MLB Opening Day 2022 – What we noticed, dwell updates and takeaways as baseball returns

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Opening Day of the 2022 MLB season is within the rearview mirror, however loads of groups are nonetheless set to make their debut on the diamond.

Thursday’s slate of motion supplied a large spectrum of leisure. The video games included every thing from a memorable first main league hit for Bobby Witt Jr., to an emotional return to the St. Louis Cardinals for Albert Pujols, and rather more.

Friday will begin with Crimson Sox vs. Yankees, certainly one of MLB’s most storied rivalries, bolstered by two of the league’s greatest aces in Nathan Eovaldi and Gerrit Cole. Robbie Ray, Walker Buehler and Sandy Alcantara are among the different high pitchers to take the mound on day two.

Remember to refresh this web page early and infrequently for our dwell updates and takeaways for groups enjoying their first video games on Friday!

Season preview: Power ranks | Predictions | Moves that rocked the offseason
ESPN+: Passan’s predictions | How Opening Day was saved | 2022 changes
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Friday’s schedule

1:05 p.m.: Crimson Sox (Nathan Eovaldi) at Yankees (Gerrit Cole)
1:10 p.m.: White Sox (Lucas Giolito) at Tigers (Eduardo Rodriguez) (ESPN+)
2:20 p.m.: Brewers (Brandon Woodruff) at Cubs (Justin Steele)
3:05 p.m.: Athletics (Frankie Montas) at Phillies (Aaron Nola)
3:10 p.m.: Orioles (John Means) at Rays (Shane McClanahan)
4:10 p.m.: Mariners (Robbie Ray) at Twins (Joe Ryan)
4:10 p.m.: Dodgers (Walker Buehler) at Rockies (Kyle Freeland)
4:35 p.m.: Marlins (Sandy Alcantara) at Giants (Logan Webb)
7:05 p.m.: Mets (Max Scherzer) at Nationals (Josiah Gray)
7:07 p.m.: Rangers (Jon Gray) at Blue Jays (Jose Berrios)
7:20 p.m.: Reds (Reiver Sanmartin) at Braves (Charlie Morton)
9:38 p.m.: Astros (Jake Odorizzi) at Angels (Reid Detmers)
9:40 p.m.: Padres (Sean Manaea) at Diamondbacks (Merrill Kelly)

Takeaways from Thursday’s motion

Diamondbacks defeat Padres 4-2: Recreation of the day? Simply. Heck, put this down for sport of the yr: SETH BEER HIT A WALK-OFF HOME RUN ON NATIONAL BEER DAY. Good luck topping that Shohei Ohtani or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. or Freddie Freeman or a few of you hotshot rookies. Till there’s a day named after you, you’ll not high what Beer did in giving the Diamondbacks a 4-2 win over the Padres with a dramatic three-run blast to proper discipline within the backside of the ninth.

Beer mentioned when he awakened his fiancée informed him it was Nationwide Beer Day. “I informed her, ‘It higher be a great day then,'” he mentioned. It was simply the second profession dwelling run for the rookie designated hitter, who went 4-for-9 in a quick main league cameo in 2021. He gave the Diamondbacks a victory through which Yu Darvish had pitched six no-hit innings for the Padres. And get this: He is the primary rookie to hit a walk-off dwelling run on Opening Day in a sport his group was trailing. Cheers. –David Schoenfield

Astros defeat Angels 3-1: Shohei Ohtani carried out properly, however the remainder of his Angels teammates did not do sufficient. Sound acquainted? It seems the 2022 season has begun equally to the best way the 2021 season unfolded for the Angels, who could not get something going towards Framber Valdez on Opening Day. However there is a clear vivid facet — and that, in fact, is Ohtani himself, who displayed spectacular fastball command, threw a crisp slider and customarily seemed actually good in his debut. Ohtani recorded 14 outs, allowed just one run and struck out 9 batters earlier than exiting with 80 pitches (Angels supervisor Joe Maddon desires to maintain his starters round that quantity early on to make up for the shortened spring coaching). The 2021 season represented Ohtani’s first full season as a pitcher in 5 years. Because it progressed, his location and command noticeably improved. And that has clearly carried over into 2022. It is why some have dared to counsel he might be even higher in 2022. — Alden Gonzalez

