Best- Taijuan Walker SP Mariners – 7IP 1H 0ER 2BB 8K 1W
The Seattle Mariners had not gotten any love since the early 2000s when Ichiro Suzuki was going strong, but starting pitcher Taijuan Walker might get Seattle baseball back into the conversation. It has been a long road back for Walker, who had Tommy John surgery in 2018 while he was a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. He appeared in the final game of the 2018 season but was not resigned by the Diamondbacks and became a free agent. In February, Walker worked out for scouts, and the same Mariners who traded Walker in 2017, ended up signing him eight days later.
The Mariners are in rebuild mode right now, but if Walker continues to pitch as he did on Friday night against the Oakland Athletics, he might be the ace of this staff with a big contract waiting for him at the end of this season.
Walker’s start against the Houston Astros was not as impressive (3.1IP 7H 5ER 1BB 1K 1L). It is, however, a benefit for Walker to have played both division rivals early on and experience his stiffest competition. And a win against either the Astros or the Athletics, both favorites to win the AL West shows that he has the potential to be the Mariners starting pitcher beyond this year. Walker is 27 and has not pitched as many innings as expected at this point in his career. By only signing a one-year deal, Walker is auditioning to keep his job with the Mariners or entice another team to sign him to a multi-year contract. Without inning limits and a long recovery, Walker should be primed to go out and pitch every game like it is his last.
Other Notables: Robinson Cano 2B Mets – 3-4 1R 2RBI 1BB 1HR; Jordan Montgomery SP Yankees – 5.2IP 5H 1ER 4K 1BB 1W; Mookie Betts OF Dodgers – 3-5 1R 2RBI 1HR; Yu Darivish SP Cubs – 6IP 2H 0ER 1BB 7K 1W; Travis d’Arnaud C Braves – 3-4 0R 5RBI.
Worst- Cody Bellinger OF/1B Dodgers – 0-5 0HR 0RBI
The Los Angeles Dodgers were the prohibitive favorite to win the world series this season. They currently hold a record of 5-3, third in the NL West behind the San Diego Padres and the Colorado Rockies. A slow start to the season brought on by injuries to their starting rotation and SP David Price opting out. With so many missing pieces, it would make sense for the Dodgers to lean on their National League MVP Cody Bellinger (OF/1B).
Bellinger had a solid rookie season (.267 39HR 97RBI 87R 132G) but experienced a sophomore slump (.260 25HR 76RBI 84R 162G), which left the organization wondering what Bellinger was going to do in his third season. In 2019, Bellinger shattered his rookie stats (.305 47HR 115RBI 121R 156G), won the 2019 NL MVP, and led the Dodgers to the best record in baseball.
Coming into 2020, the expectations for Bellinger and the Dodgers were sky high, but he has gotten off to an ice-cold start to the 2020 campaign (.139 0HR 2RBI 3R 8G). Friday was not much better.
The Dodgers still have plenty of time to get back on top of a division they have won the past seven years. However, with Bellinger’s slow start paired with the Padres and Rockies having hot starts to the season, the Dodgers should be a little worried. In a regular season, this would not register as an issue, but with the shortened season, the Dodgers can ill afford for this slump to last much longer. Bellinger’s game is sure to bounce back, but at this point, if he does not get going soon, the Dodgers should give him a day off to clear his mind.
Extra Trash: Sean Newcombe SP Braves -4.1IP 6H 6ER 1BB 4K 1L; Yasmani Grandal C White Sox -0-4 2K; Luis Castillo SP Reds -6IP 5ER 6K 1BB 1L; Eugenio Suarez 3B Reds – 0-4 3K; Lance McCullers, Jr. SP Astros – 4IP 6H 4ER 4BB 4K.