MLB Opening Day 2012: Top Studs and Duds from Thursday's Action

With 14 teams in action on Thursday, the season finally felt like it was getting into full swing after the Marlins, Cardinals, Mariners and Athletics opened the season in ceremonial fashion earlier.

A number of the game's best pitchers took to the mound for their teams, and for the most part, they didn't disappoint.

Offenses in general struggled against these aces, but a number of hitters managed to get their seasons off on the right track, providing valuable run support along the way.

Here are some of the best and worst performers from yesterday's action.

Stud: Roy Halladay

Not that anyone would be surprised by his outing, but Roy Halladay's eight-inning, two-hit effort against the Pittsburgh Pirates was just another day at the office for the National League's best pitcher.

The Philadelphia Phillies offense could only muster one run today against Erik Bedard, but when Halladay is on the mound, it doesn't take much more than that to get the job done.

Dud: Jason Heyward

After a very disappointing 2011 season in which Jason Heyward batted 50 points lower than he did during his rookie campaign, he wanted nothing more than to get off to a strong start in 2012.

Luckily for Heyward, it's a long, long season, as he went 0-for-4 at the plate today, striking out two times.

Stud: Ryan Sweeney

The Boston Red Sox's effort against Justin Verlander and the Detroit Tigers ultimately fell just short today, but it wouldn't have gotten as far as it did if it weren't for the efforts of Ryan Sweeney.

Sweeney went 2-for-4 on the day, including a ninth-inning triple that would score the game-tying run and force the Tigers to the bottom of the ninth inning, where they'd eventually seal the deal in a 3-2  victory.

Dud: Jose Valverde

After Jose Valverde's stellar 49-save season in 2011 in which he didn't blow a save, you couldn't blame Tigers fans for thinking the game was well in hand when he took to the mound in the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.

Instead, the closer would blow his first game of the season on the first day of the season, giving up two runs in the top of the ninth before the Tigers would close it out in the bottom half of the inning.

Stud: Matt Kemp

Coming ever so close to an MVP trophy last season, Matt Kemp has a whole new set of motivations in 2012, not the least of which is a massive contract as the Dodgers' offensive star.

He held up his end of the bargain in Thursday's win against the San Diego Padres, going 2-for-5 with a home run and three RBI.

Dud: Kevin Youkilis

The Boston Red Sox will certainly look to forget the dismal end to their 2011 season as they set out on another season in the always competitive AL East, with Kevin Youkilis being counted on for plenty of production along the way.

He struggled on Thursday against the Detroit Tigers and Justin Verlander, going 0-for-4 while striking out two times.

Stud: Justin Verlander

The reigning AL MVP and Cy Young award winner is going to be a big part of the Detroit Tigers' plans to dominate the AL Central and the rest of the league, as they have their sights set on a World Series appearance.

He was his usual self on the mound on Thursday, throwing eight shutout innings against the Boston Red Sox while striking out seven batters and walking only one.

Dud: Dee Gordon

In just his second season of major league action, Dee Gordon has already been thrust into the leadoff role for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

He batted .304 last season with a .324 on-base percentage, but he struggled at the plate today, going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts.

Stud: Johan Santana

Having not pitched in a major league game since 2010, it was hard to comprehend exactly what Johan Santana we'd see take the mound against the Atlanta Braves.

In five innings of action on Thursday, Santana showed little signs of wear, allowing only two hits while striking out five Braves batters.

Dud: Marlins Offense

The Miami Marlins opened the season to much fanfare on Wednesday as they christened their new ballpark in front of an eager sellout crowd.

Since the opening pitch, however, the Marlins offense has left plenty to be desired.

They've faced a pair of strong starting pitchers in their first two games and have only mustered seven total hits and one run while striking out 13 times as a team.