So … did you see the new 2023 schedule that Major League Baseball unveiled this week? Well, if you did, perhaps you’re wondering …

Why would the Giants be spending Opening Day in New York … for the first time since 1956 … and for the first time in Yankee Stadium since … well, ever?

And can it really be true the Cardinals will play the Cubs in London … before they play the Cubs in St. Louis?

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And is there some sort of logical reason the Phillies will play 15 games against the Rangers, Yankees, White Sox, Mariners and Astros in March and April … but zero games against the Mets, Braves and Nationals?

These are all excellent, perceptive questions you should be asking. But they’re not the only excellent, perceptive questions you should be asking — because you know what happened while you were trying to figure out what snacks to serve at your Super Bowl party?

MLB blew up the schedule as we used to know it — and replaced it with something very different, and very disorienting, but also very entertaining. So what the heck is happening here? This is that story where we answer that question — and many more.

What’s going on with this schedule? We have answers … to every one of your questions … and lots more you didn’t know you needed to ask.

How has the new MLB schedule changed?

You might have missed it last March, when MLB teased this epic schedule remake as it was ticking off all the stuff settled in the labor deal. But buried inside those new luxury tax thresholds was this major scheduling earthquake:

Old-fashioned unbalanced schedule? See ya!

Every team playing all 29 other teams every year? Hello!

It’s true. That’s happening. Now here’s a quick rundown of how the world has changed:

GAMES VS. OWN DIVISION (52): In the olden days, by which we mean last year, every team played 76 games against its own division. That computes to 19 games — and six series — versus every division opponent. Not anymore. That number has been chopped to 13 games against each division opponent, spread out over four series (two at home, two on the road). Repeat after us: Less is more.