Greetings, friends. Welcome back to those of you who followed along with the Daily Opener last season. For those of you who are new here, this is where we hang out and talk about what happened in baseball the night before.
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 discuss some top performances. We’ll lament some injuries. We’ll touch on any noteworthy news and updates. We’ll take a peek at the day ahead. We’ll start way too many consecutive sentences with the word “we’ll.” And we’ll have a few laughs along the way.
Have questions or just want to talk baseball? Feel free to reach out on Twitter @mikeMaher with questions or feedback anytime.
Check out all of our weekly fantasy baseball content
Fantasy Baseball News and Notes
Three Up
- C.J. Cron went 4-for-5 with 2 HR and 5 RBI ON THE ROAD! If Cron can start hitting dingers in ballparks not named Coors Field…
- Adley Rutschman went 5-for-5 with 1 HR and 4 RBI. The HR wasn’t a cheapy, either. He bombed one deep into the right field seats in Fenway Park. We could have a new No. 1 catcher in fantasy this season if Adley continues to show more pop.
- Gerrit Cole, Dylan Cease, and Shohei Ohtani all went at least 6 innings, struck out at least 10 batters, and allowed one or fewer runs. Cole was the only one to earn a win, however.
Three Down
- Jacob deGrom, Aaron Nola, Zac Gallen, Alek Manoah, and Miles Mikolas all allowed 5 ER
- Corey Kluber also allowed 5 ER, but who cares.
- Max Muncy went 0-for-5 with 5 Ks. Here is a list of pitchers who had fewer strikeouts than Muncy on Opening Day:
- Eloy Jimenez, Kyle Schwarber, Austin Hays, Sean Murphy all went 0-for-5
Fun!
Hunter Renfroe just made the catch of the year on Opening Day
UNREAL CATCH HUNTER RENFROE pic.twitter.com/dTchoZljv7
— Talkin' Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 31, 2023
This one is less fun…
Shohei Ohtani's outing was the 26th since at least 1901 with 10+ strikeouts and no runs allowed on Opening Day
it's the first time that pitcher's team lost the game
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 31, 2023
Rub Some Dirt On It (Injuries)
- Justin Verlander landed on the 15-day injured list to open the season.
- Willson Contreras left Thursday’s game against the Blue Jays with a right knee contusion. He was hit by a deflected Jordan Hicks pitch while behind the plate.
- Max Fried left Thursday’s start with a hamstring strain and is likely headed to the IL.
- Luis Urias left Thursday’s game against the Cubs with a hamstring injury. If he lands on the IL, it could open up a roster spot and playing time for Sal Frelick or Joey Wiemer (eyes emoji).
- Giovanny Gallegos is day-to-day with lower back tightness.
- Daniel Bard landed on the 15-day IL with anxiety.
- Adalberto Mondesi was placed on the 60-day IL.
- Jose Altuve was NOT placed on the 60-day IL.
Studs and Duds
Here are some of the best and worst performances from yesterday.
Studs (Pitchers)
PLAYER
|
IP
|
K
|
W
|
QS
|
SV
|
ERA
|
WHIP
|
ER
|
H
|
BB
|
HR
|
G
|
GS
|
L
|
CG
|
ROST%
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Gerrit Cole (NYY – SP) | 6.0 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.83 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 99% |
2 | Marcus Stroman (CHC – SP) | 6.0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 48% |
3 | Shane McClanahan (TB – SP) | 6.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.83 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 99% |
4 | Pablo Lopez (MIN – SP) | 5.1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.94 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 90% |
5 | Dylan Cease (CWS – SP) | 6.1 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.42 | 0.32 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 99% |
6 | Julio Urias (LAD – SP) | 6.0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 | 0.67 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 99% |
7 | Luis Castillo (SEA – SP) | 6.0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 99% |
8 | Shohei Ohtani (LAA – SP,DH) | 6.0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | 0.83 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50% |
Studs (Hitters)
PLAYER
|
AB
|
R
|
HR
|
RBI
|
SB
|
AVG
|
OBP
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
BB
|
K
|
SLG
|
OPS
|
ROST%
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | C.J. Cron (COL – 1B,DH) | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .800 | .800 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2.200 | 3.000 | 88% |
2 | Shohei Ohtani (LAA – SP,DH) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .333 | .833 | 50% |
3 | Adley Rutschman (BAL – C,DH) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.600 | 2.600 | 99% |
4 | Gleyber Torres (NYY – 2B) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .333 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.333 | 1.833 | 90% |
5 | Alec Bohm (PHI – 1B,3B) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .750 | .750 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.750 | 2.500 | 69% |
6 | Jorge Mateo (BAL – SS) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .667 | .750 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 1.417 | 12% |
7 | Brendan Donovan (STL – 1B,2B,3B,SS,LF,RF) | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .500 | .500 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.500 | 44% |
8 | James Outman (LAD – LF) | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .667 | .750 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.667 | 2.417 | 17% |
Duds (Pitchers)
PLAYER
|
IP
|
K
|
W
|
QS
|
SV
|
ERA
|
WHIP
|
ER
|
H
|
BB
|
HR
|
G
|
GS
|
L
|
CG
|
ROST%
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
