Mlb Opening Day

A Look At Nl Central Rivals

... Rotation: RH Carlos Martinez (16-9, 3.04 ERA, 174 Ks), RH Adam Wainwright (13-9, 4.62), RH Michael Wacha (7-7, 5.09), RH Lance Lynn (12-11, 3.03 in 2015; missed last season recovering from Tommy John surgery), RH Mike Leake (9-12, 4.69). Key Relievers: RH Seung-hwan Oh (6-3, 1.92, 19/23 saves), LH Brett Cecil (1-7, 3.93 with Toronto), RH Trevor Rosenthal (2-4, 4.46, 14 saves), RH Jonathan Broxton (4-2, 4.30), LH Kevin Siegrist (6-3, 2.77), LH Zach Duke (2-1, 2.36, 2 saves, 81 games with White Sox and Cardinals), LH Tyler Lyons (2-0, 3.38). Hot Spot: Starting Rotation. The Cardinals missed the postseason last year for the first time since 2010, thanks in large part to injuries that caused the pitching staff’s ERA to rise from a National League-best 2.94 in 2015 to 4.08 last season. This time, St. Louis expects its ...

Opening Day Arrives Right When We Need It The Most

... NYC. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — We need this. Need it? Around New York, when it became apparent the chill wasn’t going to abandon our bones one second earlier than required, we’ve been circling this date, pining for it, counting down toward it, from the moments last autumn when baseball expired, abandoning us at the most inopportune time. That was the most timeless thing Bart Giamatti was talking about all those years ago, after all, when he wrote about how baseball is built to break your heart. That’s the part that still reaches into your soul for a squeeze every year. “As soon as the chill rains come, it stops and leaves you to face the fall all alone. … You count on it, rely on it to buffer the passage of time, to keep the memory of sunshine and high skies alive … and then, just when the days are all ...

Everything You Need To Know From The First Three Games

... it brings is useful, if not in a predictive way than in a descriptive way. Here are eight takeaways from the first day of the 2017 season, in no particular order. Chris Archer looked like pre-2016 Chris Archer. Last season was a tough one for Archer. He led baseball with 19 losses and, more importantly, his 4.02 ERA (101 ERA+) was quite a bit higher than the 3.26 ERA (117 ERA+) mark he posted from 2013-15. Archer’s home run rate climbed from 0.8 HR/9 from 2013-15 to 1.3 HR/9 in 2016, which is significant. Home runs were up around baseball last season, so everyone’s home run rate climbed, but Archer seemed to get dinged especially hard. On Sunday though, Archer looked very much like the 2013-15 version of himself. He held the Yankees to two runs in seven innings on Opening Day while striking out five. Three of the ...

Top 205 Mlb Prospects For 2017

... 65) Jesse Winker, OF, Reds, Grade B+ (64). 66) A. J. Reed, 1 B, Astros, Grade B+ (NR). 67) Carson Fulmer, RHP, White Sox, Grade B+. 68) Hunter Renfroe, OF, Padres, Grade B+ (71). 69) Richard Urena, SS, Blue Jays, Grade B+ (66). 70) Matt Manning, RHP, Tigers, Grade B+ (69). 71) Jorge Mateo, INF, Yankees, Grade B+ (70). 72) Riley Pint, RHP, Rockies, Grade B+/B. 73) Trevor Clifton, RHP, Cubs, Grade B+/B. 74) Ian Happ, 2 B-OF, Cubs, Grade B+/B. 75) Aaron Judge, OF, Yankees, Grade B+/B (143). 76) Luiz Gohara, LHP, Braves, Grade B+/B. 77) Raimel Tapia, OF, Rockies, Grade B/B+. 78) Brady Aiken, LHP, Indians, Grade B/B+. 79) Jharel Cotton, RHP, Athletics, Grade B/B+. 80) Chance Adams, RHP, Yankees, Grade B/B+. 81) Domingo Acevedo, RHP, Yankees, Grade B/B+. 82) Matt Chapman, 3 B, Athletics, Grade B/B+. 83) Yulieski Gurriel, 3 B-1 B-OF, Astros, Grade B/B+. 84) Tyler Beede, RHP, Giants, Grade B/B+. 85) Jorge Alfaro, C, Phillies, Grade B/B+. 86) Carson Kelly, C, Cardinals, Grade B/B+. 87) Fernando Romero, RHP, Twins, Grade B/B+. 88) German Marquez, RHP, Rockies, Grade B/B+. 89) ...

