On the wings of Angels

Shohei Otani

To say that Shohei Ohtani had a tumultuous spring training would be a massive understatement. The 23-year-old came over from Japan with a tremendous amount of fanfare and sky-high expectations. Prior to the start of spring training, he was being drafted as an ace in many fantasy leagues, going inside the top 15 starting pitchers.

Then, the Cactus League happened. Ohtani only appeared in two games as a pitcher, surrendering nine runs (eight earned) on nine hits in just 2 ⅔ innings. He wasn’t any better on the back fields or in minor league play either. He was so bad, that many believed that the Angels would actually start him out in the minor leagues to allow him to settle in and get his feet under him before joining the Angels’ rotation.

The Angels stuck to their plan though. Some players rise to the occasion on the biggest stage and the early returns paint the picture that Ohtani is exactly that type of guy.

He took the hill for the Angels on Sunday, making his MLB pitching debut against the Athletics. He was amped up in the first inning, touching 99.6 mph with his fastball as he set down the side in order, two of them via strikeouts.

Ohtani then came back out in the second inning and fanned Khris Davis. After that, he gave up a one-out single to Matt Joyce. Stephen Piscotty followed with a single of his own before Matt Chapman unloaded on a 0-1 pitch for a three-run homer. Just 1 ⅓ innings into his MLB career and Ohtani was already on the ropes.

Rather than fall apart though, he showed tremendous resolve. Ohtani rallied to get Jonathan Lucroy and Boog Powell on a pair of ground balls to end the second inning. They were the first two of a string of six straight hitters that he’d retire before Matt Joyce walked in the fourth inning. After that, he set down another eight in a row before departing after the sixth inning.

While he was holding the Athletics’ offense at bay in the middle innings, the Angels’ offense battled back for their right-hander. They pushed a pair of runs across in the top half of the fifth inning to give the Angels’ a 4-3 lead, putting Ohtani in line for a victory.

They would add on to that lead with three more in the seventh, and four relievers combined to fire three scoreless innings, making Ohtani victorious for the first time stateside. All told, he surrendered just those three consecutive hits in the second inning and the Joyce walk in the fourth while striking out six.

In starting on Sunday, Ohtani accomplished something that has rarely been done in the big leagues. He became the first player to start on Opening Day as a non-pitcher, and then start one of the team’s first 10 games of the season. The last player to do so? Babe Ruth with the Red Sox in 1919.

Angels’ manager Mike Scioscia was certainly impressed by what he saw from Ohtani. "I think you saw the talent and you saw him being able to put pitches together," Scioscia told reporters. "You can see how he can get hitters out, not just the velocity but all his pitches. He used everything. Outside of one stretch of three hitters in the second inning, that's about as well as you can pitch."

His next start will be appointment viewing for many baseball fans and fantasy owners alike. It’ll be especially interesting because it will be a rematch against these same Oakland Athletics that saw him up close on Sunday. If he can dominate them once more, even after they just saw him, it could bode well for his long-term viability and success in the big leagues.

Smoak Monster

Justin Smoak had an afternoon to remember on Sunday in Toronto, single-handedly powering the Blue Jays to a come-from-behind victory over the Yankees.

The Blue Jays trailed 4-1 entering the home half of the seventh inning. There, Josh Donaldson coaxed a leadoff walk out of Yankees’ reliever Tommy Kahnle and Smoak made him pay, crushing a two-run homer over the wall in center field to cut the Jays’ deficit to 4-3.

The score would remain 4-3 into the eighth inning, where Russell Martin singled and Aledmys Diaz doubled, putting two runners in scoring position with only one out. Yankees’ hurler David Robertson got Devon Travis to ground out on the first pitch, bringing Josh Donaldson to the dish. Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone opted to walk Donaldson intentionally, despite the righty-on-righty matchup, opting instead to pitch to the left-handed slugging Smoak.

