Adam Wainwright- STL- Caution- Wainwright threw 7 scoreless IP, allowing just 3 hits and striking out 9. However, he did have some control issues, with 43 of his 105 pitches being balls and walking 4 batters, mare than in any one game last year and, in fact, more than his total walks in 6 April 2013 starts. It's way too early to push a panic button, but Wainwright's usage last year gives some concern. After being used conservatively in 2012 after missing all of the 2011 season for Tommy John surgery, Wainwright threw a lot more last season. He made a total of 3533 pitches in the regular season plus another 505 in 5 postseason starts. Wainwright also exceeded 110 pitches 11 times, more than in any other single season. He only walked 1 batter in 22.2 spring innings this year so Opening Day might have been an outlier. If he continues to have control problems, though, it could be time to sell high if he can cobble together results like yesterday.
Billy Hamilton- CIN- Cold- The games count now and Hamilton didn't carry over his production from the Cactus League in which he hit .327 with 9 steals. Yesterday, Hamilton started his season atop the Reds' lineup with an 0-for-4. All of his outs were strikeouts. Hamilton's value is stealing, but you can't steal first base. If it was just Opening Day jitters he needs to put them behind him and quickly.
Jose Fernandez- MIA- Hot- Rookie of the Year one year and Cy Young winner the next? With a projected 14-10 record, 2.85 ERA and 210 Ks in 190 IP, Fernandez would have a good shot if he can live up to them. His Opening Day start didn't do anything to damper the excitement around him. Fernandez allowed 1 run (a solo shot by CarGo) in 6 IP, giving up 5 hits while striking out 9 and walking none. A whopping 73 of his 94 pitches were for strikes. His first start certainly gave no hint of a sophomore jinx.
Scooter Gennett- MIL- Hot- Gennett had a much better Opening Day than he did Cactus League. He went 2-for-3 after hitting just .230 this spring. Gennett projects to push double digits in both homers and steals, with 8 and 9, respectively in 138 games to go along with a .279 average. Gennett's .324 average in 230 PAs with the Brewers last season was propped up by a .380 BABIP, but he can give some decent production in a middle infield spot.
Bobby Parnell- NYM- Cold- Parnell is projected to record 28 saves for the Mets. Opening Day would not be one of them as he blew his first chance of 2014. Parnell allowed the tying run in the 9th, forcing the game to extra innings, on 2 hits and a walk. He also projects to an ERA of 3.04 and WHIP of 1.25 so his hold on the closer role is likely to be tentative.
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