MLB Games: Simulating opening weekend for the AL
By Bill Felber
Simulating MLB Games
AL West
The Texas Rangers took full advantage of the scheduling opportunity that had them opening with four MLB games against the Seattle Mariners. Ranger hitters lit up the Mariners for 26 runs in sweeping the home team.
Lance Lynn and three relievers held the Mariners to four hits in a 3-2 opening day win, after which the Rangers’ big guns stepped up. On Friday the Rangers cruised 11-4. They won 7-3 on Saturday as Willie Calhoun’s three hits – two of them home runs – produced four runs.
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On Sunday Texas broke a 4-4 tie with Todd Frazier’s first home run, coming in the seventh inning. Rougned Odor, Joey Gallo, and Danny Santana also homered for Texas.
Houston opened at home and took three of four from the Los Angeles Angels, who played without Shohei Ohtani. The Astros lit up Angels pitching for 30 runs in the first two games, including a grand slam by Alex Bregman capping a nine-run eighth inning during opening day’s 18-3 win. On Friday Zack Greinke – with relief help – shut out the Angels on four hits 12-0.
Houston also won the Saturday game 4-2 before the Angels salvaged the Sunday finale 9-8 in 12 innings. Joe Smith, Houston’s fifth pitcher, gave up Albert Pujols’ game-tying two-run home run in the ninth and then surrendered Jo Adell’s game-winner in the 12th.
Bregman went 9-17 with seven RBIs in the series.
In a battle of 2019 playoff teams, Minnesota left Oakland with three wins in a four-game season-opening series. The Twins tied into Sean Manaea for five runs in five innings of the opener, a 6-4 victory. Oakland evened the series 6-5 Friday behind Mike Fiers, but on Saturday Josh Donaldson homered twice in an 8-2 Minnesota victory.
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The Twins 5-3 Sunday victory behind Kenta Maeda and two relievers left them atop the AL Central standings, one-half game ahead of the White Sox and Indians.