The Baseball Buffet for 3/27/2026

PIT 7, NYM 11 - PIT SP Paul Skenes couldn’t get out of the first inning - that’s not something you see too often. But it happened yesterday as he pitched 0.2 IP and allowed 4 H, 2 BB, 5 ER, with 1 K. (Skenes’ two-thirds of an inning was the shortest season debut by a reigning Cy Young winner, among those whose first appearance was a start.) He didn’t allow any homers, but the Mets did get a couple later in the sixth as rookie Carson Benge hit his first big-league HR, and then Francisco Alvarez went back-to-back. Juan Soto had two hits, as did Mets newcomers Marcus Semien and Luis Robert Jr. NYM SP Freddy Peralta had 7 K in 5 IP, but also allowed 6 H and 4 ER, notably allowing 2 HR to Pirates newcomer Brandon Lowe. Tobias Myers, who came over to the Mets with Peralta from the Brewers, did well over three innings in relief, only allowing a solo HR to new Bucs RF Ryan O’Hearn.

CWS 2, MIL 14 - Chase Meidroth hit a lead-off HR against MIL SP Jacob Misiorowski, and then Munetaka Murakami hit a solo HR in the ninth, his first in the majors. But the White Sox couldn’t get anything going between those two dingers as Misiorowski settled (5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 11 K), and four Brewers relievers combined with him to total 20 strikeouts (which ties the record for the most K in a 9-inning game). CWS SP Shane Smith struggled (1.2 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K) and his bullpen mates walked a total of 10 guys and allowed 12 hits. RF Sal Frelick went 1-3 with 2 BB and a HR, and Jake Bauers continued his hot spring hitting by going 2-5 with 2 runs and a 3-run HR.

WSH 10, CHC 4 - WSH SP Cade Cavalli had 5 K in 3.2 IP, but also allowed 3 H, 3 BB, and 2 ER. But the Nationals bullpen mostly contained Chicago from there, while three Nationals had homers (Brady House, Joey Weimer, and Jacob Young). For the Cubs, Matthew Boyd had 7 K in 3.2 IP, but also allowed 6 H, 1 BB, and 6 ER, while Michael Busch went 3-4 with 2 doubles, and Pete Crow-Armstrong was 2-5 with 2 RBI in a losing effort.

MIN 1, BAL 2 - Both starters did very well: MIN Joe Ryan (5.1 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 7 K) and BAL Trevor Rogers (7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 5 K). So it came down to the bullpens, with the Orioles managing to score two runs in the seventh, and then their new closer Ryan Helsley struck out three for the save in the ninth. Tyler O’Neil went 1-2 with a walk, but did not hit a HR so his streak of consecutive Opening Day games with HR ends at six.

BOS 3, CIN 0 - BOS SP Garrett Crochet got off to a great start to the season (6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 8 K), and three Red Sox relievers combined for a shutout, with Aroldis Chapman earning the save. CIN SP Andrew Abbott scattered seven hits over six innings of shutout ball, striking out four and walking one. But then Boston was able to score one in the seventh and two more in the ninth, with Roman Anthony going 3-4 with a walk and a run, and Marcelo Mayer coming in as a pinch-hitter and going 2-2 with a double and 2 runs.

DET 8, SDP 2 - Like Crochet, Detroit’s ace SP Tarik Skubal did well (6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). Xander Bogaerts went 2-4 with a double and an RBI, and Ramon Laureano hit a solo HR, but two runs is all the Padres would get. Meanwhile, SDP SP Nick Pivetta struggled (3 IP, 7 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 4 K), with Dillon Dingler going 2-5 with a HR and 3 RBI, and rookie Kevin McGonigle having a big debut by going 4-5 with 2 doubles, 2 runs, and 2 RBI.

TEX 3, PHI 5 - PHI SP Cristopher Sánchez was outstanding (6 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K), with Texas only finally scoring three in the top of the ninth, including a 2-run HR by Jake Burger. That wasn’t enough as TEX SP Nathan Eovaldi struck out 7 in 4.2 IP but also allowed 8 H and 5 ER, including a 2-run HR by Kyle Schwarber and a 3-run HR by Alec Bohm. PHI rookie CF Justin Crawford made his major league debut hitting ninth and going 2-4 with a run.

