So excited. Baseball is back and we already watched several great games. It’s a 162-game marathon and it might be too early to say who has a good season. However, some players have done a great job in the first series of the season.
Three players already collect 9 hits so far. In the first three games of the series, Ketel Marte had at least two hits each game. In the season opener, Marte went 4-for-5 with a solo home run against the Padres. The 2019 All-Star starts the season hot. Yermin Mercedes had only one plate appearance last season, but this season he has a very hot start, he’s the first player in the modern era to begin a season with 8 straight hits. In the series against the Angels, he collects 9 hits. Cedric Mullins went 5-for-5 in the series finale and helped the Orioles sweep the Red Sox. In this series, Mullins went 9-for-13.
14 players have already blasted 2 homers. Buster Posey opted out of the 2020 season and he seems to be well-prepared for the new season with 2 home runs in the first series. Despite hitting only .188, two of Ohtani’s three hits are home runs. At the same time, Ohtani’s teammate Jared Walsh has two homers as well.
Nate Lowe was traded to the Rangers last December and his first series as a Ranger went pretty well, hitting .357/.357/.643 with 1 home run and 9 RBI. Kyle Tucker has only 3 hits in the first series of the season, however, he collects 7 RBI already. In the meantime, 6 players have recorded 6 RBI.
You can’t probably find a better way to start the season. Jose Berrios threw six no-hit innings with 12 strikeouts in the 2021 season debut in Milwaukee and Berrios got his first win of the season. Shane Bieber threw more than 10 strikeouts again in the first game of the season. He tossed 6 innings with 12 strikeouts against the Tigers, however, he also gave up 3 runs. Corbin Burnes took a loss, but his first start of the 2021 season was a great one. He threw 6.1 innings with 11 strikeouts, allowing one run.
It might be too early. But, let’s just look at WHIP. Jose Berrios tossed 6 no-hit innings and his WHIP is 0. Meanwhile, Brandon Bielak from the Astros threw 4.2 innings as a reliever and faced 14 batters. His WHIP is also 0. Jonathan Loaisiga made two relief appearances and posted a 0 WHIP so far.
Finally, let’s take a look at closers. Mark Melancon joined the Padres in February. In the first series of the season, he collects 2 saves against the Diamondbacks. At the same time, Baltimore Orioles’ Cesar Valdez has 2 saves in the first series against the Red Sox. Nick Anderson began the season on the injured list, Diego Castillo has to play a key role in the Rays bullpen and he does well so far, collecting 2 saves in the series against the Marlins. The Blue Jays signed Kirby Yates and he was supposed to the closer of the team. Nonetheless, it’s disappointing that he underwent Tommy John surgery and he will be out of the 2021 season. But, Julian Merryweather has been doing a good job so far, earning two saves in the first series against the Yankees.
It’s great to see baseball back and most teams already played. However, the Mets and the Nationals haven’t begun playing because the first series was postponed. The covid-19 pandemic is not 100% under control and we still have to be cautious about it. Nonetheless, the 2021 season began with lots of excitement. Some players start the season hot. In a long season, how long can they extend the “hot hand”?
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