MLB 2018 regular season thread

Big difference between 68 and 85 pitches through six innings, as well.
Williams might have gone, what, one more inning before getting to 100? You don't want to blow a guy up the first weekend of the season. If he was at 85 pitches through eight, then you send him back out there. When he's got to get through three more innings at that pitch count, there's no way he's getting there.
Nola could have thrown at least one more inning, maybe two before he even got to 90 pitches. That's not pushing a guy too hard, plus it saves your bullpen when God only knows what might happen tomorrow.
The Pirates' move with Williams was sound. Kapler's move with Nola made no damn sense.

 

My point was that part of it is the timing in the season. I'm not saying they should have let Williams go for the no-hitter. There is no way he would have made it at any point in the season. What I am saying is they probably try to let him get through seven if that was a game in June.

The timing for Nola's start was probably part of the decision, but I agree that it was a terrible move by Kapler.

 

The Rays can call their 'bullpen day' whatever they like - it's just more cheapskatery.
ML pitchers have been developed and conditioned to be slotted into five-man rotations.

 

Ohtani went 6. The homer and two singles that preceded it were the only hits he gave up. Angels ahead 7-3 in the eighth.

 

Six teams opted to take Easter Sunday off rather than split the opening series, as is fairly common when it falls during the week, and have Friday off.
For the Braves, it's the first time they've had a scheduled Sunday off during the season since 1933.

Have you noticed the Braves are off Sunday? Here’s the last time it happened, with other tidbits

 

Certainly not a bad first outing, especially after he struggled so much in Spring Training.

 

The Tigers announcers said Sunday's doubleheader was the earliest (April 1) known twin-bill in baseball history.

 

The Giants’ big three acquisitions — McCutchen, Longoria and Austin Jackson — are a combined 2 for 43 with no walks. Maybe it’s because I have seen too many Aaron Rowands and Denard Spans come through here, but it feels ominous when older guys start like this.

The Giants are one of four teams in MLB history to score two or fewer runs in their first four games.

 

And the Twins' starting pitching threw 21 scoreless innings against the Orioles with the ace (E. Santana) injured and the big bucks guy (Lance Lynn) going Monday in Pittsburgh.

 

Six-Inning Shohei.