Mets defeat Nationals 5-1: Tylor Megill drew the Opening Day begin for the Mets after Jacob deGrom damage his shoulder and Max Scherzer tweaked his hamstring, pushing his first begin again to Friday. Megill is a 6-foot-7 right-hander, listed at 230 kilos, though as Mets announcer Ron Darling mentioned, “He hasn’t been 230 since highschool.” So he is a giant dude and as you would possibly count on, he throws some huge cheese with an higher 90s fastball. He isn’t anticipated to be the Mets’ ace or something near it, however the second-year right-hander has some severe breakout potential.

The largest pitch of his evening got here within the third inning when the rating was nonetheless 0-Zero and the Nationals had runners on the corners with one out and the damaging Juan Soto on the plate. Megill received forward 1-2, Soto took a 98-mph fastball a hair or two off the plate, after which Megill blew a 97-mph heater previous Soto. He received Nelson Cruz to floor out after which breezed via two extra innings, ending with 5 scoreless innings, six Ok’s and no walks. In case you play fantasy baseball, choose this man up. — David Schoenfield

Reds defeat Braves 6-3: The Reds may not have opened the season of their typical method — at dwelling, after a citywide occasion and parade via downtown Cincinnati — however that did not matter. A serious cause for his or her success spoiling the Braves’ banner-unveiling occasion at Truist Park was the work of starter Tyler Mahle. The fitting-hander struck out seven and gave up a lone unearned run in a relatively sturdy 84-pitch, five-inning outing. For the beginning of April, it was definitely a commendable efficiency — and one the Reds hope he can construct upon.

Mahle additionally had probably the most spectacular second of the evening. He ended the third inning by in some way snagging a comeback liner that left Marcell Ozuna‘s bat with a 104.5 mph exit velocity. As for probably the most spectacular audio second of the evening? Arms down that belonged to Reds first baseman Joey Votto, who was miked up all through the sport for ESPN and had his share of enjoyable interactions. — Coley Harvey

Cardinals defeat Pirates 9-0: It was flip again the clock day at Busch Stadium: Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright had been all within the beginning lineup for the Cardinals for the primary time since Sept. 9, 2010. Whereas the Cardinals cruised to a 9-Zero victory behind Wainwright’s six scoreless innings and Tyler O’Neill ‘s 5 RBIs, it wasn’t fairly the storybook return to St. Louis for Pujols that everybody desired.

“He is again,” intoned the Cardinals’ PA announcer throughout pregame introductions and Cardinals followers gave Pujols a standing ovation as he hugged former Cardinals greats like Mark McGwire and Jim Edmonds. In his first at-bat, Pujols wiped away some tears because the followers chanted “Al-bert! Al-bert!” — echoing the joyful refrain heard so many occasions throughout his preliminary 11 seasons with the Cardinals. He flew out to left discipline and would end 0-for-5, twice reaching on errors.

Can he assist the Cardinals? That is the chance in bringing an growing old all-time nice again. If he struggles, it places rookie supervisor Ollie Marmol in a tricky spot. Pujols began this sport towards a right-hander — Marmol wasn’t about to sit down him on Opening Day — however Pujols will primarily function the DH towards left-handers. Let’s hope there’s sufficient juice left within the bat to assist in that small function. –David Schoenfield

Royals defeat Guardians 3-1: Earlier than right this moment’s Opening Day begin, the final time Zack Greinke pitched for the Kansas Metropolis Royals was 12 years and greater than 2,000 innings in the past. As many issues as age modifications, it can not rob Greinke of what is at all times been his biggest asset, even higher than his fastball or slider or changeup: his thoughts. Greinke’s strategy to pitching, mixed with the stuff of his youth, made him elite and can forge his path towards the Corridor of Fame.

To see him on Thursday afternoon, carving up a Cleveland Guardians lineup in a 3-1 victory highlighted by high prospect (No. 2 on Kiley McDaniel’s top 100 list) Bobby Witt Jr.’s go-ahead RBI double within the eighth inning, was to see a grasp craftsman making artwork in actual time.

