Greetings, friends. We’re back for another baseball season. More importantly, we have a fun new series this year.

Welcome to the Daily Opener.

Every morning, I’ll be with you to recap the previous day of baseball and talk about what stood out to me. We’ll find fun stats. We’ll lament some injuries. We’ll take a peek at the day ahead. And we’ll have a few laughs.

Have questions or just want to talk baseball? Feel free to reach out on Twitter @mikeMaher with questions or feedback anytime.

Top Stories

• NYM: Max Scherzer exits start with left side discomfort
• BOS: Nick Pivetta tosses-two hitter in win over Astros?
  • 9 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 9 K (2-4, 4.22 ERA)
• ATL: Kenley Jansen blows his first save in the 9th, Keston Hiura walks things off for the Brewers in extras with a two-run HR
• TEX: Brandon Lowe smashes walk-off two-run homer in extras win
• LAA: Jared Walsh homers twice, drives in three in loss
• PIT: David Bednar fans two in two-inning save on Wed.
• NYM: Pete Alonso homers, plates four in Mets’ win
• MIN: Luis Arraez scores four runs in Twins’ rout of A’s
• COL: C.J. Cron powers Rockies to comeback win vs. SF

Fun!

Taylor Ward now leads all qualified hitters in…

BA (.376)
OBP (.484)
SLG (.733)
OPS (1.216)
OPS+ (255)

Incredible

— MLB Metrics (@MLBMetrics) May 18, 2022

Rub Some Dirt On It (Injuries)

• MIN: Chris Paddack undergoes second Tommy John surgery
• TOR: Lourdes Gurriel leaves game with tight hamstring
• PHI: Bryce Harper remains out after receiving a PRP injection
• NYM: Max Scherzer is indeed dealing with an oblique injury

Studs and Duds

Here are some of the best and worst performances from yesterday.

Studs (Pitchers)

• Nick Pivetta – 9.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 8 K
• Zack Wheeler – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 9 K
• Drew Rasmussen – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 7 K
• Jordan Lyles – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 H, 0 BB, 8 K
• Gerrit Cole – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 5 K
• Shohei Ohtani – 6 Ip, 2 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 K
• Josiah Gray – 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 0 BB, 7 K

Studs (Hitters)

• Austin Riley – 2-for-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. – 2-for-2, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
• Jared Walsh – 2-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
• Luis Arraez – 3-for-5, 2 RBI, 4 R, 1 SB
• Isaac Paredes – 2-for-4, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R
• Pete Alonso – 2-for-4, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 2 R
• Kole Calhoun – 2-for-3, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 R
• Ty France – 3-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 1 R
• MJ Melendez – 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R

Duds (Pitchers)

• Daulton Jefferies – 4 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 5 K
• Zach Davies – 4 IP, 5 ER, 7 H, 0 BB, 2 K
• Kirby Snead – 0.2 IP, 5 ER, 3 H, 3 BB, 1 K
• Jake Walsh – 0.0 IP, 4 ER, 2 H, 1 BB

Duds (Hitters)

• Eduardo Escobar – 0-for-4, 3 K
• Javier Baez – 0-for-4, 3 K
• Joey Bart – 0-for-4, 3 K
• Luis Robert – 0-for-4, 3 K
• Josh Bell – 0-for-5

0-for-4 but Zero Strikeouts Club:

• Juan Yepez
• Christian Walker
• Alex Verdugo
• Jean Segura
• Robbie Grossman

From the News Desk

We have an incredible news desk at FantasyPros. Seriously, they crush it. If you don’t already, you should sync your teams with My Playbook and check out the Fantasy News and Scores app for updates about your players.

• Max Scherzer suffered oblique injury, awaiting MRI results
• Tyler O’Neill sitting Thursday with sore shoulder
• Cedric Mullins II out of lineup Thursday vs Yankees
• Joey Gallo out of lineup Thursday vs Orioles
• Shane Baz (elbow) to begin minor league rehab assignment Thursday
• Luis Gil leaves Triple-A start with apparent arm injury
• David Robertson activated off the IL
• Eduardo Rodriguez to get MRI on left side and is likely to head to IL
• Jordan Romano dealing with gastrointestinal infection and is day-to-day

Dingers

Here is every player who hit a home run yesterday:

Jared Walsh (x2)
Isaac Paredes (x2)
Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Pete Alonso
Kole Calhoun
Ty France
MJ Melendez
Spencer Torkelson
Austin Riley
Nolan Arenado
Rhys Hoskins
Bobby Witt
Charlie Blackmon
Marcell Ozuna
Justin Turner
Ian Happ
Brad Miller
C.J. Cron
Keston Hiura
Mike Trout
Xander Bogaerts
Jose Altuve
Cal Raleigh
Jack Suwinski
Abraham Toro
Nathaniel Lowe

Swipes

Here is every player who stole a base yesterday:

Luis Arraez
Thairo Estrada
Cody Bellinger
Albert Pujols
Jorge Polanco
Wander Franco
Jace Peterson
Juan Soto
Brett Phillips
Ke’Bryan Hayes
Nicky Lopez
Whit Merrifield
Christian Yelich
Trea Turner
Dylan Moore
Jonathan Villar

Arm Barn Report

Here is every player who recorded a save yesterday:

Daniel Bard
Daniel Hudson
Clay Holmes
Corey Knebel
Victor Arano
David Bednar

Check out all of our weekly fantasy baseball content

Today’s Starting Lineup

• While we await more detailed Max Scherzer news, Cardinals vs. Mets is the ESPN+ game for today featuring a Dakota Hudson vs. Chris Bassitt matchup.
• George Kirby is on the mound again tonight when the Mariners take on the Red Sox at Fenway Park.
• Marcus Stroman is coming off the injured list and starting against the Diamondbacks in Chicago.
• Lots of early games to watch today. The best one is Padres vs. Phillies featuring Yu Darvish vs. Kyle Gibson.

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Mike Maher is an editor and content manager at FantasyPros and BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive, follow him on Twitter @MikeMaher, and visit his Philadelphia Eagles blog, The Birds Blitz.