See yesterday’s post for my take on the Cubs opening day against the Pirates.

Mike Foltynewicz leads the Braves against the Nationals and Stephen Strasburg. Foltynewicz is off to a great start with 15 K in 10 1/3 innings. He’s never had a season with a K per 9 IP at 9.0 or better. Strasburg walked three and struck out 13 in 12 1/3 innings, which is good, but he allowed three home runs, which is not good.

The Yankees and Red Sox meet for the first time, with Alex Cora winning the new manager battle in the AL East against Aaron Boone. The Red Sox are 8-1, versus 5-5 for the Yankees. The first meeting is a great pitching match-up, with Luis Severino facing Chris Sale. Severino has yet to allow a home run this season, and gave up just six hits in 13 innings. Sale has yet to win despite allowing just one run 11 innings. He also allowed just six hits and no home runs.

The Astros continue their series in Minnesota as Dallas Keuchel takes on Jake Odorizzi. Keuchel came into his own as a pitcher in 2014. Since then, he ranks fourth in the majors in fewest HR allowed per 9 IP, 0.76. Odorizzi’s ERA looks much better than his stats, partly because opposing batters are just 2 for 20 with men on base.

Finally, the Diamondbacks visit the Giants with Patrick Corbin facing Tyler Beede, making his MLB debut. Corbin struck out 20 while walking just two in his first 13 innings of 2018. Beede is seasonal age 25, and despite this being his fifth season in the minors, he has not pitched that much, just 401 1/3 innings. That all came as a starter. He did suffer a groin strain last season that shelved him and delayed his MLB debut. Given his career K per 9 IP of 7.3 and BB per 9 IP of 3.3 in the minors, he doesn’t exactly strike me as a rotation savior. If he is the top pitching prospect in the Giants system, I would say the Giants system is pretty weak.

Enjoy!