LAA 3, HOU 0 - Both starting pitchers were effective: LAA Jose Soriano (6 IP, 2 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 7 K) and HOU Hunter Brown (4.2 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 4 BB, 9 K). Four Angels relievers combined for a three-hit shutout, while Mike Trout went 1-2 with 3 BB and a HR, and Nolan Schanuel provided a solo HR in the ninth.

TBR 7, STL 9 - Both starting pitchers held the opposing team to one run through five innings: TBR Drew Rasmussen (5 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 2 K) and STL Matthew Liberatore (5 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 2 K). Then both bullpens lost the script in the sixth inning, with the Rays going up 7-1, and the Cardinals coming back with eight runs to go up 9-7. For Tampa, Yandy Díaz went 3-5 with a walk and a run, Jonathan Aranda went 2-4 with a walk and a HR, and both Ben Williamson and Nick Fortes went 3-4. For St. Louis rookie JJ Wetherholt went 1-4 with his first major league HR, Alec Burleson went 3-4 with a walk, a HR, 2 runs, and 2 RBI, and both Nathan Church and Victor Scott II went 3-4.

AZ 2, LAD 8 - LAD SP Yoshinobu Yamamoto did well (6 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K), giving up a 2-run HR in the fourth to Geraldo Perdomo. That 2-0 lead was short-lived, as AZ SP Zac Gallen gave up four earned runs in the fifth inning, and then the D-Backs’ bullpen gave up another four runs in the seventh. Will Smith and Andy Pages both went 2-4 with a HR and 3 RBI.

CLE 6, SEA 4 - The first inning in this one had plenty of excitement. In his first major-league at-bat, CLE rookie RF Chase DeLauter hit a HR off SEA SP Logan Gilbert. Then in the bottom of the frame, new Seattle Mariners’ 3B Brendan Donovan led off with a HR off CLE SP Tanner Bibee. Both pitchers would go on to strike out 7, but also allow three earned runs in five innings of work. For the Mariners, DH Dominic Canzone went 2-4 with 2 solo HR, while DeLauter finished his MLB debut having gone 3-5 with a second HR in the ninth inning.

MIL CF Jackson Chourio - 10-day IL (left hand fracture) … apparently this injury goes back a few weeks to the WBC, but he’s been playing with mild discomfort until now. The Brewers have called up CF Blake Perkins for the time being.

1902: Unofficial birth of the name "Cubs". "The nickname Cubs is coined by the Chicago Daily News, when an unbylined column notes that manager Frank Selee will devote his strongest efforts on the team work of the new "Cubs" this year. In time, the Cubs will replace the Colts as the nickname for the Chicago National League club."

1973: The Tigers acquire pitcher Jim Perry. "Veteran pitcher Jim Perry of the Minnesota Twins becomes the first player in Major League Baseball to approve of being traded under the new "ten and five" rule. The Twins send Perry to the Detroit Tigers for a player and cash considerations. Perry, a 24-game winner in 1970, will win 14 games for the Tigers this year."

1987: The Mets acquire David Cone. "The New York Mets make one of the best trades in franchise history when they acquire pitcher David Cone from the Kansas City Royals for catcher Ed Hearn and two pitching prospects, Mauro Gozzo and Rick Anderson. Cone will blossom as one of the National League's better starting pitchers, posting a 20-3 record for the Mets in 1988, while Hearn's promising career will be ended by injuries."

1992: The Brewers trade for Gary Sheffield. "The San Diego Padres acquire third baseman Gary Sheffield and a minor leaguer from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for pitcher Ricky Bones, shortstop Jose Valentin and outfielder Matt Mieske. Sheffield will lead the National League in batting average this year, while making a strong run at the Triple Crown."

First-round draft pick (5th overall) in 2008 by the Giants

12-year major league career, spanning from 2009-2021, all with the Giants

Won the NL Rookie of the Year Award in 2010 after batting .305 with 18 HR and 67 RBI

Seven-time All-Star, and won a Gold Glove as a catcher in 2016

Won the NL MVP Award in 2012 after hitting 24 HR with 103 RBI, and leading the NL with a .336 average

Was a key member of three World Series champion Giants teams in 2010, 2012, and 2014

Overall had 158 HR, a .302/.372/.460 slash line, and a 129 OPS+

Hall of Famer (as a manager)

13-year major league career, spanning from 1904-1916, as a 2B for the Reds and Cardinals

Had a good eye at the plate and led the NL in walks four times

Scored 100+ runs three times, and had 25+ SB eight times, with a career-high of 41 SB in 1906

Had very little power with only 9 HR in 6,825 career plate appearances

Overall had 324 SB, 948 runs, a .265/.382/.314 slash line, and a 107 OPS+

Was a long-time manager, starting as a player/manager for the Cardinals, and then joining the Yankees as manager from 1918-1929. He led New York to six AL Pennants and three World Series Championships, before passing away from illness late in 1929 season at the age of 51.

