• Eflin falls apart in the 6th in a loss
    Zach Eflin was roughed up against the Blue Jays on Thursday, allowing six runs on six hits over 5 2/3 innings in an Opening Day loss.

    Advice: Eflin was solid for five innings, allowing only a solo home run to George Springer; however, the wheels fell off in the sixth. After getting the first batter out, he gave up a solo home run to Cavan Biggio and then recorded one more out before allowing another home run to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. He then gave up three more hits, hit a batter, and walked another before being chased from the game. Given that it was his first start of the season, its not overly concerning to see him lose some gas towards the end. He still posted a solid 25 percent whiff rate and 30 percent CSW while showcasing new shape on both his cutter and sweeper. However, things won’t get much easier next week against the Rangers.

    Rotoworld 9 minutes ago
    Zach EflinTB - SP
    L, 2-8 vs TOR
     
  • Pablo López stellar in win on Opening Day
    Pablo López was stellar against the Royals on Thursday, allowing just one run on four hits in seven innings while striking out seven in the Twins’ 4-1 Opening Day win.

    Advice: López didn’t walk a better in the outing and looked dominant after allowing a first-inning home run to Maikel Garcia. López had a 33 percent whiff rate and 37 percent CSW on the afternoon and excelled at keeping the four-seam fastball up in the zone, allowing him to rack up 12 whiffs on 23 swings against the pitch. The veteran is off to a good start in hoping to prove that he belongs amongst the top 10 starters in fantasy. He’ll get a similarly average lineup next week when he takes on the Guardians at home. Rotoworld 11 minutes ago
     
  • Griffin Jax gets the save on Opening Day
    Griffin Jax earned the save for the Twins in Thursday’s Opening Day win over the Royals.

    Advice: Jax was expected to be the favorite to get saves with Jhoan Duran sidelined and that appears to be the case. After one game at least. He allowed a leadoff walk but settled down afterward, and the Royals never really threatened. Jax’s sweeper is noticeably different this year, coming in two mph harder with five inches less vertical drop and three inches less horizontal movement. He leaned on the pitch 35 percent of the time on Thursday and it picked up three whiffs on four swings. He has the skills to be a solid fill-in for the next month or so. Rotoworld 12 minutes ago
  • Cole Ragans takes a tough-luck loss on Opening Day
    Cole Ragans was solid in a losing effort on Thursday, allowing just two runs on five hits in six innings against the Twins.

    Advice: Ragans racked up nine strikeouts and three walks while throwing 97 pitches in the outing. Even though he lit up the radar gun in the spring, Ragans sat 96 mph with his fastball, which is right in line with where he was last year. He also put up an impressive 37 percent whiff rate and 35 percent CSW on the day. While we didn’t see the two-seam fastball he has been working on, Ragans’ cutter is a touch harder this year with less vertical break and more horizontal cut in on the hands of righties. The pitch had a 33 percent whiff rate on Thursday and looks like a really good offering for him. He’ll have a tougher test next week when he travels to Baltimore to face the Orioles. Rotoworld 13 minutes ago
    Cole RagansKC - SP,RP
    L, 1-4 vs MIN
     
  • Maikel Garcia homers in Opening Day loss
    Maikel Garcia went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in the Royals’ loss to the Twins on Opening Day on Thursday.

    Advice: Garcia got the fun started in the bottom of the first inning with a 398-foot home run off Pablo López that left the bat at 99.2 mph. Despite not getting another hit in the game, he also had a 105.2 mph lineout and a 101.2 mph fly out that went 395 feet, so he was seeing the ball incredibly well on Thursday. Now set as the leadoff hitter for the Royals, Garcia could be in for a breakout season.

    Rotoworld 15 minutes ago
    Maikel GarciaKC - 3B,SS
    L, 1-4 vs MIN
     
  • Correa has three hits in Twins’ Opening Day win
    Carlos Correa went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI in a win over the Royals on Opening Day on Thursday.

    Advice: Correa’s double was 105.1 mph off the bat against Ragans in the third inning and scored Manuel Margot for the team’s second run of the day. He also singled on a well-hit ball in the 8th innings before racking up his other RBI on a softly hit infield single in the 9th. The veteran is hitting fourth in a solid Twins lineup which should continue to give him a good chance to rack up runs and RBIs, provided everybody can stay healthy.

    Rotoworld 16 minutes ago
     
  • Tigers designate Miguel Díaz for assignment
    Tigers designated RHP Miguel Díaz for assignment,

    Advice: Díaz didn’t end up making Detroit’s Opening Day roster and figures to pass through waivers unclaimed. It’s unclear whether he’ll stick around or wind up electing free agency. Rotoworld 28 minutes ago
     
  • Leaves game with lower body injury
    Jackson left in the seventh inning of Thursday's game against the Padres, Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: Jackson signalled for the trainer after throwing ball four to Jackson Merrill, and Ryan Walker came in to close out the seventh. Baggarly notes that Jackson appeared to tweak his hamstring or groin, and more should be known following Thursday's game. Rotowire.com 31 minutes ago
     
  • Luke Jackson leaves game Thursday with trainer
    Luke Jackson was removed from a relief appearance Thursday against the Padres with an apparent injury.

    Advice: Jackson appeared to suffer some sort of lower body injury while making an Opening Day appearance and will likely be headed for the injured list since the Giants were already going with fewer pitchers at the outset of the year. Rotoworld 32 minutes ago