With another Opening Day in the books, here are three things we’ll be keeping an eye on throughout the weekend:
1. Will Contreras miss time?
New Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras is suffering from a knee contusion after getting hit with a Jordan Hicks fastball. Contreras left the game afterwards, and Katie Woo of The Athletic notes that while x-rays came back negative, Contreras was set to undergo further imaging last night. We could have more information on his status as soon as today, though it’s also possible we won’t hear anything until tomorrow given today’s day off for the club. Should the Cardinals’ marquee free agent signing of the offseason miss time, Andrew Knizner figures to split time with either Ivan Herrera or Tres Barrera behind the plate.
2. Several MLB debuts this weekend.
After the likes of Anthony Volpe, Jordan Walker, Oscar Colas and Brice Turang made their MLB debuts in the first game of their club’s season yesterday, several talents on Opening Day rosters have still yet to make their MLB debut. Among them are A’s righty Shintaro Fujinami, who’s slated to start Saturday’s game against the Angels, plus a trio of hurlers who are slated for Sunday starts: Mets righty Kodai Senga, Braves lefty Jared Shuster and Yankees righty Jhony Brito. Senga’s start, in particular, figures to draw plenty of eyes, given the high-profile contract he inked this winter (five years, $75MM) and the pair of injuries the Mets are already facing in the rotation. Beyond that group of debuts, Tigers fans will get to welcome back right-hander Spencer Turnbull on Saturday, when he makes his first big league start since June 4, 2021. Turnbull underwent Tommy John surgery in July of 2021 and missed the entire 2022 season.
3. Offseason in Review
MLBTR’s Offseason in Review series continues today, with the Twins installment of the series set to release early today. A pair of live chats are planned for today as well: at noon CT, MLBTR’s Steve Adams will be hosting a Giants-centric live chat in conjunction with yesterday’s San Francisco installment of the series. You can click here to ask a question in advance, participate live when the chat begins, or read the transcript afterward. Additionally, a Twins-centric live chat is also planned for today at 2pm CT to go along with today’s post. Here’s a link to ask a question in advance, participate live and read the transcript after it’s complete.
The game went south when Knizner came in. A noticeable pall of discomfort fell over the team.
“noticeable pall”
There ain’t no sabermetrics for that, baby!
Missed catch on a strike 3 and then a pop up bunt out did not help knizer. If Contreras misses time that spot in the lineup becomes an auto out. When he was up bunting I thought for a second they had a pitcher up there hitting
Maybe he was squinting in that giant Molina shadow.
“Noticeable” Paul Goldschmidt, StL Cards.
Wait a couple of minutes.
Pitch clock violation!
Wait… are you a batter? or a pitcher? This is embarrassing.
What the heck… BALL one! And STRIKE one! Count’s 1-1!
That’s when the game went south? That outcome was inevitable when the score was 6-6. The game went south when it was 4-1. They battled back admirably, but that outcome was obvious. A bad rotation will create a bad bullpen by covering too many inning. That’s is going to be how the season goes.
Toronto went just as deep off not deeper into their bullpen and the amount of softly hit balls into no man’s land was astounding. Bad luck lost that game. Springer had 5 hits and he could easily had 1
Making contact does that. Despite what the analytics dweebs think.
Serious homer rationalizing going on there.
The discomfort was listening to Garth Wainwright attempt to sing the national anthem.
We need more pictures of Lauren Shehadi’s feet.
He was okay. But he was no Carl Lewis.
I feel ya. It’s like reading your comments here.
Is Katie Woo of “The Athletic” Ric Flair’s favorite reporter?
Who’s Ric Flair? Nick Deeds wrote this piece.
@DCartrow
Katie Woo is The Athletics’ reporter for the Cardinals. Should they have asked the Yankees reporter for information?
Blue and Old should relax. Why are people like this?
Says the guy with the username honoring slimy Bud Selig, who was most responsible for the 1994 player strike, the cancellation of the World Series, and the unconscionable and illegal act of trying to use scab replacement players when he convinced the owners that they could break the union and implement a hard salary cap. How did that work out for them?
And why are people like what? Asking the significance of a name mentioned in a post?
Whether you like it or don’t like it, the name is everything, baby. WHOOO!
youtu.be/_0t6llGkBLo
Yet he has still been surpassed by Manfred, who has systematically destroyed the game of baseball.
I’m not sure the dude is honoring Bud Slimepig. 6969?
Who peed in your Cheerios? I’m definitely not honoring Selig. Calm down, enjoy life a little more. People don’t know who Ric Flair is? SMH
I was defending you. You’re the one that needs calming down. Vlue Baron was the one calling you out.
@budselig6969 needs to relax and learn that disagreeing with him doesn’t equate to being angry. Why are people like this?
Wasn’t replying to you, settle.
Angry? You went on a full rant about Selig. It’s ok, I’m not angry with you, not even sure we had a disagreement. You just don’t know who Ric Flair is, and it’s bizarre.
What’s bizarre about not knowing who a particular individual is? And I am dead right about Selig, not angry. Why are people (you) like this?
No max Fried?
Fried’s hammy is fried, friend.
Masataka Yoshida also made his debut yesterday with the RedSox.
And don’t forget that Canaan Smith-Njigba debuted with the Pirates yesterday.
CSN played briefly with Pirates last year before going down with an injury. Not a true debut.
I’m sure Contreas should be fine. Just one heck of a bruise.
I’m more worried about two of the Cardinals best pitchers giving up 7 runs in 4.1 innings. Contreras will be fine.
It was notable that despite all the hype, Toronto chose to walk Gorman to get to Walker with two outs.
A rookies in his first big league game…..they’d have been dumb not to. Just like when they were dumb to pitch to Arenado with a base open and Knizner on deck. I couldn’t fathom that decision and it bit them…until the Cards bullpen imploded, again.
The cardinals are now tied for the worst record in all of baseball.
Their high note was hit by Adam ‘Uncle Charlie” Wainwright.
You are one pathetic troll loser. Do you have nothing better to do with your time?
Someone sht in your breakfast, jonny?
Trivia… both Colby Rasmus and Randall Grichuk wore both color birds in their storied, near Hall Of Fame careers.
They played for both Baltimore, St. Louis and Toronto?
‘Both” implies two. As in the two teams that played yesterday.
But your post had me gwynning anyway. Gwynning awot.
All for the lols! Just making sure the Orioles weren’t forgotten, but I appreciate your candid effort at attempting to teach me what both means. Maybe one day I’ll grasp the concept!
You flipped me the Birds! Good move!
Btw, that rookie Bird got FIVE hits against the Bosox. Now THAT’s a debut.
Bounce back today, boss.
Yeah, first Opening Day for the kid and he proceeds to only go 5 for 5. What a pissah! Now, if only my vaunted Padres could beat the peaking Rockies…
The Padres, if nothing else, are frikken exciting.
Pat Hentgen is the only player to play for all three.
Dat first pitch in Houston tho
Yeah that first pitch in Houston, uhh I had to watch that with some privacy.
I missed it. Did it involve noodle frontity?
Or noodle frontitty? Or a nice Asstro?
I checked out the First Pitch pitcher.
Never heard of her. Nice bat rack though.