.3 million with the Minnesota Twins this offseason.

Replacing Correa will not be an easy task, as he has been one of the best defensive shortstops in the league. Along with the aforementioned Gold Glove Award, he also was awarded the 2021 Platinum Glove Award for best defensive player in the American League.

The responsibility of playing between two-time All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman and former 2017 American League MVP second baseman Jose Altuve will fall on the shoulders and glove of rookie Jeremy Peña who will be making his major league debut against the Angels.

Although he lacks experience on the major league level, Peña has shown that he is ready for the opportunity to shine in front of the bright lights during his time in the minors hitting .297 in just 37 games played due to an injury he sustained during Spring Training in 2021.

If, for any reason, Peña struggles at the plate to begin the season, Houston has the firepower throughout the lineup to compensate for him, starting with 2021 American League Batting Champion Yuli Gurriel and 2021 ALCS MVP Yordan Alvarez.

Led by manager Dusty Baker, the Astros will seek to win their 10th consecutive Opening Day game since they moved to the American League following the 2012 season. He needs only 13 regular-season wins to reach 2,000 in his career.

Houston will play its first nine games of the season on the West Coast against the Angels and Seattle Mariners before their home opener at Minute Maid Park on April 18th.