Biggest Surprises in April
We have passed the one month mark of the season and while there is plenty of baseball left to play, the games in April count just as much as they do in September so what has happened over the first month here is important but not indicative of future outcomes. That being said, here's my picks for the biggest surprises to start the season and to spread the love I will limit one per division.
AL East
The Boston Red Sox are off to a decent start defying everybody’ prediction that they’d be bottom dwellers. Entering Monday the 29th two games above .500, the Sox lead the Majors in ERA at a minuscule 2.63 (almost half a run better than second place) and are in the top ten in runs and second in home runs. And they have done all this without big offseason acquisition Lucas Giolito and star shortstop Trevor Story. They have also had players on and off the injured list with Rafael Devers and Tyler O’Neil missing some time, but they have recently returned to action. If Boston can keep pitching well they can contend for a wildcard spot on the back of their solid start.
AL Central
Kansas City made some noise in free agency, bolstering their rotation with relief veteran pitchers such as Seth Lugo and Michael Wacha. They also handed out a massive extension to franchise centerpiece Bobby Witt Jr., who is a legit MVP candidate out the gate. They have also received contributions from a resurgent Salvador Perez, whose 1.014 OPS leads the team. Much Like the Red Sox, the Royals have been riding their pitching staff posting a 3.14 ERA thus far, good for fourth in the majors. Their hot start is crucial in a division that feels wide open for the taking.
AL West
The Houston Astros have shocked the league with their start but not in a good way. The Astros sit dead last at 8-19. Their entire starting staff has been injured to start the season. What’s worse is that their touted lights out bullpen has imploded, with newcomer Josh Hader and longtime fireman Ryan Pressly both struggling to get outs posting ERAs of 8.38 and 7.45 respectively in a combined 19.1 innings this year. The only saving grace is that the are “only” 7 games back in the West, but the question becomes can the dynasty recover to make their 8th straight ALCS? Or have the Astros crashed back down to earth?
NL East
The Phillies being good isn't surprising but their starting has been otherworldly to start the year. Through their first 28 games, Phillies starters have posted a 2.13 ERA over 169 IP leading the charge for the Phillies uncharacteristic (for them) hot start. They have 4 starters with a sub 2.00 ERA with Cy Young favorite Zach Wheeler posting a 1.92 ERA (third highest among starters). The Fightins’ have reinforced their status as top contender in the NL. Will this good start catapult them past the Braves in the Division? Who knows, but they have set themselves up nicely with a strong start.
NL Central
The NL Central is the only division with four teams with a .500 record or better. The Brewers, Cubs, Reds, and Pirates are bunched up within four games of each other and all have shown flashes of brilliance to start the season. The Brewers lineup has been great for them, while the Cubs have gotten big results from their marquee offseason acquisition Shota Imanaga. The Reds young core has looked dangerous with Elly de la Cruz looking like a 40-40 candidate with 7 HRs and 17SB already. While the Pirates have seen encouraging signs from their young rotation, most notably from Jared Jones and Bailey Falter who both have been great to start the year. This division winner will have to not just win, but grind their way to victory.
NL West
Meanwhile out west, two playoff hopefuls are stuttering out the gate. Both the Padres and the Diamondbacks find themselves three games below .500, a stark contrast to preseason predictions that they would be even with the Dodgers. The Padres have been inconsistent and streaky, unable to string good play together while the Diamondbacks have lost a ton of players to injury with Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, and Eduardo Rodriguez all on the injured list. Both teams have made an already daunting task of winning the division an unlikely possibility and they will need to weather the early struggles if they are to overcome any of the central teams for a wildcard spot.
By Jackson Westfall