The MLB season always starts with a few teams coming out of nowhere to be incredibly hot. Some of them end long before the summer days. Others manage to continue production and force their way into contention.
There have been a lot of standouts so far. Here are some from each division that really shined:
American League East
- Tampa Bay Rays, first in division (9-7)
The Rays were in an incredibly difficult position at the beginning of the season. In an AL East that looked completely cut-throat (and brimming with trades and free agency pickups), the Rays didn't do all that much this offseason. This led to a disappointing feeling regarding the club's return to Tropicana Field.
But Tampa Bay has largely overcome those concerns. They are 7-3 in their last ten games, and Chandler Simpson is playing like an MVP level candidate with a .407 batting average and seven stolen bases. This is all without Junior Caminero, who is hitting .233 with only two homers.
The pitching staff, anchored by Drew Rasmussen (1.13 ERA, 16.0 IP) and a resurgent Nick Martinez (2.16 ERA, 16.2 IP), has gone crazy.
Will Tampa Bay finish in first place in a division dominated by the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays? maybe no. But it's been wonderful for Rays fans to look forward to the rest of this season with some hope.
American League Central
- Minnesota Twins, first in division (11-7)
Minnesota had a fire sale at last year's trade deadline and was deemed uncompetitive in the AL Central, which is largely dominated by the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Tigers. But it is the Twins club, led by Josh Bell and Byron Buxton, that has retained first place.
The offense isn't putting up particularly incredible numbers (.235/.336/.401 team slash line), but they are third in MLB in home runs (24) and fourth in runs (98). But the real story has been his pitching.
The emergence of Taj Bradley (1.25 ERA) as a co-star with Joe Ryan has been the best thing to watch this year. There's a lot to suggest that success can't continue (along with the Twins' overall success), but Minnesota is off to a great start.
American League West
- Athletics, first in division (9-8)
Even before Jeffery Springs almost beat the Yankees, the A's were putting up some wild numbers.
Shea Langeliers at one point led the league in home runs with five. He has a .297/.348/.563 slash line through 16 games this season. There is speculation whether MLB could see another monster season from a catcher after Cal Raleigh's ridiculous 2025. If anyone can do it, it's Langeliers.
Returning to the Springs, he posted a 1.46 ERA through 24 2/3 innings. His 0.77 WHIP and .134 opponent batting average are incredible numbers for a starter. That number is likely to increase over the next few weeks as the A's face the Seattle Mariners and Philadelphia Phillies.
- Los Angeles Angels, 3rd in division (9-9)
I know, I know, I know. The Texas Rangers rank first in athletics. And that's great for Texas fans. but angels are doing something crazy Recent stuff.
Mike Trout looks vintage with five home runs and 13 RBI on the year. Joe Adell had the best defensive performance of the year (maybe in MLB history?) with three home steals. The Halos hit consecutive homers against the Yankees on Tuesday. Life was very good.
The only problem has been rotation. Aside from Jose Soriano's emergence as an absolute ace (leads MLB with a 0.33 ERA in 27.0 innings), the rest of the starting group has been weak. Yusei Kikuchi has a 7.50 ERA and has yet to pitch a winless game. Reed Detmers has been better (3.57 ERA, 22.2 IP), but has struggled to miss at bats with a .212 opponent batting average.
It's great to see Los Angeles competitive again. Whether or not that sticks depends mostly on health (as it does with every team), but they could potentially be a sneaky wild card team.
National League East
- Atlanta Braves, first in division (11-7)
Drake Baldwin, the reigning NL Rookie of the Year, is dispelling any concerns about a sophomore slump by hitting five home runs for the surging Braves club. Baldwin has a .311/.378/.554 slash line through the first few weeks of the season.
Atlanta has been an offensive powerhouse so far this year. He is second in MLB in runs (100) and batting average (.274), and fourth in home runs (21). their stars are beginning to shine At the end Putting it together after years of confusion since the 2021 World Series.
