Photo by: Colin Lloyd on Unsplash

MLB Weekly Preview: News, scores, and upcoming games

The MLB 2022 season is finally underway and we couldn’t be more thankful! Apart from a couple of postponements, the games were full of the drama and excitement that we hoped for.

There has been a lot to break down since the season began, so take a look here.

MLB major headlines

• Tampa Bay sweeps Baltimore for 3-0 record
• Yankees & Red Sox ends 2-1 in favor of New York
• Dodgers off to iffy start with 1-2 record against Rockies
• Things get dicey in Cubs vs. Brewers game as Milwaukee’s McCutchen gets hit by a pitch thrown from Chicago’s Thompson, both benches almost in scuffle
• Yankees’ star right fielder Aaron Judge turns down a seven-year, $213.5 million extension from the team
• Angels let go outfielder Justin Upton from roster, possible interest from Twins
• Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki hits giant 412-foot home run in first MLB game
• Reds’ Hunter Greene sends down 100mph fastball during pitching debut, picks up seven strikeouts.
• Astros reveal new black ‘Space City’ unis
• Braves receive pretty World Series rings

Game of the week

Boston Red Sox – 4 @ New York Yankees – 3 on Monday, April 11

After the Red Sox/Yankees opening game on April 7 was postponed due to bad weather, it was New York that took the next two home games over Boston. However, Boston got its revenge soon enough with a statement victory, 4-3.

While it took 19 games of his rookie start to score a homer, this time around, Red Sox slugger Bobby Dalbec got his first much quicker. It was Dalbec’s 6^th innings- home run that avoided extra play and sent the score to 4-3 for the Boston win.

It’s fair to say that Boston blew big leads during the first two games of the new MLB 2022 season against New York, and this happened again on Sunday night, but at least the Red Sox held on for a rallying victory.

This win over the Yankees finally ended an eight-game regular-season losing streak, which is certainly something to savor as the two teams won’t meet again until July 7.

One of the most exciting parts of the series for NY fans was the continued scorching start of both Anthony Rizzo and Giancarlo Stanton. Rizzo earned one hit and one run, and picked up a home run in both the first two games against Boston.

But back to Red Sox’s Dalbec. As a rookie, Dalbec ended the 2021 season with 25 home runs but only batted .240 with 156 strikeouts from 133 games. Not the worst stats ever, you’ll agree, but certainly room for improvement. Luckily, the sophomore star got things right in the second half of the year and is actively working on tweaks to his swing.

One of the hardest moments to watch during Boston’s win was when Yankees’ Jordan Montgomery took Red Sox pitcher Xander Bogaerts’ grounder (at 103 mph) completely on his left knee in the first inning. Montgomery fell screaming to the grass but carried on, even looking very stiff after the game. The following X-ray was negative, but it’s something to watch.

A major grumble has to be the 37 minutes it took to complete for the first inning, and the total run time of the Yankees/Red Sox game was 3 hours 40 minutes. This was no doubt to the 31 pitching changes in a three-game set combined for both teams.

There’s more good news for Boston fans, as the Red Sox recently signed right-hand reliever Garrett Whitlock to a decent $18.75 million, four-year deal.

Trevor Story (flu symptoms) and Matt Barnes (tight back) were both out for Boston, while Ben Rortvedt (strained right oblique muscle) didn’t make the lineup for the Yankees.

The Yankees will travel next to Toronto to take on the Blue Jays in four games. The Red Sox will head up to Detroit to face the Tigers in a three-game stint.

Who is looking good?

Carlos Rodón was released by the White Sox and there were many who thought he might not get another game this season, but the Giants took an interest and it’s a good decision (two years at $44 million). Rodón earned himself 12 strikeouts in only five innings in his debut for San Francisco, so we hope this is the first of many great games for the talented pitcher.

And bad?

Cedric Mullins had a fantastic 2021 season with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. He was 9^th in MVP awards on a terrible Orioles team, so that’s got to count for something. However, the season start has been ‘meh’ so far, with the second-lowest contact rate in the MLB and striking out four times. He’ll get his act together, though, as his promising future will shine.

Two Must-see Upcoming MLB games

Be sure you look for these two matchups on the MLB schedule.

Oakland Athletics @ Tampa Bay Rays on Monday 11^th April

• Likely first pitchers:
• A’s – Paul Blackburn
• Rays – Luis Patino

Oakland may have picked up its first win of the season over Phili on Sunday (also new manager Mark Kotsay’s first career victory), but the next opponent in Tampa Bay will be no walk in the park. The teams will begin the first of four matchups on Monday night.

The undefeated Rays are firing on all cylinders, with pitcher Shane McClanahan already with seven strikeouts and Wander Franco (after a big payday) looking good with a .545 batting average and one run.

For the A’s, Paul Blackburn will send out the first pitch, who started nine games last year with a 5.87 ERA and went 1-4. The Rays will send out super hard-thrower Luis Patino, as the 22-year-old Colombian has shown a lot of growth in his pitching game.

In 2021, Patino impressed at the start of the season with a 5-3 record and a 4.31 ERA from 19 outings (15 as a starter). Patino seems to have an electric energy about him and is certainly a pitcher to keep an eye on all season long.

Oakland may well take at least one of the four games against Tampa Bay, but the Rays will pick up the first decisive win at home.

Washington Nationals @ Atlanta Braves on Monday 11^th April

• Likely first pitchers:
• Capitals – Josh Rogers
• Braves – Huascar Ynoa

The current MLB champs have looked solid during their 2-2 start to the MLB 2022 season, while the Nationals could use any big win to improve their 1-3 record. Washington will visit Atlanta for three games beginning on Monday night.

In just his first four games with Atlanta, Matt Olson has kept the team looking fiery, as his one homer, four runs, and .571 batting average speak for themselves. On the mound, meanwhile, the Braves are sending Huascar Ynoa for his first start to the year.

The Nationals will need a big game from slugger Josh Bell, who has impressed so far with a .308 average, one homer, and two runs. We also want to see a lot more from Juan Soto on the batting plate. In fact, it was certainly interesting to see that CBS Sports voted Soto as the first selection in the Top 100 MLB Players for 2022. This is high praise indeed, especially when you consider that Soto beat the likes of Vladimir Guerrero, Mike Trout, Mookie Betts, and Wander Franco.

There is also the news that Washington will most likely be without 38-year-old vet Anibal Sanchez due to neck soreness. The Braves will have to play 14 straight games with no day off at the start of the season, which could help the Nationals pick up the first victory of the series. Ian Anderson is finding his footing, but there’s still time for the young pitcher to round into form after dealing with shoulder inflammation last year.

Author: Joe Garland