Pablo López’s Sweeper
Pablo López didn’t have a great start in a 4-2 loss to the Guardians, but Andrés Giménez couldn’t touch this sweeper during his first at-bat.
Casey Mize’s Splitter
Casey Mize was a little inefficient in his season debut as he needed 87 pitches to get through 4.1. However, he showed plenty of upside; anytime you can make Brandon Nimmo look lost, you’ve got my attention.
Matt Manning’s Curveball
Matt Manning delivered Yeoman’s work after getting the call-up for the second game of yesterday’s doubleheader, holding the Mets without a hit through 5.2. He snapped off this nose-to-toes hook to fan Francisco Lindor in the third.
Jason Foley’s Sinker
Good old-fashioned hard heat at the letters from Jason Foley, who helped the Tigers take game one of the doubleheader by keeping the Mets off the board in the bottom of the ninth.
Tanner Bibee’s Slider
Yesterday’s leader in swinging strikes with 16, Tanner Bibee’s slider made mincemeat of Max Kepler in the third or his sixth punchout. Bibee’s slider returned six whiffs on 11 swings (55%).
Tanner Rainey’s Slider
Tanner Rainey made one appearance late last year returning from Tommy John surgery. His fastball velocity isn’t the same as it once was, but his slider still has some serious tilt, as O’Neil Cruz will probably tell you.
Reed Garrett’s Splitter
Mets fans can exhale after their first win. However, they might not have pulled it off without a sharp effort from Reed Garrett, who pitched three scoreless innings out of the pen, helping the Mets split the doubleheader. Tigers’ rookie Colt Keith was his first of four strikeout victims.
Hunter Gaddis’ Changeup
Hunter Gaddis is coming out of the Guardians’ pen this season and received a trial by fire. With the Guardians ahead 4-1 in the seventh, he entered the game with bases juiced and was tasked with getting Byron Buxton out. Gaddis got the job done by tying Buxton into a knot with this beautiful changeup before getting Max Kepler to pop out.
Pablo López’s Changeup
Again, the former Marlin didn’t have a great game, but this 3-2 changeup that fanned Ramón Laureano to end the fourth was a beauty.
Andrew Chafin’s Slider
Entering his 11th season, the well-traveled left-hander delivered the Tigers from the eighth inning of game one of the doubleheader with the 3-3 tie intact. This 1-1 slider to Tyrone Taylor helped set up Chafin’s lone strikeout of the day.