Seattle's Taijuan Walker is one of the most touted young pitchers in baseball but his 2015 debut didn't go well. He returns to the mound Wednesday night at the Dodgers in a potential World Series preview. Here's a look at every game on Wednesday in order of start time and with opening BetOnline odds.
White Sox RHP Hector Noesi at Indians RHP Trevor Bauer (-150): Noesi deserves credit for limiting the Twins to just two runs over his 4 2/3 innings of work that covered 110 pitches. Noesi fanned six, but he also walked six, threw two wild pitches, hit one and mixed in a balk. Bauer turned in an enigmatic, yet impressive start on Thursday, when the righty no-hit Houston for six innings. Due to having 11 strikeouts and five walks, though, he was pulled after 111 pitches (65 strikes).
Marlins RHP Dan Haren at Braves LHP Eric Stults (-101): Haren was primed for a win in his first start, giving up one run on four hits in six innings vs. the Rays. But the bullpen blew a seven-run lead and the veteran settled for a no-decision. Stults proved perfect through three innings on Friday and then struggled with his command in the fourth. But the southpaw proved solid for the most part, while consistently inducing groundballs like he did during Spring Training.
Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez at Red Sox LHP Wade Miley (-125): Gonzalez was cruising for six innings Friday night, but he ended up taking the loss as the Phillies defeated the Nationals, 4-1, at Citizens Bank Park. The Nationals were leading, 1-0, when Gonzalez lost it in the seventh. Miley makes his home debut for the Red Sox after turning in a solid start at Yankee Stadium. The lefty gave up four hits and two runs over 5 1/3 innings and took a no-decision in a game Boston won in 19 innings.
Angels LHP Hector Santiago at Rangers RHP Anthony Ranaudo (TBA): Santiago hung in there against the Royals on Friday, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk in 5 1/3 innings. But he needed 100 pitches to record 16 outs. The 27-year-old has a 2.22 ERA in 24 1/3 career innings at Globe Life Park. Ranaudo was called up to replaced Derek Holland in the rotation. He pitched five scoreless innings in Triple-A Round Rock's 2-0 win on Opening Day over Oklahoma City. He had a 5.02 ERA in Spring Training.
Tigers RHP Alfredo Simon at Pirates LHP Francisco Liriano (-139): Simon had a gem going in Cleveland last Friday became five straight hits and three sixth-inning runs knocked him out. He's 3-4 with a 3.50 ERA in 18 meetings with the Pirates, more games than he has against any other opponent. Making a second start delayed by the birth of his fourth child, Liriano faces a familiar AL Central foe. The former Twin is 5-9 lifetime versus the Tigers with an ERA (5.82) that is his highest against any opponent he has faced 10-plus times.
Yankees RHP Nathan Eovaldi at Orioles RHP Bud Norris (-120): Eovaldi hit 101 mph on the radar gun in his Yankees debut, but the Red Sox made plenty of good contact, smacking eight hits as he generated just three swings-and-misses in a 94-pitch outing. He'll look to improve upon that vs. Baltimore. In Friday's loss to the Blue Jays, Norris exited after three-plus innings and gave up eight runs on seven hits, four of which were doubles, in a 66-pitch outing.
Rays TBA at Blue Jays LHP Mark Buerhle (TBA): Because of so many injuries in the rotation the Rays don't yet know who their starter will be. Manager Kevin Cash said that will depend on what happens Tuesday night. A deep outing by starter Matt Andriese will influence what happens Wednesday. It's likely to be a bullpen-by-committee on Wednesday. Buehrle earned career victory No. 200 in his last start, beating the O's. He is the fourth active pitcher to reach the milestone alongside Tim Hudson, CC Sabathia and Bartolo Colon. Buehrle allowed two runs over six innings vs. Baltimore.
Phillies RHP Jerome Williams at Mets LHP Jon Niese (-157): Williams had to be encouraged with the way he pitched Friday in a win over Washington. He allowed a leadoff home run, but did not allow a run the rest of the way in six innings. Defensive errors behind Niese spoiled his 2015 debut, resulting in two unearned runs in five innings. The veteran left-hander will look to rebound versus the Phillies, after going 2-0 with a 2.57 ERA against them last season.
Reds RHP Jason Marquis at Cubs LHP Travis Wood (-130): In his first big league start since July 19, 2013, Marquis started out shaky last Friday vs. the Cardinals. After relaxing and making a delivery adjustment, Marquis retired 12 in a row and turned in a quality start. Wood scattered seven hits over 4 2/3 innings against the Rockies in his first start of the season. The lefty spent most of Spring Training working on sharpening his offspeed pitches in hopes of rebounding from an 8-13 season in 2014.
Royals RHP Edinson Volquez at Twins RHP Kyle Gibson (+110): Volquez, who won his debut with the Royals (eight innings, one run), has faced the Twins only once before, and that was back in 2007 at the Metrodome when Volquez was with the Rangers. Volquez gave up a homer to Joe Mauer back then in a 5-4 loss. Gibson struggled in his season debut against the Tigers, allowing six runs, eight hits and a career-worst five walks in 3 2/3 innings.
A's LHP Drew Pomeranz at Astros RHP Collin McHugh (-113): Pomeranz completed seven innings for just the third time in 41 career starts on Friday, limiting the heavy-hitting Mariners to just two hits in his 2015 debut. The lefty didn't walk a batter and struck out six. McHugh has won eight consecutive decisions since last year, which is the longest win streak by an Astros pitcher since Roy Oswalt won nine in a row (2006-07). He's compiled a 1.84 ERA during that streak.
Brewers RHP Wily Peralta at Cardinals RHP Lance Lynn (-151): Peralta looked sharp in his first start, allowing just two runs in seven innings in a loss to the Rockies. He was 3-1 with a 2.18 ERA in five starts against the Cardinals last year. Lynn opened his season with a quality start, but also a loss, as he was undone by a hit batter and errant pickoff throw. It marked just the second April loss of his career, as his 12 April wins since 2012 are most in the Majors.
Diamondbacks RHP Chase Anderson at Padres RHP Brandon Morrow (-133): Anderson pitched pretty well last time out, but a pair of high-pitch-count innings against the Dodgers forced him to leave the game after just five innings. Anderson threw 25 pitches in the first inning and 32 in the fifth. Morrow's Padres debut went better than anyone could have predicted. He allowed six hits and three walks (two in his last inning) over seven shutout innings against the Giants with seven strikeouts. His slider was good and his fastball hit 96 mph.
Mariners RHP Taijuan Walker at Dodgers LHP Brett Anderson (-125): The highly-regarded 22-year-old Walker had a rough season debut, allowing nine runs and nine hits in 3 1/3 innings at Oakland. He earned Seattle's No. 4 starter spot with a strong spring and is 3-4 with a 4.15 ERA in 12 appearances in the Majors. Anderson comes off a solid debut start against Arizona, blemished by Paul Goldschmidt's three-run homer. Otherwise, he threw six effective innings while striking out four and walking only one.
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