There’s an old saying in baseball that “You can’t win a dime in April, but you can lose it” — and a handful of MLB teams are testing that theory this month.
philadelphia phillies, boston red sox And New York Mets Made many headlines for their poor start after a 40-56 record and a pair of dismissal of managerWhile the other captain is still on the hot seat. But they aren’t the only teams that have struggled out of the gate after entering the season with high expectations.
How concerned should fans be about how much the April cold has hurt their team’s chances of playing in October? We assigned our MLB experts a struggling team and asked them to rate that club’s expectations for the remainder of the season on a panic meter from 1 (relax, everything will be fine) to 5 (it’s time to hit the panic button).
Panic-meter score: 1.5
What went wrong: The offense struggled to start the season, with the Mariners hitting .184 while starting 4–9. The team’s three best hitters struggled: cal raleigh Hit .145 with two home runs in his first 18 games, julio rodriguez Homered once in the first 27 games, and Josh Naylor Hit .118 through 19 games. Meanwhile, the rotation is OK, but not great (18th in strikeout rate and bottom 10 in home runs allowed). As a staff, the Mariners have allowed the second-highest hard-hit rate in the majors.
Can they fix it? A weekend sweep in St. Louis probably got the Mariners back on the right track (although brian woo Four home runs allowed in a win). Raleigh hit four home runs in six games last week and Naylor hit .480 in seven games after a .118 start.
I am a little worried about this luis castillo And logan gilbertBoth of those have been hit hard early on, but the Mariners’ lineup and rotation should play above .162 — and it helps that the AL West looks mediocre so far. –David Scoenfield
Panic-Meter Score: 2
What went wrong: The offense has gotten off to a slow start, but there has to be a definite reason for that. The standout numbers have been abysmal – in fact, like a 30th-ranked OPS – with runners in scoring position. The bullpen has also been substandard and the future there looks a little more unclear. KC’s bullpen ERA ranks 29th and has been a major problem.
Can they fix it?: Hitters, of course. The Royals have projected an above average attack and the team OPS is already roughly in the middle of the pack. Give it time and the RISP numbers should add up to the overall talent of hitters. The bullpen is a real concern as there are no relievers that provide a high level of certainty on any given night. Some outside help could be on the way for the bullpen. For the Royals and all teams looking for high-leverage help, keep an eye on the rebuilt version Antonio Senzatela In Colorado.
Bottom line, the fundamentals of Kansas City’s roster construction remain in place – starting pitching, team defense, bobby wit jr. – So with regression elsewhere, the Royals could make progress. And let’s not forget that the bar for entry into the AL playoff race is very low. There is no reason to panic right now. — Bradford Doolittle
Panic-Meter Score: 3
What went wrong: The Blue Jays thrived last postseason with a dynamic offense with the ability to put the ball in play and hit it hard. However, in the early part of this year, this has not really appeared. The Blue Jays still avoid strikeouts with the best of them, but they aren’t walking and they aren’t slugging either, a terrible combination. Relatedly, they also have a lot of injuries – in their lineup, but also throughout their rotation.
Can they fix it? They can do this by being healthy. The Blue Jays welcomed Trey Yesavage off the injured list on Tuesday, and several other reinforcements could be on the horizon. Before the end of May, george springer, alejandro kirk, Nathan Lukes And addison barger Should everyone rejoin the lineup? Max Scherzer, Jose Berrios and, perhaps, shane bieber It is expected that by then everyone will also return to rotation. Perhaps in the meantime someone can move forward in the ninth inning. – Alden Gonzalez
philadelphia phillies
Panic-Meter Score: 3.5
What went wrong: His starting staff has the highest ERA in baseball. what has happened Aaron Nola And Jesus Luzardo? They’re not the only ones to blame – only the highest paid ones are. And it is not that his crime has reduced. alec bohm Looks like a shell of himself, and the Phillies aren’t getting much out of anyone besides their biggest stars offensively.
Can they fix it? They could, but it remains to be seen whether they will. On Tuesday, the Phillies addressed their slow start by firing manager Rob Thomson and replacing him with interim captain Don Mattingly.
The path back to respectability and controversy is through the pitching staff. Jack Wheeler’s comeback has started well Is Having some positive regression for others – starting with Luzardo. Plus, the return of Jhoan Duran will calm the Pens. Do we really think the Phillies won’t be able to pass at least 5-6 teams ahead of them in the NL at some point? –Jesse Rogers
Panic-Meter Score: 4
What went wrong: He has the most runs scored in Major League Baseball. His defensive range is just plain bad. When you can’t throw or catch the ball, you give up more runs than you score, even with a good offense.
Can they fix it? No, even if Hunter Brown, josh haider And Christian Xavier As for his return from the arm injury, it won’t be until late May at the earliest, and until then the Astros will face two months of tough pitching. Digging a hole is one thing. Burying yourself is another matter. — Jeff Passan
New York Mets
Panic-Meter Score: 4
What went wrong: This crime is the worst among the chiefs. The evidence of this is evident in old school statistics and new age metrics. The Mets rank 30th in runs scored, on-base percentage and slugging percentage – which is last. He ranks last in wOBA, wRC+, and ISO. juan sotowho was absent for almost three weeks due to a calf injury, and francisco alvarez The only healthy regulars are guys with an OPS+ above 100 – that’s average. Francis Lindor posted a 92 OPS+ before hitting the injured list. There are holes in the starting rotation and closer devin williams There have been struggles recently, but the ineptitude of the offense has led to disaster.
Can they fix it? Sure. bo bichet Not a .237 hitter. carson benz Looking much better lately. Luis Robert Jr. has every tool in the kit to be successful if he stays healthy. But Lindor’s absence is a huge blow. The lineup looks weak without both him and Soto, which is rare this season.
Desire bret batty and/or mark vientos Prove yourself a real big-league contributor? does marcus semien Is there more in the tank? Does the group of players in this position have enough power?
The Mets can’t rely solely on Soto to carry the offense. Ever since he returned from the injured list, teams have rallied around him and challenged anyone else to beat him. The success rate for the Mets to win consistently has been very high. –Jorge Castillo
boston red sox
1:16
What’s next for the Red Sox after Alex Cora?
Eduardo Pérez is considering what’s next for the Boston Red Sox after firing manager Alex Cora and five members of his coaching staff.
Panic-Meter Score: 5
What went wrong: Under normal circumstances, given the small sample size of games, I would have kept the panic meter at 3. But Red Sox head of baseball operations Craig Breslow should have it at 5 because he fired the man considered one of the best managers in baseball after 27 games in March and April.
The offense has been poor and powerless, with the team ranked in the bottom 10 in almost every major offensive category.
Can they fix it? Tricky question, and the short answer is: maybe. roman anthony it would be better, Caleb Durbin Bound to produce more. But will this group produce enough homers? It’s doubtful, unless they change the composition of the roster. Breslow’s bet is on pitching. — Buster Olney
