Opening Day Starters

Opening day is the day us die hard baseball fans love because all teams start out today (except the Yankees who are a game behind) equal. We all believe that this will be the year our team will do well and maybe make the playoffs and if everything goes well they could win the World Series. Even the Nationals fans hope beyond hope.

It is also fresh beginnings for players as many have switched teams and have new opportunities. For others they have finally been able to make the jump from the minors to the bigs in hopes of making an impact for their new teammates. For others whose careers are on the decline this may represent their last chance to win a ring. For these players opening day produces hope.

Today there are some great pitching matchups as staff aces go against staff aces. Here are the three that I have the most interest in. First is the Phillies and the Nats. Doc Halladay will be starting his career in the NL and faces a talented lefty in John Lannan. I have a feeling that within a couple of years Lannan will be a top five lefty in the bigs. I am expecting a low scoring game. ( just like the Yanks and Sox game last night)

My next matchup I hope to catch is the Detroit and KC game featuring two of the best pitchers in the game. Justin Verlander has incredible talent and knows how to pitch, I expect his numbers to be better than his 19-9 record which was pretty impressive last year. Zach Greinke will finally get his career win total higher than his loss total with another run for the Cy Young. Imagine the numbers he could put up with a team that could provide some run support. The 26 year old had 16 wins and a low ERA of 2.16.

The final intriguing matchup for me will be the Texas Rangers and the Toronto Blue Jays. In this game it will be the recently new contracted Scott Feldman against the injury recovered Shaun Marcum. Why does this game intrigue me, because I feel that both pitchers are underrated. Feldman comes off a great season where nhe was 17-8. His ERA was over 4.oo which does not put him in that elite class and he is not overpowering with only 113 k"s in 190 innings, but he does get W's. Marcum has only won 24 career games but each year he seemed to get better. His surgery took him out of the highlight reels but I look for a big year from Marcum.

Enjoy opening day and I think we will see some good pitching. Oh yeah and the Nats are tied for first. Go Nats!!!