67 | Jacob deGrom (TEX – SP) | 3.2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.27 | 1.64 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 99% |
72 | Zac Gallen (ARI – SP) | 4.2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.64 | 1.93 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 98% |
107 | Aaron Nola (PHI – SP) | 3.2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12.27 | 1.64 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 99% |
135 | Miles Mikolas (STL – SP) | 3.1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.50 | 3.00 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 73% |
140 | Corey Kluber (BOS – SP) | 3.1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.50 | 3.00 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 24% |
142 | Alek Manoah (TOR – SP) | 3.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.50 | 3.30 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 99% |
Duds (Hitters)
PLAYER
|
AB
|
R
|
HR
|
RBI
|
SB
|
AVG
|
OBP
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
BB
|
K
|
SLG
|
OPS
|
ROST%
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
287 | Austin Hays (BAL – LF,RF) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | 27% |
286 | Sean Murphy (ATL – C,DH) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | 86% |
285 | Kyle Schwarber (PHI – LF) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | 99% |
284 | Max Kepler (MIN – RF) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .000 | 5% |
283 | Max Muncy (LAD – 2B,3B,DH) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | .000 | .000 | 93% |
282 | Eloy Jimenez (CWS – LF,DH) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .000 | 94% |
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.
- Aledmys Diaz comes up clutch on Opening Day
- Trevor May earns Opening Day win
- Dany Jimenez earns Opening Day save
- Ryan Helsley implodes in ninth inning Thursday against Blue Jays
- Brendan Donovan collects three hits, scores three runs Thursday
- Oneil Cruz launces solo homer during Thursday’s Opening Day win over Reds
- Shane Bieber throws six shutout innings Thursday
Dingers
Here is every player who hit a home run yesterday:
PLAYER
|
AB
|
R
|
HR
|
RBI
|
SB
|
AVG
|
OBP
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
BB
|
K
|
SLG
|
OPS
|
ROST%
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
46 | C.J. Cron (COL – 1B,DH) | 5 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0 | .800 | .800 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2.200 | 3.000 | 88% |
1 | Aaron Judge (NYY – CF,RF,DH) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .500 | .500 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.250 | 1.750 | 99% |
7 | Yordan Alvarez (HOU – LF,DH) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.333 | 1.833 | 99% |
36 | Wander Franco (TB – SS) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | .500 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.250 | 1.750 | 97% |
42 | Oneil Cruz (PIT – SS) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .500 | .600 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.000 | 2.600 | 94% |
45 | Tyler O’Neill (STL – LF,CF) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .250 | .400 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 1.400 | 71% |
64 | Gleyber Torres (NYY – 2B) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .333 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.333 | 1.833 | 90% |
70 | Alec Bohm (PHI – 1B,3B) | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .750 | .750 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1.750 | 2.500 | 69% |
81 | Ty France (SEA – 1B,3B) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .750 | .750 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.750 | 2.500 | 87% |
102 | Adley Rutschman (BAL – C,DH) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.000 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.600 | 2.600 | 99% |
162 | Brendan Donovan (STL – 1B,2B,3B,SS,LF,RF) | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .500 | .500 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.500 | 44% |
171 | Garrett Cooper (MIA – 1B,DH) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .250 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | 1.250 | 2% |
195 | Jose Siri (TB – CF) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .333 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.333 | 1.667 | 2% |
211 | Elehuris Montero (COL – 1B,3B) | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .400 | .400 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1.000 | 1.400 | 4% |
213 | Spencer Steer (CIN – 1B,3B) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .500 | .750 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.000 | 2.750 | 4% |
248 | Ramon Urias (BAL – 2B,3B) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .500 | .600 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.250 | 1.850 | 2% |
253 | Robbie Grossman (TEX – LF,RF) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | .333 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.333 | 1.833 | 2% |
262 | James Outman (LAD – LF) | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .667 | .750 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.667 | 2.417 | 17% |
278 | Yasmani Grandal (CWS – C,DH) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | .250 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.250 | 12% |
291 | Brad Miller (TEX – 3B,LF,DH) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .250 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | 1.250 | 0% |
Swipes
Stolen bases were WAY up yesterday. If Opening Day was any indication, the new rules are indeed going to lead to wayyyyyyyyy more swipes this season.
