Week 1: First Friday Roundup

Gregory Polanco was unable to impress these Detroit fans, who still think Placido Polanco was the best Polanco.

Like our commissioner* said yesterday, we're likely going to mess around with the blog this year. ESPN still isn't factoring errors into the scoring until the next day, which complicates things for us. But we'll see what we can do.

*Yes, Rich and I are technically "co-commissioners," but we all know Rich does all the heavy lifting while I eat Cheez-Its and cheat at Sudoku. We're like Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.

STUDS: Max Scherzer (FF) shut down the Reds, striking out 10 and earning the win in 6 shutout innings. Alex Wood (PYB) flirted with a no-hitter and fanned 5 in 8 shutout innings. Johnny Cueto (AL) also flirted with a no-hitter and struck out 4 in 7 shutout innings. Lorenzo Cain (M) doubled twice, scored twice, stole a base and scored. Gregory Polanco (M) was phenomenal in the Pirates' 13-10 win. He was a triple short of a cycle, scored 3 runs, drove in 4, walked and stole a base. A.J. Pollock (AL) tripled, doubled, scored twice, drove in 2 and stole a base. Ryan Braun (BM) hit a 3-run, game-winning homer and had an RBI groundout and a sac fly.

Yes, Joe. We still think you're boring. 

DUDS: It was a terrible day to be a closer, folks. Brad Hand (CB) was more like Bad Hand, allowing 5 runs — only 2 earned because of his own error — blowing the save and taking the loss. The knockout punch was the 3-run homer by Braun. Felipe Rivero (R) also was terrible, allowing 4 runs and striking out 1 in 0.2 inning. He managed to avoid taking the loss, though. Kenley Jansen (SB) got 2 outs before serving up the game-winning homer to Joe Panik.

ARE YOU KIDDING? The Cubs' and Marlins' starting pitchers — Kyle Hendricks (CB) and Caleb Smith — pitched 6 and 5.1 innings, respectively. Eddie Butler pitched 7 innings of relief for Chicago, and Jarlin Garcia went 6 in relief for Miami. Go figure. Robbie Ray (FDD) allowed 7 runs — 6 earned — and still picked up the win. Noodle-bat shortstop Nick Ahmed went 3 for 4 with a homer and 5 RBIs. The Giants have scored 2 runs this year and are 2-0, thanks to a pair of solo homers by Panik — who hit them off Jansen and Clayton Kershaw (M).