The Kansas City Royals' bid to go one better in 2015 began in fine fashion, the World Series finalists thrashing the Chicago White Sox 10-1 on MLB's opening day.

The Royals were humbled in game seven by the San Francisco Giants for the MLB championship in October, but got their '15 campaign off to the perfect start - taking White Sox debutant Jeff Samardzija for plenty.

Samardzija allowed five runs off six hits, before Alex Rios hit White Sox reliever Kyle Drabek for a three-run homer as the Royals ran riot.

Joining Kansas City in winning big in their curtain-raisers were the Colorado Rockies, who were 10-0 victors over the Milwaukee Brewers, and the Boston Red Sox - who earned an 8-0 shutout on the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Rockies led 10-0 by the top of the fourth inning, and pitcher Kyle Kendrick's seven shutout innings meant their lead was never in any doubt.

Hanley Ramirez hit a grand slam to cap Boston's thrashing of the Phillies, with both he and Dustin Pedroia scoring multiple homers.

Sonny Gray allowed just one hit in eight innings on the mound for the Oakland Athletics, who downed the Texas Rangers 8-0.

There were also shutout wins for the Detroit Tigers, 4-0 over the Minnesota Twins, and the Houston Astros, who edged the Cleveland Indians 2-0.

Jimmy Rollins' three-run homer in the eighth inning sent the Los Angeles Dodgers to a 6-3 win over the San Diego Padres, while Todd Frazier similarly broke a tied game for his Cincinnati Reds - his three-run blast in the eighth sending his side to a 5-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Seattle Mariners pitcher Felix Hernandez made 10 strike outs to help them to a 4-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels, the Atlanta Braves were 2-1 winners over the Miami Marlins and Max Scherzer's debut for the Washington Nationals ended in a 3-1 loss to the New York Mets.

Three homers helped the Baltimore Orioles down the Tampa Bay Rays 6-2, a five-run third buoyed the Toronto Blue Jays past the New York Yankees 6-1 and the World Series champions San Francisco Giants held off the Arizona Diamondbacks 5-4.