Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki has already been making waves in the first week of regular-season MLB action. Suzuki went deep twice on Tuesday afternoon to help the Cubs blast past the Pirates in a 2-1 victory in Pittsburgh. The Cubs have now improved to 3-1 on the young season. Suzuki now joins Shohei Ohtani as the only Japanese-born players in MLB history to hit three home runs over their first four MLB games.
Suzuki became the only MLB player with 8+ RBI and 4+ walks over his first four career games since RBI became an official stat in 1920, according to Stats Perform. Through 13 plate appearances in just three games played, Suzuki has already gone deep three times - plated five RBI, and drew two walks. With ten total bases so far, he owns a .235/.350/.588 triple-slash line, contributing to a .938 OPS – accompanied by a rather impressive wRC+ of 342.
With Tuesday’s homers off Pirates starter José Quintana in the fifth inning, and later reliever Anthony Banda in the seventh, Suzuki has now gone deep in back to back games. The budding superstar has some fantastic plate discipline and it shows – Interestingly enough, Suzuki has more homers (three) than he does swings and misses (two). Though we’ve seen all but a handful of games in this fledgling season, power to all fields and a miniscule chase rate should make Suzuki an interesting player to keep watching as the season unfolds.
Starting Pitchers with an EDGE
Tylor Megill vs. Phillies
5 1/3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K
Megill threw 76 pitches, 49 of them for strikes in this shutout performance, his second straight shutout of the season. Megill’s fastball had an impressive 37% whiff rate, reaching a velocity up to 99 MPH and averaging 96.7 MPH. Through two games, he’s now the proud owner of two wins, 11 strikeouts, and a rather pristine ERA of 0.00.
Matt Brash vs. White Sox
5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
Though Brash picked up the loss in this outing versus a difficult White Sox lineup, the rookie absolutely showed promise with a fantastic slider and curveball, luring five swings-and-misses and seven called strikes on the curve, good for a 41% CSW (called strikes and whiffs) on that pitch alone. This was the 23-year-old’s major league debut, and we’ll likely hear from him again later on down the stretch.
Garrett Whitlock vs. Tigers
4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
In this fantastic 39 pitch performance, Whitlock came in long relief for the Red Sox, and it was established early by a very dominant four-seam fastball that this would be the right hander’s game to finish. On April 10, Whitlock was locked down with a four-year contract extension that spans the 2023-26 seasons, with club options for 2027 and 2028.
Hitters with an EDGE
Michael Brantley vs. Diamondbacks
3-for-5, 1 RBI
Brantley’s dramatic ninth inning, two-out RBI single pushed the Astros to a 2-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. Jose Siri was plated as a result of Brantley’s single; Siri was also a notable hero of the game, going deep in the top of the fifth with a 456 ft. bomb.
Thairo Estrada vs. Padres
2-for-5, 3 RBI
Estrada contributed to the Giants’ 13-2 blowout over the Padres on Tuesday with an RBI single and double, including a stolen base. Estrada has been filling in nicely at second base for Tommy La Stella, currently on the injured list.
Wander Franco vs. A’s
2-for-5, 1 RBI
Wander Franco’s bottom-of-the-10th RBI double plated the tying run via Brandon Lowe in what would be Tampa Bay’s eventual 9-8 victory over the Athletics. Franco has now reached base safely 54 out of the last 56 games going back to 2021; also, including tonight’s performance, Franco has four multi-hit games out of five games played so far.
EDGE Priority Pickup
Connor Joe - 1B/DH, Colorado Rockies Rostered in 28% of Yahoo Leagues
A former first-round pick, the 28-year-old is finally getting some extended hacks in the major leagues. A righty bat with some excellent plate discipline, the infielder/DH is looking to be a fantastic last-minute pickup or late round pick. He’s already getting off to a scalding start to the season: in just 19 plate appearances in the young season, he’s homered twice, stolen a base, and racked up three RBI, for a .313/.421/.688 triple-slash line.
Closing Time
Liam Hendriks vs. Mariners (1st save)
1IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3K
David Robertson vs. Pirates (2nd save)
1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Edwin Diaz vs. Phillies (1st save)
1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
Josh Hader vs. Orioles (2nd save)
1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K
Jackson Stephens vs. Nationals (1st save)
3 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
Giovanny Gallegos vs. Royals (1st save)
1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Daniel Bard vs. Rangers (2nd save)
1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 0 K
Ryan Pressly vs. Diamondbacks (3rd save)
1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 1 K
Wednesday’s Matchup of the Day
Sean Manaea (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Logan Webb (0-0, 1.50 ERA)
An interesting match between division rivals, and pitchers with high valuations. Recently traded to the Padres, Manaea pitched seven innings in his first outing on April 8 for his new club, versus the Diamondbacks, striking out seven and notching the win. His opponent, Logan Webb, factored into a no-decision on April 8, where he faced the Miami Marlins and went six innings, giving up one run off five hits and striking out three. Though the season is young, San Diego and San Francisco have plenty to prove, riding off the embers of the finish of the 2021 season.
American League Quick Hits
Mike Trout (illness) said late Monday that he’s feeling better and could return to the Angels’ lineup Tuesday against the Marlins. … Trevor Story (illness) remains absent from the Red Sox’ starting lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Tigers. … Tigers manager AJ Hinch said Tuesday that Andrew Chafin (groin) isn’t ready for a minor-league rehab assignment. … White Sox placed OF AJ Pollock on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 10, with a strained right hamstring. … White Sox placed RHP Lucas Giolito on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 9, with an abdominal strain. … Rays placed RHP JT Chargois on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to April 9, with left oblique tightness. … Rays placed RHP Luis Patiño on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain. … Garrett Richards (blister) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Round Rock. … Robbie Grossman left Tuesday’s game against the Red Sox due to right groin tightness. … Twins placed RHP Jorge Alcala on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation. … Jon Gray (blister) is aiming to return from the injured list next Tuesday at Seattle. … Angels placed INF David Fletcher on the 10-day injured list with a left hip strain…Yordan Alvarez is away from the Astros on Tuesday because of an illness.
National League Quick Hits
Luis Oviedo (ankle) has started a minor league rehab assignment with Single-A Bradenton…Ian Happ (knee) is back in the Cubs’ starting lineup Tuesday against the Pirates. … Wade Miley (elbow) is scheduled to play catch Tuesday…Alec Mills (back) threw a 77-pitch bullpen session Sunday. … Luis Castillo (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Tuesday prior to the Reds’ home opener against the Guardians. … Lucas Sims (elbow) will begin a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Louisville. … Phillies placed RHP Corey Knebel on the COVID-19 injured list…Odúbel Herrera (oblique) is starting a minor-league rehab assignment Tuesday with Single-A Clearwater. … Mets placed RHP Taijuan Walker on the 10-day injured list with right shoulder bursitis. … Trevor May has been diagnosed with a low-grade triceps strain…Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Avisail Garcia (back) could be available to pinch-hit on Tuesday. … Anibal Sanchez (neck) could resume throwing as early as Wednesday. … Tommy Pham was lifted from Tuesday’s game against the Guardians due to an apparent wrist injury. … Nelson Cruz was scratched from the Nationals’ lineup on Tuesday due to right groin tightness.
