HOUSTON – Opening Day is the most hopeful day of the Major League Baseball season.
[VOTE IN OUR CLICK2VOTE POLL BELOW]
It's a clean slate, a chance to show off all the offseason moves the Astros made and prove they paid off.
Houston bulked up its roster, adding some key veterans such as Josh Reddick, Brian McCann and Carlos Beltran, who is returning to the Atros.
Your Astros Opening Day 2017 Photos
Astros manager AJ Hinch knows his team is stacked this year
"This is my 20th opening day. I've never been more excited to get to opening day," said Hinch to a crowd at Street Fest.
"It's a Houston holiday. Got to be at opening day," said Astros fan Todd Burnaman.
[PHOTOS: Houston Astros 2017 Opening Day]
"I'm looking forward to great offense, really good pitching," said Astros fan Jennifer Wiggins. "I'm excited to see (Dallas) Keuchel tonight."
Talking to fans out here at Street Fest, there's a special vibe that maybe this is the Astros' year.
"For sure, this is going to be the year," Burnaman said, referring to World Series aspirations.
"This will be our best year yet," Astros fan Rosa Graham said. "We always say that but this will be our best year yet."
This team is primed for a deep run in October.
A lot of that will depend on their ace and opening day starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel. Coming off a down year in 2016, fans hope the former Cy Young Award winner bounces back to anchor this young Astros' rotation.
"I think we have the pitching depth. I know we have the offensive firepower," said Reid Ryan, Astros president of business operations. "Offensively, we're going to be as solid as anybody in baseball."
The Astros will take on the Seattle Mariners on Monday night at 7:10 p.m.