Here is every player who stole a base yesterday:
PLAYER
|
AB
|
R
|
HR
|
RBI
|
SB
|
AVG
|
OBP
|
H
|
2B
|
3B
|
BB
|
K
|
SLG
|
OPS
|
ROST%
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
31 | Cedric Mullins II (BAL – CF) | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .250 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | .250 | .750 | 98% |
197 | Jorge Mateo (BAL – SS) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | .667 | .750 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .667 | 1.417 | 12% |
274 | Ji Hwan Bae (PIT – CF) | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .667 | .750 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 1.750 | 1% |
3 | Ronald Acuna Jr. (ATL – RF,DH) | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .333 | .667 | 99% |
14 | Paul Goldschmidt (STL – 1B,DH) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .500 | .600 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .750 | 1.350 | 99% |
27 | Marcus Semien (TEX – 2B,SS) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .400 | .400 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .400 | .800 | 99% |
43 | J.T. Realmuto (PHI – C) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .600 | .600 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.200 | 1.800 | 99% |
44 | Starling Marte (NYM – RF) | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .600 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .500 | 1.100 | 92% |
48 | Taylor Ward (LAA – CF,RF) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .500 | 90% |
64 | Gleyber Torres (NYY – 2B) | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | .333 | .500 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.333 | 1.833 | 90% |
68 | Jeremy Pena (HOU – SS) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .250 | .250 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .250 | .500 | 78% |
74 | Ryan McMahon (COL – 2B,3B) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .200 | .200 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .400 | .600 | 47% |
93 | Thairo Estrada (SF – 2B,SS,LF) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | 1.000 | 67% |
124 | Seth Brown (OAK – 1B,LF,CF,RF) | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .500 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .750 | 1.250 | 34% |
136 | Anthony Volpe (NYY – SS) | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | .333 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | .000 | .333 | 66% |
190 | Jarred Kelenic (SEA – CF,RF) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .333 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .333 | .667 | 39% |
217 | Adam Frazier (BAL – 2B,LF,RF) | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .500 | .600 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 1.600 | 8% |
408 | Sam Hilliard (ATL – LF,CF) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | .000 | 1.000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | .000 | .000 | 0% |
Arm Barn Report
- Andres Munoz earned the save for the Mariners on Thursday, with Paul Sewald pitching the eighth.
- Dany Jimenez got the save for the Athletics on Thursday.
- Reynaldo Lopez earned the save Thursday but did allow a home run in the process.
- Kyle Finnegan allowed two earned runs in his first appearance of the season.
Here is every player who recorded a save yesterday:
PLAYER
|
IP
|
K
|
W
|
QS
|
SV
|
ERA
|
WHIP
|
ER
|
H
|
BB
|
HR
|
G
|
GS
|
L
|
CG
|
ROST%
|
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
59 | Jordan Romano (TOR – RP) | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 96% |
66 | Felix Bautista (BAL – RP) | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9.00 | 3.00 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 94% |
76 | Andres Munoz (SEA – RP) | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 2.00 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78% |
86 | Jhoan Duran (MIN – RP) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 67% |
91 | David Bednar (PIT – RP) | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75% |
113 | David Robertson (NYM – RP) | 1.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69% |
192 | Dany Jimenez (OAK – RP) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 | 1.00 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2% |
199 | Reynaldo Lopez (CWS – RP) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9.00 | 2.00 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12% |
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Mike Maher is an editor and content manager at FantasyPros and BettingPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive, and follow him on Twitter @MikeMaher.