Masterson's debut

Justin Masterson just threw his first pitch in the big leagues. And it was...

...a sinker.

No surprises there. That's his bread-and-butter pitch, which he uses in addition to an emerging slider and changeup. It's a very heavy sink, which we've seen already when Masterson induced his first batter, Chone Figgins, to ground to second base. If he's on, we won't see very many fly balls at all today.

Masterson also struck out Gary Matthews, Jr., and walked Vladimir Guerrero (tough to do). He'll be on a pitch count today, around 80 or 85 pitches, since that's what he's been limited to in Double A. He hasn't thrown more than five innings yet this season.

He got out of the first inning with 16 pitches thrown (and two groundouts to second base).

Here's more on Masterson, from this spring training. Enjoy.