First-round draft pick (9th overall) in 1997 by the Twins

15-year major league career, mostly as a RF, 1B, and 3B for the Twins and Rockies

Hit 20+ HR four times with a high of 32 HR in 2009

Two-time All-Star, including in 2013 when he led the NL with a .331 average

Overall had 197 HR, a .277/.344/.461 slash line, and a 113 OPS+

14-year major league pitching career, spanning from 1973-1986, with the Phillies, Cubs, and Braves

Two-time All-Star, though oddly led the NL in most earned runs allowed in both of those seasons

Had 14-17 wins three times

Overall had a 123-127 record and a 4.14 ERA

COL Kyle Freeland vs. MIA Sandy Alcantara - Freeland and Alcantara will extend their franchise records by making their fifth and sixth Opening Day starts, respectively.

ATH Luis Severino vs. TOR Kevin Gausman - Both pitchers are making their third career Opening Day starts.

KCR Cole Ragans vs. ATL Chris Sale - This is Ragans’ third consecutive Opening Day start, while it is Sale’s seventh overall for his career.

NYY Aaron Judge - 3-8, 3 HR vs. SFG Robbie Ray

NYY Amed Rosario - 6-15 (.400), 4 doubles vs. SFG Robbie Ray

ATH Brent Rooker - 4-8, HR, double vs. TOR Kevin Gausman

MIA Christopher Morel - 2-8, 2 HR vs. COL Kyle Freeland

HOU Isaac Paredes - 6-18, 2 HR vs. LAA Yusei Kikuchi

HOU Jake Meyers - 3-12, 2 HR vs. LAA Yusei Kikuchi

HOU Yordan Alvarez - 10-28, 3 HR, 3 doubles vs. LAA Yusei Kikuchi

CLE José Ramírez - 6-12, HR, 3 doubles vs. SEA George Kirby

TOR George Springer - 3-27 (.111), 9 K, but does have 2 HR vs. ATH Luis Severino

TOR Jesus Sanchez - 2-14, 7 K vs. ATH Luis Severino

NYY Giancarlo Stanton - 1-10, 3 K vs. SFG Robbie Ray

NYY Cody Bellinger - 2-15, 6 K vs. SFG Robbie Ray

COL Mickey Moniak - 1-10, 2 K vs. MIA Sandy Alcantara

HOU Christian Vazquez - 0-11, 2 K vs. LAA Yusei Kikuchi

HOU Christian Walker - 2-18, 6 K vs. LAA Yusei Kikuchi

SDP Nick Castellanos - 1-10, 2 K vs. DET Framber Valdez

LAD Shohei Ohtani - 2-13, 4 K vs. AZ Ryne Nelson

LAD Andy Pages - 1-12, 4 K though the hit was a HR vs. AZ Ryne Nelson

ATL Chris Sale - 94 AB, only 1 HR, 24 K, only 2 BB, .245/.260/.331 vs. KCR's hitters

LAA Yusei Kikuchi - 171 AB, 9 HR, 40 K, 13 BB, .275/.329/.529 vs. HOU's hitters

COL Kyle Freeland - 86 AB, 3 HR, 16 K, 6 BB, .302/.342/.467 vs. MIA's hitters

SEA George Kirby - 62 AB, 2 HR, 11 K, 2 BB, .306/.330/.488 vs. CLE’s hitters

A memorable Opening Day start for every team, by MLB writers, 3/26/2026

Ohtani leads way for most popular jersey. How does rest of list shake out?, by MLB writers, 3/26/2026

Hank Bauer vs. Hank Sauer – whose career would you prefer?, by Mark Kolier at Almost Cooperstown, 3/27/2026

No One Knew, by Tyler O’Shea at The Underdog Newsletter, 3/22/2026