The radar gun would not gentle up because it as soon as did, and the batters do not swing and miss as they used to, however Greinke, via location, sequencing and different methods of the commerce, nonetheless understands get outs. Some lineup will show harder to traverse than others. One strikeout in 5 2/Three innings is just not a long-term recipe for fulfillment, even with Kansas Metropolis’s phenomenal protection. And but Greinke, now 38, left to an enormous ovation in his return. On the day the way forward for the franchise debuted, the prodigal son returned, completely different than earlier than, identical as ever. –Jeff Passan

Cubs defeat Brewers 5-4: The primary sport of the 2022 MLB season supplied a reminder that you just by no means know what you’ll see whenever you go to the ballpark. Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner hit the primary dwelling run of the 2022 season off reigning NL Cy Younger winner Corbin Burnes. Sure, you learn that proper. Hoerner, who hadn’t hit a protracted ball in two seasons, turned the primary participant to comply with up a homerless yr with a dinger on Opening Day since Emilio Bonifacio in 2009. Burnes, however, walked the primary batter he confronted in 2022, after the Brewers ace set a significant league report by hanging out 58 earlier than issuing his first base on balls a season in the past. Yeah, you may’t predict baseball.

All in all, Burnes walked three batters in 5 innings on Thursday — together with issuing a free go to Japanese rookie Seiya Suzuki, who walked twice, had a single and scored a run in his MLB debut. — Jesse Rogers

Thursday’s dwell motion

Walkoff for Arizona!

Yu Darvish pitched a gem and the Diamondbacks had been practically no-hit … however then Seth Beer stepped as much as the plate and altered the narrative.

Trout is able to keep wholesome, win within the playoffs

It has been six years since Mike Trout performed a full, conventional season with out lacking stretches of time due to damage.

He has seen.

“It is my principal purpose,” Trout, talking forward of Opening Day on Thursday, mentioned when requested in regards to the significance of enjoying a full season. The Los Angeles Angels’ star middle fielder, who spent the final four-plus months of the 2021 common season sidelined by a calf damage that turned way more severe than anticipated, has a brand new program with the group’s new coaching workers that emphasizes flexibility and mobility in his decrease physique. Trout hopes it’ll make all of the distinction.

“Previously, I’d get up sore somewhat bit and simply should grind via it,” he mentioned. “Now I gotta actually harp on caring for my decrease physique.”

The Angels misplaced 85 video games final yr despite the fact that Shohei Ohtani put collectively a historic season as a two-way participant. The largest cause (except for their typical lack of pitching depth): Ohtani, Trout and Anthony Rendon performed in the identical lineup for less than 17 of their 162 video games. Their well being, plus the addition of Noah Syndergaard and a deeper bullpen, has Trout believing he would possibly lastly win his first playoff sport this yr.

Sure, you may need heard that Trout, the best participant of his era, has but to win a single postseason sport.

He’s 30 years outdated now.

That is his 12th season.

“I am bored with listening to it,” Trout mentioned. “I talked to the fellows in there; we’re all bored with listening to it. We’re desperate to go.”— Alden Gonzalez

Soto clocks one

Folks maintain evaluating Juan Soto to among the biggest hitters of all time … and dingers like this are the explanation why.

Nothing however love for the MVP

Shohei Ohtani has taken the mound for the Angels, and the Los Angeles trustworthy confirmed their appreciation for his legendary 2021 season.

Play on the plate!

The Nationals wanted an ideal relay to get Pete Alonso out at dwelling … and an ideal relay is what they pulled off.

Votto on the mic

Miking up Joey Votto was a good suggestion, particularly contemplating he could be one of many funniest gamers within the league.

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Joey Votto discusses his social media presence, want to get a gold tooth and chats with Ozzie Albies whereas mic’d up with the ESPN sales space.

Proper again atcha

If Tyler Mahle wasn’t already awake, he definitely is now after snagging this comebacker.

Ruiz with the cannon

Making the primary out of the season on a caught stealing is uncommon — however that is what Keibert Ruiz simply did to the Mets.

A gorgeous evening to defend a title

Here is a fast have a look at the attractive scene at Truist Park tonight because the defending champion Atlanta Braves tackle the Cincinnati Reds.

