Isn’t it just incredible to have baseball back? It was a long off-season, let’s enjoy the fact that we have baseball again. Friday gave us a full slate of Opening Day games after a pair of postponements cut Thursday’s games down to seven. The day started with the anticipated Yankees-Red Sox matchup in New York that went to extra innings and ended on a Josh Donaldson walk-off single. That wasn’t the only exciting finish in the early starts. The Tigers scored four runs in the final two innings, including a long single by Javier Baez that bounced off the glove of AJ Pollock to walk it off for Detroit’s first win.
Later in the afternoon, we got a look at the Phillies’ high-powered offense after they scored nine runs against Oakland in their home opener. Kyle Schwarber got things started early there with a leadoff homer. In Toronto, the Blue Jays showed they won’t be easy to put away with their loaded lineup after coming back from a seven-run deficit against the Rangers.
In the nations’ capital, Max Scherzer made his debut for the Mets against his former team, earning the win against the Nationals with six strong innings. The game had all the delays from light delays, a benches-clearing incident, and a rain delay in the ninth. The benches-clearing situation came in the fifth inning after Francisco Lindor was hit by a pitch in the head as he was trying to lay down a bunt. This comes a day after the Nationals hit three batters in Thursday’s contest. Thankfully, Lindor’s x-rays came back negative and the start shortstop will be just fine.
Perhaps the highlight of the day came late in the evening as Sean Manaea held the Diamondbacks hitless over seven innings. The 30-year-old left-hander was incredible, throwing 66-of-88 pitches for strikes while striking out seven batters. The only baserunner he allowed came in the second inning on a walk by Daulton Varsho. That is now 13 hitless innings for the Padres’ starters after Yu Darvish tossed six no-hit frames against Arizona on Thursday. No pressure, Joe Musgrove, you’re next. Musgrove completed the franchise’s first no-hitter in history on April 9, 2021, exactly one year before Manaea was on pace to do it again. Because of course, that’s baseball.
Hitters with an EDGE
Jeff McNeil vs. Nationals
3-for-4, HR, 2 R, 2 RBI, BB
McNeil got the start at second base and hit eighth for the Mets on Friday against Josiah Gray and the Nationals. He put New York on the board with a solo homer off Gray in the third inning. The 30-year-old added base hits in the sixth and ninth innings, driving in a run to extend the Mets’ lead. McNeil -- a career .319 hitter before 2021 -- is looking to bounce back after slashing .251/.319/.360 across 426 plate appearances last season.
Kyle Tucker vs. Angels
2-for-5, 2 HR, 2 R, 4 RBI
While it has been disappointing to see Tucker hitting sixth over the first two contests, it might not matter. Tucker drove in four of the Astros’ 13 runs on Friday after blasting a pair of homers, including a three-run shot off Jaime Barria in the seventh inning. It doesn’t seem to matter where he hits in the order, as he’s bound to produce first-round caliber numbers across all categories in a potent Houston lineup.
Pitchers with an EDGE
Logan Webb vs. Marlins
6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 3 K, 31% CSW
Webb was excellent for the Giants in his Opening Day start against the Marlins. He started the game inducing four consecutive groundouts before an error by Wilmer Flores prevented a fifth. While he pitched to induce soft contact early, he got more whiffs as the game went on, striking out three batters on the day. Webb went out to start the seventh inning after six scoreless frames but walked the leadoff hitter, Joey Wendle. He was pulled at 85 pitches and Wendle would eventually come in to score. The 25-year-old right-hander will get a matchup against the Padres in San Francisco next Wednesday.
Robbie Ray vs. Twins
7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 4 BB, 5 K, 31% CSW
Ray’s debut with the Mariners could not have gone much better. The 30-year-old right-hander was solid over seven innings, allowing just one run while striking out five batters on 17 whiffs. The one run he allowed came on a solo homer by Gio Urshela in the fourth inning. The one negative of note was the four walks he allowed. Ray will draw a tough matchup against the White Sox in Chicago next Wednesday.
