Preview Of The Two Games For MLB's Opening Night

The opening night of the MLB will feature two games - i.e. is on July 23rd. The season will be slightly different from previous seasons, given that it has been shortened due to the pandemic. The first two games will be the New York Yankees playing away against the Washington Nationals, and a head-to-head clash between San Francisco and Los Angeles.

New York Yankees v. Washington Nationals

New York has gotten Gerrit Cole for a long-term and expensive contract, which pretty much puts him in the team till the end of his career. He was with the Houston Astros until last season, going 20-5 last season with a 2.5 ERA, and striking out a record 326 batters. His WHIP is also looking good at .89. Last season-opening, he started five games with a 1.85 ERA, from four wins, and no losses. He had a winning streak from June to September of 2019, at 15-0 up until after the all-star break. But seasonal splits don’t count much towards future predictions, especially at such a late stage. In fact, pitchers are likely to play better towards the end as they’ve settled down into the season. 

For the Washington Nationals, Max Scherzer will be the pitcher. They are the former World Series winners, and Scherzer’s last season stats are 11-7 with a 2.92 ERA, 243 strikeouts, and a WHIP of 1.03. His performance in June and July last season was exceeding expectations but his performance declined later on. His ERA went to 3.24 in August and a 5.16 ERA in five games in September. He also played worse at home than away, which is a rarity in such sports. His home ERA was 3.16 but his on the road ERA was 2.64. This doesn’t help, given that the season will be beginning at home for the Nationals.

What could happen in this match? The Nationals are the reigning champions, but they have lost quite a few big names such as Bryce Harper and Anthony Rendon in quick succession over the last few seasons. Their team will now be supported by younger players such as outfield slugger Juan Soto. The Yankees pulled off a power move getting the best pitcher in the league to play alongside their outstanding offense, which is why it is likely that they will win this game.

San Francisco Giants v. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers brought in Mookie Betts by trading  Alex Verdugo for him. This was one of their biggest trades, and they worked hard for it. Like every other team, the Dodgers didn’t think that the 2020 season would be shortened, which is why this trade might not seem logical in the short term. But they still have a shot at the World Series.

The Dodgers will bring in Clayton Kershaw to pitch for them, and he was a force to be reckoned with while playing last season. Last season, he played as the starter for three games against the Giants. Those three games alone were a 2.37 ERA going 1-2. Although his previous season’s start was a bit wobbly - he pitched three games in April and then five games in May with a 4.22 ERA. But once he had settled in, by July, his game picked up, and he moved closer to his average stats in August and September. 

The Giants will bring out Johnny Cueto, who only started a total of four games last season. His ERA is laughable, at 5.06. One of his worst games last season was on the road when he gave up four runs on two hits but walked five batters in that game. He played against the Dodgers at home when he allowed five runs and five hits in two innings, and three homers and a walk-in that game. Cueto’s health was a concern and continues to be going into this season. If he has returned to his form, he should outdo his performance of 2019. In 2018, he had an ERA of 3.23 in nine games started and a 1.33 ERA while playing away from home in four games.

Cueto can be expected to do much better than he did last season, and that should be seen almost immediately, given that he’s completely fit. But the Dodgers have so much more going for them, with their lineup of Mookie Betts and Cody Bellinger amongst others. Despite this being an away match for them, the Dodgers are expected to come out victorious.