Smoak made him pay. After fouling off three tough two-strike pitches, Smoak clobbered a grand slam over the center field wall, putting the Jays’ ahead to stay. It was the second grand slam of Smoak’s career and came on a pitch that he was looking for in that situation. Smoak admitted after the game that after fouling off a pair of curveballs, he was looking for a fastball from Robertson and happened to guess correctly.

As far as Boone goes, the Yankees’ rookie manager stands by his decision to walk Donaldson and attack Smoak instead. "You've got to tip your cap there," Boone said. "Smoak worked a heck of an at-bat off him, fouled off some really tough pitches and then finally got one. He ends up having a huge day against us, obviously. I'm comfortable with the matchup. Didn't get it done today." Prior to that at-bat, Smoak had been 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in his limited sample against Robertson for his career.

Smoak also singled and drew a walk in the contest, finishing his monster night 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and six RBI. The Blue Jays will certainly take it, as they were able to salvage a four-game split from their season-opening series. As for Smoak, the 31-year-old is off to terrific start to his 2018 season, hitting .467/.529/1.000 with two homers and eight RBI.

Jose Berri-0-s

Jose Berrios put on a mighty impressive show in Sunday’s victory over the Orioles. The 23-year-old right-hander recorded his first career complete game and shutout, limiting the O’s to just three hits and a walk while striking out six.

Berrios sent down the first eight hitters that he saw on Sunday before allowing a two-out double to Chance Sisco in the third inning. He then set down the next 17 in a row before the O’s put together a couple of hits and a walk in the ninth inning. Even then, Berrios remained in control and battled back to retire Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones with the bases loaded to secure the shutout.

Berrios needed just 107 total pitches to complete his masterpiece, 71 of them thrown for strikes. It was an outstanding debut for Berrios who is already looking like one of the top overall pitchers in the league. He’ll try to extend his dominance when he takes on the Mariners on Saturday.

American League Quick Hits: Kenyan Middleton was called upon to relieve Blake Parker in the ninth inning on Sunday, recording the final two outs against the Athletics to secure his first save. He may have already usurped the closer’s role from Parker and needs to be owned in all formats… Sunday’s scheduled tilt between the White Sox and Royals was postponed due to rain. It’ll be made up as part of a doubleheader on April 28… Mark Trumbo (quad) is nearing a minor league rehab assignment… Mike Zunino (oblique) is expected to return from the disabled list as soon as he’s eligible...Andrew Heaney (shoulder) threw 69 pitches in an exhibition game without any issues on Sunday… Michael Fulmer suffered a tough-luck loss on Sunday, allowing just four hits over eight innings of one-run ball against the Pirates… Brian Dozier clubbed a pair of home runs in a victory over the Orioles… Evan Gattis had three hits and three RBI, leading the Astros to victory over the Rangers… Gerrit Cole fanned 11 over seven innings of one-run ball against the Rangers in his Astros’ debut… Mitch Haniger blasted his second homer in a victory over the Indians… Tigers’ outfielder Victor Reyes suffered a lacerated forearm due to a collision with teammate Jose Iglesias. He’s considered day-to-day…The Mariners are still awaiting the MRI results on the injured right ankle of star slugger Nelson Cruz… Miguel Cabrera went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a homer as the Tigers fell to the Pirates on Sunday night to drop both games of the doubleheader.

National League Quick Hits: Michael Conforto (shoulder) could be activated from the disabled list as early as Thursday. He’ll hit against Jason Vargas in a simulated game on Monday… Anthony Swarzak is scheduled to undergo an MRI on his injured oblique on Monday and is likely heading for a trip to the disabled list… Trevor Williams no-hit the Tigers through six innings in Sunday’s victory… Felipe Rivero picked up a pair of saves on Friday, striking out five in his two innings of work… Dillon Peters fired six scoreless innings as the Marlins shut out the Cubs… Paul DeJong homered twice on Sunday, powering the Cardinals to victory over the Mets… Gio Gonzalez allowed one run over six innings while striking out seven in a win over the Reds… Bryce Harper launched a pair of homers, powering the Nationals to a one-run win over the Reds… Rich Hill shut out the Giants over six innings on Sunday to earn his first victory of the season.