Maeda (1-0) shut out the Padres over six innings in his MLB debut Wednesday, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out four.
If his big spring didn't have you convinced that the nearly 28-year-old righty was ready to make the transition to the majors, this season-opening outing -- the Dodgers' third shutout of the Padres in as many games -- should help. He even hit a homer, meaning the Japanese import outperformed three days' worth of the San Diego offense all by himself. Maeda may not rack up big strikeout totals, but his excellent command and ground-balling ways (13 of them against only two fly balls in this one) should help him find plenty of success in the Dodgers' rotation. He'll face a stiffer test Tuesday against the Diamondbacks, but there's no need to be afraid of rolling him out in the tough matchup.