5 Bold Predictions For The Tigers 2017 Season That Will Probably Be Wrong

... inning. If Rondon happens to struggle when the closer role opens — Francisco Rodriguez was shaky at times last season, remember — Greene would likely be the next in line to ascend to the role. Anibal Sanchez will become the Tigers’ relief ace. I’m not sure if this prediction is the most likely or the craziest of the bunch — perhaps it’s both! — but Anibal Sanchez’s late-spring mechanical adjustment got some people talking. He no-hit the Pittsburgh Pirates ’ everyday lineup for six innings, and his fastball looked as explosive as we’ve seen in years. The Tigers were correct to trust Matt Boyd’s longer track record of performance, and there’s a good chance Sanchez falls back into mediocrity once the regular season begins. However, a weaponized Sanchez pitching multi-inning spurts could make the Tigers’ bullpen a true strength. We saw baseball go nuts over multi-inning firemen like Andrew Miller last fall, but using a reliever like that over the course of the regular season seems like a recipe for disaster. Sanchez is no Andrew Miller, but ...

How To Watch, Live Stream Every Monday Game

... Sports Ohio. Streaming:  __link__. The best reason to tune into this clash of rebuilding teams is to experience the saddest of possible words: Scott Feldman , Opening Day starter. Jeremy Hellickson will get the nod for the Phillies. When: Monday, 4:10 p.m. ET. Where: Dodger Stadium. When: Monday, 7:05 p.m. ET. Where: Globe Life Park. Streaming:  __link__ ,  Watch ESPN. In case you were wondering what an Indians-Rangers ALCS matchup would’ve looked like. It’s hard to beat Corey Kulber-Yu Darvish, and this’ll be the first time Mike Napoli plays the Indians since they chose to pass on re-signing him in favor of Edwin Encarnacion. When: Monday, 8:10 p.m. ET. Where: Minute Maid Park. Streaming:  __link__. Everyone’s opinion differ on the exact order, but the Mariners and Astros are almost universally considered two of the top three teams in the American League West. Felix Hernandez versus Dallas Keuchel is interesting, too, in the sense that both are aces coming off down seasons. When: ...

Mets Morning News For April 2, 2017

... the year with some bold predictions. Their first game is Monday in Washington. In a surprising move, the Nationals have opted to not have Max Scherzer start a game in that opening series against Miami. He’ll instead pitch their fourth game of the year against Philadelphia. The Phillies start their season in Cincinnati, but the days leading up the season have had a somber tone. The man who led the team to its first World Series title, Dallas Green, was honored at a memorial service Saturday. Around the Majors. The Mets may not be part of the Sunday slate, but there’s a nice triple header to whet your baseball appetite. The Yankees take on the Rays in Tampa, the Giants are in the desert to face the Diamondbacks , and the defending champion Cubs will go up against the Cardinals in St. Louis. We assume you’re probably giddy for baseball as is, but here are 162 more reasons to be excited. You ...

See Every Mlb Ballpark Ahead Of Opening Day

... 4, 2016 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images). Maddie Meyer. Copyright Getty Images. TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 17: The Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Indians stand for the national anthem prior to game three of the American League Championship Series at Rogers Centre on October 17, 2016 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images). Tom Szczerbowski. Copyright Getty Images. ST. PETERSBURG, FL - APRIL 6: General view of baseball fans getting settled into their seats inside Tropicana Field before the start of an Opening Day game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles on April 6, 2015 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images). Brian Blanco. Copyright Getty Images. NEW YORK, NY - MAY 23: General view as CC Sabathia #52 of the New York Yankees delivers a pitch to Adam Rosales #9 of the Texas Rangers in the second inning on May 23, 2015 at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx borough of ...

Martinez Vs. Lester Tops Our Ranking Of Every Pitching Matchup

... and misses came. Cole, meanwhile, is looking to bounce back after elbow woes limited him to 116 innings and a 3.88 ERA in 2016. This is the first career Opening Day start for both Porcello and Cole. 8. Felix Hernandez , Seattle Mariners vs. Dallas Keuchel , Houston Astros. A year or two ago this probably would have been our top Opening Day pitching matchup. Felix has entered his decline phase though, and Keuchel was well short of Cy Young caliber last season before going down with a shoulder issue in August. I will be very happy to admit I am wrong if (when?) both come out and resume pitching like two of the best starters in baseball this season. For now, I’m going to hedge my bet. Big time name power here. I’m just not certain how dominant either pitcher will be going forward. Also, I should ...