Rounding the bases: What’s happened to start the MLB season?
On Sunday night, the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals kicked off the Major League Baseball season. Come Wednesday morning, every team has at least one game under its belt while some have two. Here’s what has happened to this point:
– Corey Kluber and Dallas Keuchel put on an epic show in the season-opener between the Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros. Kluber, the defending American League Cy Young Award winner, took the loss while allowing three hits and two runs over 7.1 innings. Keuchel was even better in victory, scattering a trio of hits and shutting out Cleveland over seven frames. If Houston wants to make a charge in the AL West, they need Keuchel to be an ace.
– Masahiro Tanaka could be in for a rough season. After all the talk about Tanaka needing Tommy John surgery throughout the latter part of last season and then the winter, the New York Yankees opted against it. On Monday, Tanaka was shelled by the Toronto Blue Jays, allowing five runs in four innings during a 6-1 defeat. Tanaka’s splitter was terrific, but his fastball lacked plenty of life.
– The San Francisco Giants split their first two games against the Arizona Diamondbacks, which is nothing to write home about. However, the important part is the injuries piling up on the pitchers. Matt Cain is already on the disabled list with a strained flexor tendon while Jake Peavy is dealing with back spasms, something that could land him on the DL. With Cain and Peavy both out, the Giants are realizing the major flaw on their roster; aging arms.
– The Milwaukee Brewers might be brutal. Look, it is only two games so there is no reason to push the panic button, but getting pounded twice at home by the Colorado Rockies is a concern. Kyle Lohse was absolutely tattooed in the opener and Matt Garza was hot garbage in the second contest. The fact Lohse and Garza are at the top of the rotation is a concern to begin with. If they don’t pitch well? Look out below.
– C.J. Wilson was flat-out horrific last year. Getting paid a mint by the Los Angeles Angels, Wilson was falling apart and appeared destined to become nothing more than a financial albatross. Then, Wilson took the mound hoping to keep the Angels from an 0-2 start and spun a gem against the Seattle Mariners. Wilson went eight innings and allowed just two hits, leading Los Angeles to a 2-0 win. If Wilson can find his old form, the Angels are in great shape.
– A hilarious note to end this. The Miami Marlins had a rain delay in their season opener against the Atlanta Braves. Why is that funny? Because they play in a stadium with a retractable roof. The powers that be somehow did not realize a storm was coming and failed to close the roof in time.
