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

• Gerrit Cole had another forgettable start on Tuesday, lasing just 1.2 IP while allowing 2 ER, 1 H, and 5 BB while striking out two. It was the shortest outing of his career, and the five walks tied a career-high. Is it too early to be concerned about Cole? I spoke often this offseason about not wanting to pay up for the top tier of starting pitchers because 1. I loved the subsequent tiers of pitchers and 2. I had some concerns about most of the top starters. I think Cole’s numbers will be fine at the end of the season, but these are the kinds of performances that had me shying away from his price tag on draft day.
• Garrett Whitlock earned his first save of the season in Tuesday’s win over the Blue Jays. Through four appearances to start the year, Whitlock has a 0.93 ERA, 0.62 WHIP, 11 K, 1 W, and 1 S while allowing four hits and two walks over 9.2 IP. His value in fantasy is a bit all over the place depending on your league format and roster size, but he could be an elite weapon to help with your ratios while contributing the occasional save. The Red Sox and manager Alex Cora like to use him in that “high leverage” role that sometimes has him pitch multiple innings in the middle of the game, but he’s clearly the best pitcher in the bullpen after Chaim Bloom failed to address an already shaky stable of Boston arms this offseason.
• Alex Cobb allowed 3 ER on 6 H over 4.1 IP in a no-decision against the Mets on Tuesday, and he landed on the injured list with a groin injury on Wednesday morning. Cobb was a popular pick this offseason due to strong metrics in 2021 and an excellent landing spot in San Francisco for 2022. There is no word yet as to how severe the injury is.

Fun!

Most times on base so far in 2022:

Matt Olson, 31 (58 PA)
Seiya Suzuki, 25 (43 PA)
Josh Bell, 25 (57 PA)
Juan Soto, 25 (58 PA)
Connor Joe, 23 (51 PA)
Francisco Lindor (52 PA)
Manny Machado (56 PA)
Austin Riley (57 PA)

— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) April 20, 2022

Studs and Duds

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

Studs (Pitchers)

• Max Fried – 7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 0 BB, 8 K in win over Dodgers
• Max Scherzer – 7 IP, 1 ER, 1 H, 3 BB, 10 K, took no-hitter into the 6th inning in win over Giants
• Kyle Gibson – 6 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 2 BB, just 3 K in no-decision vs. Rockies
• Corbin Burnes – 7 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 0 BB, 10 K in win over Pirates
• Joan Adon – 6.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 5 K in win over Diamondbacks
• Josiah Gray – 5.1 IP, 1 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 8 K also in a win over the Diamondbacks
  • 18 K through 14.1 IP to start the season
• Joe Musgrove – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K in win over Reds
• Adam Wainwright – 5.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 6 K in win over Marlins
• Robbie Ray – 6 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 1 BB, 4 K in win over Rangers
  • Bounces back after rough start, but only 13 K through 19.1 IP

Studs (Hitters)

• Salvador Perez – 2-for-3, 2 HR, 2 RBI, 1 BB (up to 4 HR on the season)
• Wander Franco – 3-for-5, 1 HR, 1 2B, 2 RBI
• C.J. Cron – 1-for-2, 1 HR, 4 RBI, 1 BB (league-leading 6 HR)
• Kyle Schwarber – 2-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI
• Manny Machado – 2-for-4, 1 HR, 2 RBI
  • Through 13 G: .365 AVG, 3 HR, 10 RBI, 3 SB
• Tommy Edman – 2-for-4, 1 3B, 2 RBI
  • Through 9 G: .355 AVG, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 0 SB
• Eugenio Suarez – 1-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI
  • Batting .189 but does have 3 HR through 10 games

Duds (Pitchers)

• Gerrit Cole – 1.2 IP, 2 ER, 1 H, 5 BB, 3 K in no-decision vs. Tigers
• Framber Valdez – 4.1 IP, 6 ER, 8 H, 4 BB, 3 K in loss to Angels
• Jesus Luzardo (bad Luzardo) – 4.1 IP, 5 R (4 ER), 7 H, 2 BB, 3 K in loss to Cardinals
• Alex Cobb – 4.1 IP, 4 R (3 ER), 6 H, 4 K in no-decision vs. Mets (landed on the IL this morning)
• Logan Webb – 3.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 1 K in loss to Mets

