If it wasn't for rain-outs in Detroit and Cincinnati, 2018 would have been the first year since 1968 that all 30 teams had their opening day all on the same day. While Opening Day usually happens within the first few days of April, this year, opening day occurred early as it happened on March 29. Even though all teams didn't start their season on the same day, MLB opening day 2018 might have been the best opening day in a long time.
First pitch of 2018 season
Opening day started off in Miami with DJ Khaled playing his new victory song for the Marlins.
The first pitch came at 12:40 with Jose Urena on the mound for the Marlins with Ian Happ leading off for the Cubs. First pitch...Boom! Gone! Out of here! Happ connected on a 95 MPH fastball that went over the right-field fence for the first Home Run of his and the MLB season. What are the chances of that happening? Not high at all.
Stanton Smash
While Stanton was playing with the Marlins, a popular hashtag used by fans when he hit a home run was #Stantonsmash as most of his HR were moonshots. In his first AB as a Yankee, he hit a ball that left the yard for a two-run home run. He not only left the yard once, he did so twice in his first game as a Yankee. He left quite the impression on his new teammates as he finished the game going three for five with two home runs, four RBIs and a double.
White Sox combine for six HR
The White Sox beat the Royals by seven runs on opening day with nine of the 14 runs the White Sox scored coming from home runs. In the fourth inning, the White Sox hit three consecutive home runs while in the fifth inning, they hit two. Of the six home runs the White Sox hit, Matt Davidson hit three of them and finished the game with five RBIs.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles opened the season facing the Twins in their own ballpark at Camden Yards. Orioles opening day starter Dylan Bundy was fantastic as he went seven innings striking out seven, giving up only one walk and didn't allow a single run to score. He's going to have to thank Craig Gentry though for not giving up a run as in the second inning, Eddie Rosario almost hit a home run until Gentry leaped up and robbed Rosario at the wall.
His catch was named the top play on SportsCenter the next day. Gentry's catch wasn't the only highlight of the day for the O's though as in the eleventh inning Adam Jones had the first walk-off of the 2018 season by hitting a home run over the left-field fence to give the Orioles their eighth straight opening day win.
Craziness in Detroit
Opening day for the Tigers and Pirates was postponed to March 30 due to the weather, but it was a crazy game that occurred at Comerica Park. Coming into the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers came back from being down by four runs which sent the game into extra innings with the score at ten all. In the bottom of the tenth with Nick Castellanos on second, Jacoby Jones hit a single to left-field, Castellanos was then waved home by the Tigers third base coach.
As he was sliding into home, the umpire called him safe as it seemed to him like he avoided the tag. The whole Tigers bench ran onto the field to celebrate, but after the umpires reviewed the play at the plate and called Castellanos out as the video review showed that he was tagged on the elbow before he touched the plate. The overturned call forced new Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire to argue with the umpires which resulted in him getting thrown out. In the thirteenth inning, Gregory Polanco hit three-run home run which turned out to be the decision maker in the game as the Pirates won the contest 13-10.
Aces on the mound
Whenever a team's best pitcher is on the mound, it's always fun to watch not only for that team's fans but for all baseball fans around the league.
Opening day is the day that the best pitchers are guaranteed to be pitching as every team wants to start the season off on a good note and get a win. Noah Syndergaard got ten strikeouts over six innings, which was a big help for the Mets as they beat the Cardinals nine to four. Reigning NL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer of the Nationals finished with the exact same stats as Syndergaard while adding ten strikeouts over six innings and getting the win. Chris Sale, who got 308 strikeouts last season, got nine strikeouts in his first opening day start as a pitcher in Boston. Reigning AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber got eight strikeouts over eight innings while only walking one batter. Even though he pitched well, he came away with the loss.
2017 Cy Young award finalists in their respective leagues in Clayton Kershaw and Luis Severino both recorded seven strikeouts for their teams on opening day.
The 2018 season should be a fun year of baseball to look forward to.