June 10, 2026
Konnor Pilkington tossed five scoreless innings with eight strikeouts in his third career start (sixth career game) against the Royals yesterday.
He’s the sixth pitcher in franchise history with at least eight strikeouts and zero runs allowed in a game within his first six career appearances. The others:
The Pirates have purchased the contract of Yu Chang, ending his Cleveland career.
He finishes his 2022 season with seven strikeouts in 10 plate appearances.
His 70% strikeout rate is the second highest in franchise history for a player with at least 10 plate appearances. Only pitcher Tom Hilgendorf in 1972 (79% – 11 K in 14 PA) was worse.
The next worst by a position player was Andrew Velazquez in 2019 (58% – 7 K in 12 PA).
This stat pretty much sums up Chang’s career in Cleveland:
Bryan Lavastida has made the Guardians Opening Day roster. He’s the first catcher with zero MLB experience to make the team’s Opening Day roster since Andy Allanson in 1986.
Tyler Naquin is just the third player since 1908 with 3 strikeouts and zero times reaching base in each of the first two games of the season.
The others:
Indians with at least 3 plate appearances on Opening Day, who struck out in each PA: