Welcome to The Opener, where every weekday morning during the regular season you’ll get a fresh, topical column to start your day from one of SI.com’s MLB writers.
ANAHEIM — In the end, the result was more of what the Angels have known all too well during their seven-year playoff drought. But the route the team took during Thursday’s 3–1 Opening Day defeat against the Astros could provide hope that this year, finally, maybe, could be different.
There was certainly something different about reigning American League MVP Shohei Ohtani. After averaging 95.6 mph on his fastball in 2021, he topped out at 99.8 on Thursday and never threw a fastball slower than 95. If that’s the new normal for baseball’s two-way sensation, opposing hitters would be wise to take notice.
