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Five major stories from MLB opening week

Five major stories from MLB opening week

MLB DraftKings Network Rail

Published:

By: Zach Thompson

As the dust settles from the first domestic series of the MLB regular season, the sport is already embroiled in controversy, some teams are ready to push the panic button, and there may really be an unstoppable super-team. Even though the season is still in its infancy and no team has played even 4% of their regular season games, there are already five major stories you need to know from opening week. From the New York Yankees’ bats, to marquee MLB injuries, to standout rookie performances, I’ve got you covered on all this week’s baseball news.

Here is a quick look the five stories you’ll need to be up to speed on as you hit the water cooler or hang around the coffee pot at your office this week.

Yankees Torpedo Brewers

Controversy, thy name is Yankees. Everyone already loves or hates the Bronx Bombers, so what could go wrong with them debuting a new bat design on opening week?

Well, the Brewers pitchers definitely didn’t enjoy the experience.

In the three-game sweep of Milwaukee, the Yankees went 3-0 with 15 total home runs and a team-record 13 home runs in their last two games. They finished the series hitting .333 as a team with an average of 12.0 runs per game.

My colleague, Landon Silinsky broke down how the Yankees’ newly designed ‘Torpedo’ bats could affect the future of Major League Baseball.

Whether you are in or out on the torpedo bats, they’re definitely one of the major stories from MLB opening week.

Dodging All The “L”s

The Dodgers swept the Tokyo Series against the Cubs and found similar success on this side of the Pacific, winning three straight games against the Tigers.

It did take a dramatic walk-off from Mookie Betts in one game, but the Dodgers looked pretty unbeatable. No one thinks they can go 162-0, but are we really sure anyone can beat them?

The Kids Are All Right

The start of a new season always brings new hope and optimism. Fans are also excited to get a look at all their team’s shiny new prospects.

In the American League, Sean Burke opened the season with 6 shutout innings for the White Sox, allowing three hits and no walks with three strikeouts. Cam Smith made it to the majors less than a year after the MLB Draft and picked up his first MLB hit for the Astros. Rays rookie Kameron Misner became the first player in MLB history to hit a walk-off home run on Opening Day for his first career MLB home run, and Red Sox rookie Kristian Campbell took over as the favorite for AL Rookie of the Year after starting the season 6-for-14 (.428) with a home run and two doubles.

In the National League, Matt Shaw hit his first homer of his MLB career, and Braves catcher Drake Baldwin also got his first hit in the Braves series in San Diego.

My colleague Dan Johnson will have a full breakdown of all the rookie contributors later this week on DK Network, so be sure to stay tuned for that!

Magical Marlins

The Marlins hosted the Pirates and Paul Skenes in a four-game set to start their season. Not only did the Marlins come back and spoil Skenes’ potential victory with a comeback walk-off victory. They did it two more times in the series to take three of four games from Pittsburgh all in dramatic fashion.

Everybody Hurts

Injuries are an unfortunate part of the start of the season, but some potentially significant players went down during the opening series. Here were some of the biggest:

  • SP Max Scherzer of the Blue Jays is on the 15-day injured list with lat tightness.
  • 3B Jose Ramirez left Saturday’s game with a sprained wrist but could have been available to pinch-hit Sunday and will “hopefully” return to the starting lineup for the Guardians on Monday.
  • SS Trea Turner of the Phillies was scratched with back spasms and is expected to be out through Wednesday.
  • 3B Manny Machado exited Saturday’s game due to calf tightness but returned Sunday for the Padres.
  • C J.T. Realmuto of the Phillies had to leave a game after fouling the ball off his foot but could return Monday.
  • 3B Josh Jung landed on the 10-day injured list with a neck spasm but the Rangers hope that he will only need the minimum time on the IL.
  • 2B Gleyber Torres left the Tigers’ game on Friday after suffering a rib injury and did not start Saturday.
  • OF Josh Lowe left the Rays’ season-opener Friday with right oblique soreness and landed on the 10-day injured list.
  • OF Jo Adell of the Angels left Saturday’s game against the White Sox with left hip tightness.

Zach Thompson

I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skills and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.