The air is crisp, the smells from the grills are flowing through the ballpark, and fans are flocking to ballparks everywhere. Major League Baseball began their season on Thursday and it did not disappoint. Despite two postponements, seven games were played and they all delivered big moments. Below I take a look at each one.
Cubs 5, Brewers 4.
The first game of the season belonged to the Cubs-Brewers game at Wrigley Field. Despite the cold, wet day, Cubs get the best of reigning Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes and tack him for four runs. Kyle Hendricks goes 5.1 innings while only allowing 1 earned run and striking out seven. Ian Happ (3) and Jason Heyward (2) had multi-hit games. Seiya Suzuki made his debut and reached three times and Nico Hoerner hit the first home run of the MLB season.
Royals 3, Guardians 1.
Zack Greinke returned to Kansas City after 12 years and gave the Royals 5+ innings of 1-run ball. Greinke was not the only headline of the days as Royals top prospect Bobby Witt Jr. was in the lineup and starting his major league career. It would take a few at-bats to get adjusted but Witt’s first hit of the game was a double to left to score the go-ahead run. Royals relief pitcher Scott Barlow closed out the game and would get the win after two scoreless innings and two strikeouts. Cleveland is still looking for their first win of their new era as the Guardians.
Cardinals 9, Pirates 0.
Adam Wainwright, Albert Pujols, and Yadier Molina were all in the lineup for the first time since 2011 which also included Pujols’ 22nd career Opening Day start. Pujols and Moline combined to go 0-of-9 but Wainwright looked sharp as can be. He went six scoreless innings allowing just five hits, walking none, and striking out six. Nolan Arenado and Tyler O’Neill also went deep.
Reds 6, Braves 3.
Despite a depleted roster, the Cincinnati Reds won their Opening Day matchup against the reigning champs all while on the Road. Reds scored 5 runs off Braves starting pitcher Max Fried and had 10 hits on the day. Reds starter Tyler Mahle went five innings, gave up just 3 hits and one unearned run, walked two, and struck seven to earn the win. Brandon Dury began his Reds career with a 2 for 4 day which included a home run and three runs batted in.
Mets 5, National 1.
This game was all Mets from the beginning. Tylor Megill pitched five shut-out innings, allowing just three hits and six strikeouts. Robinson Cano returned after not playing since 2020 and had two hits, and scored two runs. And lastly, all but one Mets starter got at least one hit in the game.
Not much can be said about the Nationals but super star Juan Soto did go deep though.
Padres 2, Diamondbacks 0.
What I had written before the end of the game was, “The two teams combined for just two runs and six hits to begin the season. Five year ago, a Yu Darvish–Madison Bumgarner would be a sought after matchup but it was not talked about going into the game. Despite spite that, Darvish made sure the naysayers remember he is not done yet. He started the season with six no-hit innings while walking four and striking out three batters.”
Most what is above is still true but I had wrote too soon. In the bottom of the ninth, Padres relief pitching walked three batters, threw two wild pitches, and capped their night off by surrendering a walk-off home run to Seth Beer on NATIONAL BEER DAY off all days.
Astros 3, Angels 1.
Shohei Ohtani become the first player in MLB history to throw the team’s first pitch and face the team’s first pitch, according MLB Stats. Ohtani went 4.2 innings, allowed just one run, and struck out nine and went 0-4 with a strikeout at the plate.
Angels got just four hits and one run off Astros pitching. They barely touched Framber Valdez who gave the Astros six-shutout innings while giving up just two hits, walking one, and striking out six batters.
The Astros on the other hand had 8 hits which included two home runs from Alex Bergman and Yordan Alvarez
Red Sox @ Yankees
The game was postponed and moved to April 8 at 1:05 pm.
Mariners @ Twins
The game was postponed and moved to April at 4:10 pm.
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