Opening Weekend Recap: April 1st- April 4th

The 2021 MLB Season officially kicked off Thursday April 1st. I will be recapping the big games and performances from the opening weekend.

Note: The Mets and Nationals opening series was postponed due to a COVID outbreak among the Nationals, so the respective teams and players will not be mentioned.

Thursday April 1st:

Blue Jays vs. Yankees

Gerrit Cole got the Opening Day start for the Yankees. Cole gave up 2 runs over 5.1 innings pitched and left with a no-decision.

Teoscar Hernandez hit a home run off Cole in the sixth inning.

George Springer did not make his Blue Jays debut due to a Grade 2 oblique strain. He is expected to make his debut over the next week.

Dodgers vs. Rockies

Cody Bellinger was robbed of a 2-run home run, because teammate Justin Turner thought the ball was caught by left fielder Raimel Tapia. Turner then ran back to first base and Bellinger ended up passing him on the base paths. The result was an RBI single instead of a home run for Bellinger, crazy stuff!

Clayton Kershaw gave up five runs over 5.2 IP.

Cardinals vs. Reds

The Cardinals came out swinging against Luis Castillo. The Cardinals put up eight runs in the first inning. I personally have Castillo on one of my fantasy teams and was shocked by the result.

Jack Flaherty gave up six runs over 4.1 innings.

Both aces did not look good for their respective team. The cold weather played a factor on both pitchers and I am not worried, knowing they should bounce back in their next starts.

Other Notable Player Performances From Thursday's Games:

Rays Tyler Glasnow pitched six scoreless innings.

Indians Shane Bieber pitched six innings while snow was coming down on the field. He ended up striking out 12 and gave up three runs.

Astros Zack Greinke pitched six scoreless innings, receiving a win.

Pirates Ke'Bryan Hayes hit a 2-run home run.

Friday April 2nd

Dodgers vs. Rockies

Trevor Bauer made his Dodgers debut, pitching six no-hit innings. He served up 2-run home runs to Charlie Blackmon and Ryan McMahon in the seventh. Bauer ended up getting the win.

Corey Seager went 3-5 with two RBI and three runs.

Mookie Betts went 2-5, scoring two runs.

White Sox vs. Angels

Jose Abreu went 2-4 while hitting a grand slam.

Tim Anderson hit a solo home run.

White Sox Yermin Mercedes went 5-5.

Angels Shohei Ohtani hit a home run.

Astros vs. A's

Michael Brantley went 3-5.

Alex Bregman hit a 3-run home run.

Jose Altuve went 3-3, scoring four runs.

A's Ramon Laureano went 1-3 with a triple.

Other Notable Player Performances From Friday's Games:

Rays Austin Meadows hit a home run.

D-Backs Ketel Marte hit a solo home run.

Orioles Ryan Mountcastle went 1-4 with two RBI.

Marlins Pablo Lopez pitched five scoreless innings.

Saturday April 3rd

Blue Jays vs. Yankees

Yankees Gary Sanchez hit a home run.

DJ LeMahieu went 2-4 with one RBI and one run.

Aaron Judge went 2-5.

Corey Kluber pitched four innings, giving up one run in his Yankees debut.

Blue Jays Marcus Semien went 2-4 with two RBI and one run.

Rangers vs. Royals

Joey Gallo hit a solo home run.

Royals Whit Merrifield hit a solo home run.

Michael A. Taylor hit a solo home run.

Pirates vs. Cubs

Cubs Jake Arrieta pitched six innings of one-run ball picking up the win.

Kris Bryant hit a solo home run.

Javier Baez went 2-4 with one run and one RBI.

Cardinals vs. Reds

A fight emerged in the 4th inning, as Nick Castellanos and Jake Woodford collided at the plate. After Castellanos flexed in Woodford's face after scoring and yelling a few choice words, the dugouts emptied. Yadier Molina and Castellanos had to be restrained. Jordan Hicks had to be restrained in the outfield as another fight among the relievers was about to happen. As a result, Molina, Arenado, Castellanos, and Eugenio Suarez were all fined. Castellanos was given a two game suspension but he appealed it.

The fight was very similar to the 2010 scuffle between Brandon Phillips and Yadier Molina.

Nolan Arenado hit his first home run as a Cardinal in the ninth inning.

Paul DeJong hit two solo home runs.

Twins vs. Brewers

Jose Berrios and Corbin Burnes were dueling in Milwaukee.

One of the best pitching matchups I've ever seen, both pitchers had no-hitters through six innings. Berrios was pulled after six, while Burnes gave up a solo home run to Byron Buxton in the seventh.

Berrios was rewarded with the much deserved win.

White Sox vs. Angels

White Sox Lance Lynn pitched 4.2 innings, striking out six.

Yermin Mercedes went 3-4 with a home run. Mercedes started his MLB career going 8-8, what a feat!

Angels Jared Walsh went 2-4 with two RBI.

Other Notable Player Performances From Saturday's Games:

Phillies Zack Wheeler pitched outstanding. Wheeler pitched seven scoreless innings, scattered one hit, and struck out ten.

Astros Yordan Alvarez went 3-5 with a three-run home run.

Padres Manny Machado went 3-4 with a home run and two RBI.

Red Sox J.D. Martinez went 3-4 with an RBI and one run.

Sunday April 4th

Indians vs. Tigers

Tigers Akil Baddoo hit a home run in his first major league at-bat.

Indians Aaron Civale pitched seven solid innings giving up three runs and getting the win.

Indians Franmil Reyes hit a solo home run.

Indians Jose Ramirez went 2-5 with a run.

White Sox vs. Angels

Shohei Ohtani was the starting pitcher and hit second in the batting order for the Angels. Ohtani homered in the first inning off Dylan Cease and pitched 4.2 innings giving up one earned run. Ohtani was involved in a home plate collision with Jose Abreu and was luckily not injured.

Mike Trout went 1-4 with one run scored.

Other Notable Player Performances From Sunday's Games:

Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a home run.

Reds Nick Castellanos hit a three-run home run, going 2-4.

Royals Salvador Perez hit a two-run home run.

Twins Michael Pineda pitched five scoreless innings, getting the win.

Dodgers Will Smith homered.

Astros Kyle Tucker homered.

Final Thoughts: What a weird opening weekend to begin the 2021 season! The majority of pitchers struggled, which I thought was odd. Hopefully players, pitchers specifically will get into more of a rhythm as the season progresses.

See you at the Ballpark!!!

Adam