Here's something you don't see often: a pitcher making back-to-back starts. That's exactly what Hyun-Jin Ryu will be doing when he gets the ball against the Padres on Sunday night.
OK, so technically he'll be rested about a week after pitching the second game against the Diamondbacks in Australia, but still...
With Clayton Kershaw taking some time off to heal an achy back, Ryu himself was in danger of not being able to go as well. He cracked the nail on his right big toe running the bases in his first start, which just sounds uncomfortable. After throwing a 30-pitch bullpen session, mixing in all of his stuff, he declared himself good to go.
It's a cool honor for Ryu, too, becuase I really think he's going to put together an even better season than last year (14-8, 3.00 ERA, 1.20 WHIP). He already has one win after going five scoreless Down Under, and he might be the best #3 starter in all of baseball. Since Zack Greinke pitched in the Freeway Series opener on Thursday, Ryu is the natural guy to pitch the second Opening Day.
Speaking of quietly effective, the Padres' Andrew Cashner will toe the rubber in his home park, and unless you're a fan of the NL West or a big fantasy player, you probably don't know him. But I do, and I know how good he is with a 3.09 ERA in 31 starts last year. This will be a fun game to watch.
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