EDGE Priority Pickup
Jeremy Peña, SS, Houston Astros - Available in 74 percent of Yahoo leagues
Peña took over the starting shortstop position for the Astros after the departure of Carlos Correa. The team put their faith in the 24-year-old after he broke out hitting .287/.346/.598 with ten homers and five steals across only 133 plate appearances in Triple-A last year before a wrist injury cut his season short. Peña had a big day at the plate on Friday, going 3-for-5 with his first major league hit and homer. All three of his hits were hard-hit balls of at least 99 miles per hour. And the one fly-out he recorded was hit at 96.6 miles per hour. His mix of power and speed in a potent lineup could be an excellent addition to fantasy teams across all formats.
Closing Time
After the Opening Day meltdown by the Padres bullpen on Thursday, Taylor Rogers was called on to close out Friday’s contest against the Diamondbacks. He made quick work of Arizona, needing just nine pitches. Rogers induced a pair of groundouts before getting Carson Kelly to strike out swinging for the final out. With the closer role secured, Rogers could be among the top relievers for saves this season.
Brooks Raley cleaned up the final out for the Rays against the Orioles to pick up his first save of the season. J.P. Feyereisen started the ninth inning but allowed a two-out single to Rougned Odor. With the left-handed-hitting Cedric Mullins at the plate, Raley -- a southpaw -- entered and struck out Mullins to end the game. Expect much more of this matchup-based play in the ninth inning for Tampa Bay.
Craig Kimbrel earned his first save of the season for the Dodgers on Friday. With a three-run lead in the ninth, he gave up a double to Elias Diaz with one out before striking out Jose Iglesias. Charlie Blackmon followed with a double to drive in a run, bringing the tying run to the plate. Kimbrel got Kris Bryant to strike out swinging to end the threat.
Drew Steckenrider was summoned in the ninth inning with a one-run lead against the Twins. He allowed a leadoff single to Luis Arraez but got the next three batters out to give Seattle the win. Steckenrider was a regular in the ninth inning for the Mariners last season with 14 saves but was never named a full-time closer. That likely won’t happen as the team appears set to once against spread save chances out with Paul Sewald, Ken Giles, and Diego Castillo in the mix.
Jordan Romano closed things out for Toronto on Friday against the Rangers. He struck out two batters for his first save of the season. The Blue Jays were a speculative landing spot for a number of high-profile relievers over the off-season. But the team placed their full faith in Romano after he produced a 2.14 ERA and 23 saves over 63 innings in 2021. The 28-year-old right-hander has the skills to be a top-five closer in baseball.
Matchup of the Day
Justin Verlander (HOU) vs Noah Syndergaard (LAA)
Saturday brings us the much-anticipated return of Justin Verlander, who’ll be making his first start back since undergoing Tommy John surgery. The 39-year-old right-hander made one start in 2020 before going down with the elbow injury. In 2019, Verlander produced a 2.58 ERA with 21 wins and 300 strikeouts over 223 innings, earning him the AL Cy Young award. He looked good in spring action, giving up just two runs with a 15/4 K/BB ratio over 13 2/3 innings. On the other side, Noah Syndergaard is making his return from Tommy John surgery. He made two appearances for the Mets last season, pitching one frame each time out. Now, the 29-year-old right-hander looks to return to form with the Angels after signing a one-year, $21 million deal.
American League Quick Hits: Lucas Giolito had to leave Friday’s start against the Tigers with abdominal tightness in his left side... The Mariners signed J.P. Crawford to a five-year, $51 million contract extension... Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Friday that Jackie Bradley Jr. and Christian Arroyo will be in a “strict” platoon in right field... Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Friday the team will go with a six-man rotation for “the foreseeable future”... Taylor Trammell will have an MRI after injuring his hamstring while playing at Triple-A Tacoma on Thursday... Deolis Guerra will undergo surgery on April 13 to repair an ulnar collateral ligament sprain in his right elbow... The Orioles signed Matt Harvey to a minor league contract...
National League Quick Hits: Clayton Kershaw is scheduled to make his season debut Wednesday against the Twins... The Pirates are pushing to sign Bryan Reynolds to a contract extension... Evan Longoria had stitches in his surgically-repaired right index finger removed on Friday... The Pirates plan to recall Roansy Contreras from Triple-A... Taijuan Walker threw a 45-pitch bullpen session on Friday with no issues and will make his debut Monday against the Phillies... There is no timetable for Tommy La Stella‘s (Achilles) return... The Phillies placed Mickey Moniak on the 10-day injured list with a fractured right hand... Simon Muzziotti was recalled from Triple-A by the Phillies...
