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

Anthony Rizzo hit three home runs last night in the Yankees’ win over the Baltimore Orioles, but did he really? The right field porch in Yankee Stadium is only slightly behind first base, and these home runs all looked to be popups that just floated out of the ballpark. It’s time for the Yankees to move back the fence in right field like the Orioles did in left field at Camden Yards. Enough.

How good has Logan Gilbert been? He dropped his ERA down to 0.40 and hasn’t allowed an earned run since the first inning of his first start of the season. We’re witnessing the Logan Gilbert breakout right now.

Patrick Sandoval was a popular BUY for some very smart fantasy analysts this offseason. So far, those smart fantasy analysts are looking, well, very smart. Through three starts this season, Sandoval has tossed 15 innings while striking out 20 and not allowing a single earned run. There’s just one catch. He only pitched 87 innings in 2021 after tossing just 36 2/3 innings in the shortened 2020 season. How many innings we can realistically expect from him in 2022 is a major question.

Fun!

WATCH THIS https://t.co/9qYawftvlr

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 27, 2022

Rub Some Dirt On It (Injuries)

• Bryce Harper is able to continue DH-ing, but his elbow is bothering him enough that he can’t play the field or even have a catch without pain. Something to monitor.
• Adalberto Mondesi is headed more for tests on his injured knee. The Royals don’t sound that concerned, but more tests is rarely a good sign.

Studs and Duds

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

Studs (Pitchers)

• Logan Gilbert – 5.2 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 7 K in win over Rays (3-0, 0.40 ERA)
  • Has not allowed an earned run since the first inning of his first start of the season
• Patrick Sandoval – 7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 9 K in win over Guardians (1-0, 0.00 ERA)
  • 3 starts: 15 IP, 0 ER, 20 K
• Carlos Rodon – 6 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 9 K in win over A’s (3-0, 1.17 ERA)
• Chris Bassitt – 6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 3 BB, 6 K in win over Cardinals (3-1, 2.25 ERA)
• Chris Paddack – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K in no-decision vs. Tigers (3.68 ERA)
• Max Fried – 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 4 K in win over Cubs (2-2, 3.00 ERA)
• Daniel Lynch – 6 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, 7 K in win over White Sox (2-1, 3.38 ERA)
  • 11 shutout innings over last two starts after allowing 6 ER in first start
• Kevin Gausman – 6 IP, 1 R (0 ER), 4 H, 0 BB, 9 K in no-decision vs. Red Sox (2.19 ERA)
• Josiah Gray – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 7 H, 3 BB, 10 K in loss to Marlins (2-2, 4.05 ERA)
• Sandy Alcantara – 6 IP, 1 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 5 K in win over Nationals (2-0, 1.78 ERA)
• Zach Eflin – 6 IP, 1 ER, 2 H, 1 BB, 3 K in win over Rockies (1-1, 3.20 ERA)

Studs (Hitters)

• Anthony Rizzo…
• Joey Gallo – 1-for-4, 1 HR (first HR of the season)
• Anthony Rendon – 2-for-4, 2 2B, 1 R
• Mike Trout – 2-for-3, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI, 1 BB, 1 R (.347, 1.234 OPS)
• Kyle Tucker – 1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI
• Tommy Edman – 0-for-2, 1 BB, 2 SB
• Max Kepler – 2-for-4, 1 HR, 1 2B, 3 RBI
• Javier Baez – 2-for-3, 1 HR, 1 2B, 4 RBI
• Andrew Benintendi – 2-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 R
  • Quietly leading the American League in hitting (.389)
• Eric Hosmer – 2-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB
• George Springer – 2-for-5, 1 HR, 3 RBI
• Joey Wendle – 2-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 SB
  • Through 14 G: .362 AVG, 1 HR, 3 SB

Duds (Pitchers)

• German Marquez – 3.2 IP, 7 R (4 ER), 7 H, 1 BB, 1 K in loss to Phillies
• Brandon Woodruff – 4 IP, 4 ER,
• Reiver Sanmartin – 3 IP, 9 ER, 8 H, 1 BB, 2 K in loss to Padres
• Jordan Lyles – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 7 H, 1 BB, 3 K in loss to Yankees
  • The Baltimore rotation coming back down to Earth…
• Daulton Jefferies – 4 IP, 5 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 3 K in loss to Giants
  • ERA jumped from 1.17 to 3.26

Duds (Hitters)

• Matt Chapman – 0-for-5, 3 K
• Franmil Reyes – 0-for-4, 4 K #GoldenSombrero
  • Batting .161 with a 41.5% K% through 15 games…
• Francisco Lindor – 0-for-5, 1 K
• Connor Joe – 0-for-5, 1 K
• Carlos Correa – 0-for-4, 3 K
  • Batting .179 with a 33.3% K%…

Speaking of offense being down:

• 47 different players went 0-for-4 or 0-for-5 last night
• 18 of them went 0-for-4 with 2 or more Ks

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.

• Kumar Rocker to join Independent League within two weeks
• Luis Castillo on track for early May return to Reds
• Wil Myers leaves game with thumb issue vs. Reds
• Bryce Harper (elbow) likely to continue to DH
• Jordan Hicks exits Tuesday’s start against Mets
• Bryan Reynolds, Cole Tucker head to Covid IL
• Luis Robert remains out of lineup Tuesday
• Jonathan India reinstated from 10-day IL

Dingers

Here is every player who hit a home run yesterday:

Anthony Rizzo (x3)
Willy Adames (x2)
Charlie Blackmon (2)
Javier Baez
Joey Wendle
Wilmer Flores
Eric Hosmer
Mike Trout
Odubel Herrera
Max Kepler
David Peralta
Nick Senzel
George Springer
Rene Pinto
Austin Hays
Ha-Seong Kim
Austin Slater
Anthony Santander
Aaron Judge
Kyle Tucker
Ian Happ
Travis Demeritte
Wander Franco
Joey Gallo
Adolis Garcia

Swipes

Here is every player who stole a base yesterday:

Sheldon Neuse (x2)
Tommy Edman (x2)
Joey Wendle
Xander Bogaerts
Kolten Wong
Juan Soto
Bryce Harper
J.T. Realmuto
Andrew McCutchen
Cesar Hernandez
Avisail Garcia

Arm Barn Report

Here is every player who recorded a save yesterday:

Kenley Jansen
Mark Melancon
Edwin Diaz
Josh Hader
Raisel Iglesias
Anthony Bender

Check out all of our weekly fantasy baseball content

Today’s Starting Lineup

• No national games today, but the ESPN+ game is Astros vs. Rangers at 8:05 p.m. ET
• Shohei Ohtani is on the mound tonight for the Angels, which is always must-watch television.
• Joe Pisapia thinks that Paul Blackburn is good. I disagree. We have a friendly wager that he is going to get LIT UP by the Giants tonight.

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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.