Zack’s again

Zack Greinke has been top-of-the-line pitchers within the majors for nearly 20 years, and he reduce his enamel as a younger member of the Kansas Metropolis Royals from 2004 to 2010. Now he is again on his unique group and selecting up proper the place he left off, throwing 5⅔ innings and giving up simply five hits and one run towards the Cleveland Guardians on Opening Day.

The final dance

Famous person slugger Albert Pujols introduced that 2022 might be his last season within the majors after signing a one-year cope with the St. Louis Cardinals in March. He spent the primary 11 seasons of his MLB profession with the Cardinals, successful two World Sequence titles and three Nationwide League MVP awards. As Pujols approached the plate for his first at-bat of the season Thursday towards the visiting Pirates, followers showered him with cheers.

First dwelling run of the yr

Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner hit the primary dwelling run of the MLB season. He smashed a pitch by Brewers pitcher Corbin Burnes out of the park within the backside of the fifth inning.

First run of the yr

After three innings, the primary run of the season is on the board. Brewers outfielder Lorenzo Cain hit a groundout to first, however Andrew McCutchen was capable of make it dwelling to offer visiting Milwaukee a 1-Zero lead over the Cubs within the high of the fourth.

Welcome to the league

Getting known as as much as the majors is a giant second for any baseball participant. Main as much as Opening Day on Thursday, gamers had been notified that they made their groups’ rosters, which produced some touching moments for the groups and gamers.

In the course of the Chicago Cubs‘ spring coaching sport towards the Chicago White Sox on Monday, pitcher Ethan Roberts was notified by supervisor David Ross that he made the Opening Day roster. Roberts, who was drafted by the Cubs in 2018, was visibly emotional after receiving the information. The Cubs’ first sport of the season is towards the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.

Julio Rodriguez, the No. Three prospect as ranked by ESPN, received the nod for the Seattle Mariners‘ Opening Day roster. He signed with the group as a world free agent in 2017. Rodriguez is slated to begin in middle discipline and can make his debut on Friday towards the Minnesota Twins.

Rodriguez was full of pleasure when supervisor Scott Servais broke the information. Issues received even higher for the 21-year-old when he was knowledgeable that his mother and father might be in attendance for his first MLB sport.

The Kanas Metropolis Royals drafted Bobby Witt Jr. second general within the 2019 MLB draft. Roughly three years later, he’ll make his huge league debut, beginning at third base for the group towards the Cleveland Guardians. The 21-year-old was all smiles after listening to he made the Royals’ Opening Day roster … and later recorded his first hit.

Seiya Suzuki made his MLB debut towards the Brewers on Thursday. In March, he signed a five-year cope with the Cubs. Earlier than becoming a member of Chicago, he performed in Japan’s Nippon Skilled Baseball league, through which he was a four-time All-Star and three-time Golden Glove winner. Within the backside of the fifth, Suzuki hit a ball into left discipline for the primary hit of his MLB profession.

Opening Day properly needs

The Atlanta Braves start their quest to defend their World Sequence title towards the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday. The Georgia Bulldogs, who gained the School Soccer Playoff Nationwide Championship in January, wished the group good luck on their upcoming season.

The Chicago Bears shouted out to each the White Sox and Cubs forward of their first video games of the MLB season.

Opening Day predictions and what we won’t wait to see

What is the one factor you’re most excited to look at on Opening Day?

Bradford Doolittle: I am in Minneapolis for a Twins-Mariners sequence that was pushed again a day due to some inhospitable early spring climate. The upside is that I get two Opening Days and might watch the debut of Bobby Witt Jr. in Kansas Metropolis on a display screen of some type Thursday earlier than attending to see Seattle’s Julio Rodriguez firsthand on Friday. We’ve not at all times seen probably the most thrilling prospects on Opening Day (Witt is No. 2 and Rodriguez is No. Three on Kiley McDaniel’s top 100 prospect list), so this can be a fantastic factor. An awesome American League Rookie of the Yr race is on.

