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MLB: The biggest moments of the Opening Day weekend

By Jonas Thoms

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 08: The Philadelphia Phillies take batting practice before their Opening Day game against the Oakland Athletics at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 08: The Philadelphia Phillies take batting practice before their Opening Day game against the Oakland Athletics at Citizens Bank Park on April 8, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /
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PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 08: Sean Manaea #55 of the San Diego Padres delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 08, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA – APRIL 08: Sean Manaea #55 of the San Diego Padres delivers a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 08, 2022 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

Best pitching performances from MLB Opening Day weekend

It is hard to argue against Sean Manaea’s performance in his San Diego Padres debut. He somehow managed to one-up teammate Yu Darvish, who also didn’t allow a hit in his first start of the season. Manaea and Kyle Gibson get the nod for their sheer dominance. Darvish pitched well but walked four batters and only struck out three while Manaea and Gibson each faced just one batter more than the minimum.

  • Sean Manaea, April 8 – 7 innings, 0 hits, 1 BB, and 7 K
  • Kyle Gibson, April 9 – 7 innings, 2 hits, 0 BB, and 10 K

The worst pitched game could well belong to Brandon Woodruff.

Woodruff has been one of the best pitchers in the National League over the past three seasons. The two-time All-Star has demonstrated excellent control while striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings. Saturday, was a different story. Woodruff was wild, hitting two batters and walking three and giving up seven earned runs in just 3.2 innings. After a rough spring for the 29-year-old, this was not the start Milwaukee was looking for.

The best MLB debut goes to Bobby Witt Jr.

The much-heralded prospect made his Major League Baseball debut in epic fashion. After starting the game 0-for-3, the rookie came to the plate with two outs in the eighth inning with the score tied and a man on and laced a run-scoring double down the line for his first big league hit. He later came around to score as the Royals won 3-1.

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