Duds (Hitters)

• Ketel Marte – 0-for-8 with 3 K in the doubleheader
• Dylan Carlson – 0-for-5, 2 K
  • Through 9 G: .158 AVG, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 1 SB
• Joey Gallo – 0-for-4 with 4 K #GoldenSombrero
  • Through 11 G: .121 AVG, 0 HR, 15 K
• Rafael Devers – 0-for-4
• Christian Yelich stinks again – 0-for-4 with 2 K
• Kyle Tucker – 0-for-4 with 2 K
  • Through 11 G: .103 AVG, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 SB

11 different players went 0-for-4 with 2 Ks on Tuesday:

• Christian Yelich
• Kyle Tucker
• Yoshi Tsutsugo
• Spencer Torkelson
• Raimel Tapia
• Bryan Reynolds
• Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
• TJ Friedl
• Freddie Freeman
• Adam Duvall
• Mookie Betts

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.

Phew! Big day of news…

• Austin Riley placed on paternity list
• Cal Quantrill placed on injured list on Wednesday morning
• Gabriel Arias recalled as the 29th man for Cleveland’s doubleheader
• Owen Miller placed on injured list
• Alex Cobb (groin) lands on 10-day IL
• Eloy Jimenez (foot) out of lineup for Game 1 of Wednesday’s double header
• Luis Urias nearing rehab assignment
• Ronald Acuna Jr. doubles in rehab start Tuesday
• Luis Castillo throws bullpen session, slated for rehab start Sunday
• Didi Gregorius X-rays come back negative after HBP Tuesday
• Andrew Chafin closing in on rehab assignment
• Mike Clevinger sharp in rehab start Tuesday
• Tyler Stephenson leaves game after collision at home plate
• Gavin Lux scratched with back tightness Tuesday
• Mike Moustakas placed on IL
• Jonathan India placed on IL
• Luis Torrens heads to COVID IL list Tuesday
• Brandon Nimmo activated off COVID IL
• Jose Altuve to have an MRI Tuesday
• Stephen Strasburg (neck, shoulder) has not faced live hitters yet

Minor Improvements

Nolan Gorman is doing some things…

Nolan Gorman… AGAIN!

Make it home runs in 5 straight and 7 HRs in 7 games.@IntlPaperCo pic.twitter.com/so7EKMpiL7

— Memphis Redbirds (@memphisredbirds) April 20, 2022

Dingers

Here is every player who hit a home run yesterday:

Salvador Perez (x2)
Daulton Varsho
Joc Pederson
Daniel Vogelbach
Hunter Dozier
Tommy Pham
Jarred Kelenic
Hunter Renfroe
Jeremy Pena
Bryan De La Cruz
Patrick Wisdom
Abraham Toro
Rowdy Tellez
Eugenio Suarez
Zack Collins
Travis d’Arnaud
Josh VanMeter
Manny Machado
Kyle Schwarber
C.J. Cron
Wander Franco

Swipes

Here is every player who stole a base yesterday:

Julio Rodriguez (x2)
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (x2)
Steven Duggar
Starling Marte
Andrew Velazquez
Adolis Garcia
Tony Kemp
Anthony Rizzo
Austin Riley
Tyler O’Neill
Ozzie Albies
Francisco Lindor
Paul DeJong
Christian Bethancourt
Eli White
Aaron Hicks

Arm Barn Report

Here is every player who recorded a save yesterday:

Kenley Jansen
Daniel Bard
Trevor May
Aroldis Chapman
Andrew Kittredge
Josh Staumont
Josh Hader
Tanner Rainey
Zach Jackson
Garrett Whitlock
Francisco Lindor
Paul DeJong
Christian Bethancourt

Today’s Starting Lineup

• No nationally televised game today, but we have Rays vs. Cubs on ESPN+ at 6:30pm ET.
• Tonight’s Giants vs. Mets game featured another good starting pitching matchup in Carlos Rodon vs. Chris Bassitt
• It’s an Ohtani Day as Shohei Ohtani takes the mound in tonight’s Angels vs. Astros game. The less exciting Jake Odorizzi starts for Houston.

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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.