Jesse Rogers: The debut of Cubs rookie Seiya Suzuki. He is a multiple-tools participant with energy to all fields and a rocket of an arm. As famous within the current collective bargaining settlement battle, most rookies do not make some huge cash — however Suzuki signed a five-year, $85 million contract this offseason, so eyes might be on him all through the baseball world. He has an opportunity to be the following huge star on a group all of the sudden void of them. Thursday is his first probability to indicate followers throughout town of Chicago what they’re getting.

David Schoenfield: Essentially the most fascinating group to look at in April could be the Padres. There may be a whole lot of stress on a group that now runs one of many highest payrolls in baseball and is coming off a shedding season. They collapsed down the stretch, and whereas the rotation is wholesome once more, the Padres must play a few months with out Fernando Tatis Jr. So on Opening Day, I wish to see how Yu Darvish takes care of going 1-8 (6.16 ERA) within the second half. I wish to see how new supervisor Bob Melvin units up his late-game bullpen. I wish to see if Ha-Seong Kim can’t solely fill in for Tatis however hit like he did in Korea after struggling in his debut season. I wish to see which Manny Machado exhibits up. The Padres start with 14 video games towards the Diamondbacks, Giants, Rangers and Pirates — a golden alternative to get off to a sizzling begin and put 2021’s disappointment behind them.

​Joon Lee: I am with David on this one. The Padres are at an interesting inflection level within the tenure of AJ Preller with the damage of Tatis and the extent of economic funding on this group’s core. Based on a number of sources, the Padres membership chemistry suffered beneath Jayce Tingler, so the addition of Melvin will fully shake up the group’s locker room dynamics. I am to see which Darvish exhibits up on Opening Day and the way former Cy Younger winner Blake Snell fares in his second season in San Diego after struggling to place up numbers akin to his tenure in Tampa Bay. Particularly after the commerce for Eric Hosmer fell via and Tatis’ damage, the group will want its high-salary gamers to play higher in 2022.

Buster Olney: I am in Atlanta, and I will be fascinated to see the reception for brand spanking new first baseman Matt Olson — and I might count on that it is going to be loud and lasting. If anyone goes to interchange Freddie Freeman at first, Olson is the right candidate given his native roots, his age, his energy. If the Braves’ magic script from final yr’s World Sequence remains to be in play, then Olson will get a pivotal hit — and the Atlanta followers will go wild. What a narrative that may be.

Coley Harvey: I’m past excited to be becoming a member of Buster in my hometown of Atlanta, the place I will have a front-row seat for a coronation that is been a era within the making. And as a lifelong supporter of all issues ATL, 404, Chick-fil-A and Waffle Home, the 10-year-old inside me nonetheless cannot consider one of many professional groups from his metropolis is lastly about to have one other banner-raising evening. The Braves’ 1995 and 2021 championships and Atlanta United’s MLS title in 2018 are all we have! After the 28-Three memes and jokes, the Metropolis Too Busy To Hate greater than deserves to have fun final October’s World Sequence win yet another time. Atlantans have earned it.

Alden Gonzalez: I will be at Angel Stadium on Thursday, and due to that I will be the luckiest of us all. Shohei Ohtani might be on the mound and he might be within the lineup, starting what guarantees to be one other enthralling season as a two-way participant. The speak round Angels camp this spring centered on whether or not Ohtani can truly be higher this yr, given how he improved as a pitcher and the way he grew snug with the two-way function because the season progressed. It sounds unattainable — till you understand how particular this man is.

Tim Keown: The Mets received Max Scherzer to group with Jacob deGrom, and so they’re Opening Day starter is … Tylor Megill. Subsequent to the Pirates’ JT Brubaker, Megill is probably the most non-Opening Day starter on Opening Day. Even Oakland has Frankie Montas, despite the fact that there’s an opportunity he might be traded earlier than Friday’s first pitch in Philadelphia. This may not imply an entire lot — Scherzer is meant to be again quickly, possibly even for the second sport — nevertheless it certain seems like an omen.

