Opening Day: What We Liked, and What We Didn't

03/28/2024

Opening Day, the day where every fanbase has hope. The day where baseball fans across America watch their teams, and now its over. Heres who we liked from Opening Day and who was disapointing.

Who We Liked:

Pablo Lopez

In 7 IP today, Lopez only gave up four hits and one earned run, while striking out seven and having an impressive 0 walks. Lopez had an impressive 25 fantasy points for those of you wondering. The Twins won the game 4-1 and Lopez got the win. We predict that the Cy Young contender will have many more of these incredible games and to keep him around on your roster.

Freddie Freeman

Freeman went 2/3 today from the plate, with a two-run home run and another RBI single. In total, Freeman had two runs, a home run, and three RBIs, which adds up to about 17 fantasy points in a 7-1 win for the Dodgers. Last year, Freeman had a BA of .331, with 29 homers and 102 RBI's. He also had a career high in steals with 23. The MVP candidate from last year is looking to improve this year at 34 years old in a stacked Dodgers lineup.

Nick Martini

The outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds is only rostered in 1.7% of fantasy leagues, but he went berserk on Opening Day against the Washington Nationals as he went 2/4 with a three-run and a two-run home run for a total of 5 RBI's. Martini had a total of a whopping 27 fantasy points on the day, as the Reds destroyed the Nationals 8-2. Since Martini is only rostered in about 2% of leagues, you can add him to your team, but be aware he won't have many more of these games. 

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

The Diamondbacks steamrolled the Rockies, and Gurriel was a massive part of that. He went 3/5 with three runs, a home run, and an incredible 5 RBI's and a massive performance of 19 fantasy points. The veteran outfielder looks to continue what he accomplished last year, where he helped lead the Diamondbacks to the World Series, and had a career high in homers with 24. 

Who We Didn't Like

Luis Castillo

In five innings pitched on Thursday, Castillo had five strikeouts. But, he also had two walks, gave up six hits, four earned runs and a home run. He also got the loss as the Mariners lost to the Red Sox, 6-4. He also had an ugly -10 fantasy points, which is terrible for someone who's ADP is 14, such as Castillo. He also threw 91 pitches, so he wont be pitching again until April 2 against the Cleveland Guardians.

Zach Eflin

If you don't know who Zach Eflin is, he is a starting pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, and he is also the first pitcher in their starting rotation, which has guys such as Aaron Civale and Zack Littell. So, the Rays think very highly of Eflin. But, on Thursday Eflin gave up six hits, six earned runs and three home runs while only having five strikeouts and one walk in 5.2 innings. All of this subtracted to about -18 fantasy points and he's making his next start on Tuesday, April 2 against the Rangers.

Luis Arraez

Arraez went 0/6 on Thursday against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with one strikeout, which added up to about -2 fantasy points. During the game, the 26 year old second basemen seems to be a shell of his former self, and some fantasy managers may need to start worrying about him. Last season with the Marlins, Arraez had 203 hits, a career high. He also batted .354 from the plate and 69 RBI's, with a 4.9 WAR. Arraez needs to start picking it back up again or else fantasy managers might trade him or even cut him. 

Marcus Semien

Marcus Semien was one of the players that led the Texas Rangers to the World Series last year, and ended up helping them win it. This year though, Semien has not gotten off to a hot start. In his first game of the year on Opening Day, he went 0/4 with two strikeouts and a walk in a 4-3 win over the Cubs in ten innings. This accounted for a whopping total of -3 fantasy points. Fantasy managers shouldn't get worried yet about Semiens play, but if it continues they might.


Key: WAR- Wins over replacement  RBI- Runs batted in  ADP- Average draft position