The best sign has been rotation. He has provided support for the team while half of their pitching staff is returning from injury. Reynaldo López, in particular, has been fantastic (2.18 ERA, 20.2 IP).
This means Atlanta remains in the top spot in the mostly struggling NL East. As the Phillies and New York Mets perform poorly, can the Braves stop them as they begin their comeback?
- Miami Marlins, second in division (9-9)
If you had told me on MLB Opening Day that Miami would finish second in the NL East this season, I probably would have laughed in your face. But this Marlins club has been must-see baseball.
is rotating Chief. Sandy Alcantara is looking like his Cy Young self every day, making up for Yuri Pérez's early struggles. But the pitching is compensated for by a stellar offense.
Xavier Edwards leads the team in batting average (.343), and Owen Casey has two home runs with a .245/.309/.449 slash line. They got off to a hot start by defeating the Colorado Rockies in walk-off fashion on the opening weekend. This has given them some relief recently, they have gone 4-6 in their last ten games.
National League Central
- Pittsburgh Pirates, first in division (10-7)
Pittsburgh has secretly been one of the best teams in baseball this season. His offseason moves sparked new hope that the Pirates could improve, and they have. Newcomer Brandon Lowe is playing sluggish (seven home runs), Oneil Cruz is hitting .328 with his five bombs and Ryan O'Hearn is hitting .305 with a .902 OPS.
The Pirates have seriously outdone themselves so far this year and their pitching has been even better. The combination of Paul Skenes, Mitch Keller and Braxton Ashcraft has been one of the best in MLB.
except cruise interesting Defense in center field, this Pittsburgh club looks healthier than it has in a long time. They're still my pick to take the NL Central by storm.
- Cincinnati Reds, first in division (10-7)
For years it has been speculated that there was a demonic spirit locked inside Eli de la Cruz. It looks like the Reds' shortstop is finally starting to take advantage of it. In 17 games, he has hit .284 with five home runs for a .912 OPS.
But the real offensive force has been rookie Sal Stewart. Stewart made his debut last season and was mostly solid. This time he has changed it. He has posted a .310/.431/.638 slash line so far this year. It adds up to one. 1.069 OPS mark which is the highest for Cincinnati.
The biggest question is about the health of this rotation. If they are able to tread water until top Hunter Greene returns later this year, expect the offense to please them.
National League West
- San Diego Padres, second in division (11-6)
the padres are on one tears recently. They have won nine of their last 11 games, and are on an MLB-leading six-game winning streak. If they can keep this up, expect them to overtake the Dodgers for first place in the NL West.
It's been an all-around effort for San Diego. After struggling to start the year, the offense has slowed down, going deep nine times in a four-game sweep of the Rockies. Despite the loss of Nick Pivetta to the recent 15-day IL, the rotation has been sterling. And closer Mason Miller is on a historic slump with 29 2/3 scoreless innings.
If the Friars can maintain a good atmosphere throughout April, it will go a long way to assuaging concerns about their postseason hopes.
- Arizona Diamondbacks, third in division (10-8)
The Dubs got off to a bad start and were swept by the Dodgers early in the year. Since then they have gone 7-3 in their last ten games.
Corbin Carroll has looked like his star self again with a .311 batting average and 11 RBI. There were concerns about his ability to return from hamstring surgery on his non-throwing arm, but he had no problems. The upset so far has been Ketel Marte, who has started the year hitting .211. He has cracked four moonshots, but the average is a bit worrying.
But Eduardo Rodriguez looks every bit as impressive an ace as we saw when he took the mound for Team Venezuela in the World Baseball Classic finals. He has posted a 1.96 ERA to start the year. The WHIP is certainly high (1.22) and so is the opponent's batting average (.218), but he has gotten out of jams well.
If Arizona's bullpen can close this out (they haven't lately), this team will go from good to great. They could also return to the postseason for the first time since reaching the Fall Classic in 2023.