Jeff Passan: All due respect to Bobby Witt Jr., whose debut I will see in particular person, however the biggest present in sports activities is performing right this moment on a unique stage. For the primary of hopefully many occasions this season, Shohei Ohtani spends his day pitching within the high half of innings and hitting within the backside half. He’ll do this factor the place he throws 100-mph pitches and hits 100-mph rockets. His magnificence is aware of no bounds. And as a bonus Opening Day deal with, the Shohei Ohtani Rule — which permits him to stay within the sport as a hitter after he is yanked as a pitcher — will get its first whirl.

It is time to name your shot: What’s your one Opening Day prediction that may positively come true?

Doolittle: Albert Pujols goes to homer in St. Louis. Even when it seems to be the one homer he hits all season, there isn’t any method this does not occur. There are a whole lot of younger Cardinals followers in St. Louis who’ve solely heard about Pujols from their mother and father. It is large that they get to expertise him this yr as he strikes on from a Corridor of Fame profession.

Rogers: Corbin Burnes will one-hit the Cubs — and Suzuki would be the solely hitter to get to him. Chicago has little left-handed pop, whereas right-handed opponents compiled a miniscule .179 batting common towards him in 2021. With a right-handed-hitting participant at first base and proper discipline — two positions typically reserved for lefty energy hitters — the Cubs might be at a drawback towards high righties all season. Making an attempt to hit towards Burnes on Thursday, in 40 diploma climate, will make issues that rather more troublesome.

Schoenfield: Machado received off to a sluggish begin in 2021, however with Tatis out, the Padres want him to hit from the get-go. He hasn’t hit Diamondbacks starter Madison Bumgarner that properly throughout his profession (.212/.257/.515), though three of his seven hits off him are dwelling runs. I say he goes yard twice off MadBum because the Padres win their opener.

Olney: He isn’t pitching on Opening Day, however I will name that this would be the final yr that future Corridor of Famer Jacob deGrom is with the Mets. Steve Cohen has demonstrated he is prepared and keen to put money into any method he feels can assist the Mets, however there are simply too many variables concerned for deGrom to return — the questions on his well being now, his well being transferring ahead, and most significantly, what he desires. We’ll look again at his assertion that he is opting out of his contract regardless of his current damage as the primary true sign that he is headed elsewhere.

Gonzalez: Rodriguez and Witt Jr. will every hit dwelling runs of their main league debuts. The 2 spotlight what appears to be like like an extremely deep AL Rookie of the Yr discipline, together with Spencer Torkelson. Finally Adley Rutschman and Riley Greene will be part of them. Not included on this listing: Wander Franco, who exceeded his rookie eligibility final yr however will play in his first full season in 2022. He could be the largest star of all of them. The younger expertise within the sport is wonderful proper now — and I solely accounted for one league.

Keown: We’ll all be reminded that Mike Trout not solely exists however stays the most effective participant within the sport. The eyes of the sport might be on Shohei Ohtani to begin the Angels’ opener towards the Astros, however by the tip of the fourth or fifth inning, it will be Trout’s evening.

Lee: Shohei Ohtani will come out of the gates sturdy on Opening Day, exhibiting that final yr wasn’t a mirage and that it is attainable to pitch and hit at a excessive degree throughout a number of seasons — and opening up the concept groups may doubtlessly develop extra two-way gamers, not essentially on the degree of Ohtani, however to maximise the worth of each roster spot.

Harvey: OK, so Austin Riley‘s Grapefruit League exhibiting wasn’t the strongest (.214, 6-for-28), however I am banking arduous on him having a giant opening evening. This may occur in what might be his first sport at Truist Park for the reason that World Sequence. At dwelling final postseason, he hit .419 (13-for-31) with 5 extra-base hits. He’ll faucet into that hitting success once more in entrance of one other raucous and frenzied Atlanta crowd, giving followers some late-inning magic.

Passan: Final we noticed Max Fried, he was throwing six shutout innings for Atlanta in a World Sequence-clinching sport. Previous to that, he had the bottom second-half ERA of any pitcher (1.74). And right this moment, in entrance of a Truist Park crowd able to fete its world champions, Fried will get the ball towards a Cincinnati Reds group that traded its greatest hitter amid an unsightly teardown. All of which is to say his pitching line might be 6 IP, Four hits, 1 run, 1 earned run, 1 stroll and 9 strikeouts — and he’ll be in Cy Younger competition all through the season.



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