Outlook for every MLB Team after Month Two

The baseball season just started right? That’s what it feels like to many at least, but here we are already two months in. Teams have reached the 50 game mark and with Memorial Day arriving ,the first official checkpoint of the MLB season is here and now seems like the best time to elevate every teams start and how they look moving forward.

Couldn’t ask for a better start

Minnesota Twins (36-16)

The biggest surprise team of the baseball season thus far. Their offseason acquisitions have paid dividends for them, with Jonathan Schoop looking like his old self and Marwin Gonzalez heating up after a slow start. Eddie Rosario continues to mash for the Twins, leading the team with 16 home runs. Jorge Polanco, after signing an extension in spring training, has played better than anyone expected.

Houston Astros (35-19)

They are a little banged up on the offensive side, with Jose Altuve still on the IL with a hamstring injury, but is set to start a rehab assignment this week and also George Springer landing on the IL with a hamstring injury as well. The offseason pickup of Michael Brantley has paid off well so far and Carlos Correa is having a nice bounceback season. Their bullpen is one of the best in the league as well.

Tampa Bay Rays (31-19)

They have cooled off a bit from a sorching start to the season, but still find themselves just 2 games back of the first place New York Yankees. Brandon Lowe has been the unsung hero for the Rays so far and has himself as the frontrunner for the AL Rookie of the Year Award so far. Their opener has once again been very effective and Blake Snell, for the most part, has been as good as he was a season ago.

Los Angeles Dodgers (35-18)

Hyun-JIn Ryu has easily been one of the best pitchers in the National League so far this season. He’s been great carrying this rotation while Walker Buehler starts to come back to form after a slow start and Clayton Kershaw can find a consistent rhythm, which he seems to have found now. Cody Bellinger has played out of his mind so far and is the frontrunner for the National League Most Valuable Player Award.

San Diego Padres (28-25)

The Padres are a young team that many did not expect to compete this year, and while they sit 7 games back of the Dodgers in the NL West standings, 3 games above .500 53 games into the season is a great success for them.

Arizona Diamondbacks (28-25)

They lost Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollack, and Patrick Corbin this past offseason and they haven’t really missed a beat. The D-backs are a scrappy team that doesn’t give in or give up. They fight until out 27 and have been rewarded with a record they can be very happy with.  

Can’t complain, but have room for improvement

Philadelphia Phillies (31-22)

The Phillies have found their stride as of late. Winners of 7 of their last 10 ball games, the Phillies lineup has carried the weight so far. Jean Segura and J.T. Realmuto have outshined Bryce Harper in their first season in Philadelphia so far. Their rotation is starting to get healthy and is throwing the ball better of late. Jake Arrieta is having a bounceback season with his 3.60 era.

Atlanta Braves (30-24)

Their bullpen has to be better if they want to win the division for back to back seasons. Their pitching staff owns a 4.15 era, good for 13th best in the league. That will need to improve. Their lineup is deep and starting to come together. Rookie Austin Riley has been everything and more since his call up from Triple A. He is hitting .341 so far.    

Chicago Cubs (30-21)

A dreadful 2-7 start to the season feels long gone for the Cubbies. Their bats are starting to heat up at just the right time. Willson Contreras has been the hidden gem for this club so far, hitting .320 so far. Javy Baez is having himself another MVP type level season. Their rotation has held up so far, but the bullpen will need to be more consistent.

Milwaukee Brewers (30-24)

A slowish start for the Brewers, but they only trail the Cubs by a game and half in the division. Their starting staff has been surprisingly good, and their offense has been surprise sluggish for most the year. Christian Yelich is keeping up with his ridiculous season last year and leads the league in home runs with 21.

Pittsburgh Pirates (25-25)

If you don’t know who Josh Bell is, get to know the name. Bell is second in the league in average, .339 and rbis, 47. He is also fifth in the league in homeruns with 16. He is carrying the Pirates so far.

New York Yankees (34-18)

They own the 3rd best record in all of baseball, yet they have so much room for improvement. Their lineup on paper is scary, but they haven’t had that lineup on the field for much of the season. Injuries have been the story of the season so far, yet they find themselves first in the AL East. This just shows how good and how much better the Yankees could potentially be.

Oakland A’s (28-25)

Winners of 6 straight, the A’s are firing on all cylinders. Bob Melvin continues to do an excellent job with this ballclub. It might be  a stretch to say the can challenge the Astros for the division, but just like year they’ll be fighting for a Wild Card berth.

Slow start, Have a lot of work to do

Boston Red Sox (28-25)

World Series hangover? I’d say so. The Red Sox will admit they didn’t have the start of their season they wanted or expected, but they’re coming around now. Their big names are starting to come around after slow starts. Chris Sale is throwing the ball much better and Mookie Betts looks to be back to his MVP self. The Red Sox need to start playing better baseball to stay competitive in the AL East and challenge the Yankees.

Cleveland Indians (26-26)

51 games in and the Indians already sit 10 games back in the AL Central. Their starting staff, their strength entering the season, has been underwhelming so far. Corey Kluber’s absence has been huge. Their offense has yet to get going as well. Jose Ramirez, who finished 3rd in the AL MVP voting just a season ago is hitting below .200. The Indians are in trouble right now.

Texas Rangers (25-25)

A better start than years past, but still an uphill battle with the Astros and A’s in their division.

Los Angeles Angels (24-28)

The pitching staff is once again holding this team back. They have the offensive pieces to be a competitive team, but continue to get the pitching staff wrong.

New York Mets (26-26)

An eventful offseason for the Mets has them sitting at .500 52 games into the season. Jacob DeGrom has had a slow start to the season to his standards and Noah Syndergaard has not been much better. They also just lost Yoenis Cespedes for the year. The Mets have a rough road ahead of them.

Washington Nationals (22-31)

The most disappointing team so far this season. Their bullpen has been an absolute disaster. Their lineup has been hurt and unproductive most of the year. The Nationals are in big trouble after some high expectations this season.  

St. Louis Cardinals (26-26)

An up and down start of the season for the red birds has got them at exactly .500. With high expectations this season, the Cardinals have work to do. Their offense needs Matt Carpenter and Paul Goldschmidt to heat up quick. Their starting staff has held their own and Jack Flauthey is pitching the ball much better of late.

Cincinnati Reds (24-28)

The Reds have been the opposite of what many thought they were. Their pitching has actually been their strength, while their offense has been their weakness. Their offense will eventually come around, it has started to recently. If their pitching can keep up their good work long enough for their offense to heat up, the Reds could make some noise.

Colorado Rockies (24-27)

The Rockies’ pitching has let them down so far. Regardless of their home ballpark, their pitching has unachieved to their expectations. Their offense is what it is every season. Nolan Arenado continues to be one of the best players in baseball. However, if the Rockies want to return to the postseason, their pitching needs to improve.

Maybe next year?

Toronto Blue Jays (21-32)

While they will not be competing this season, the Jays have many reasons to watch them and be excited for the future. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is must see tv on his own and newly called up Calvin Biggio has a promising future as well.

Baltimore Orioles (16-37)

They are on pace to give up the most home runs in a single season by over 100, not that great.

Detroit Tigers (19-31)

They just recently lost 9 ball games in a row and have been underwhelming all around.

Kansas City Royals (18-34)

While they are not a competitive team, they are exciting. They can score with the best of them, but I think they might have the worst pitching staff in baseball.They own a 5.25 era, 2nd worst in baseball.

Seattle Mariners (23-32)

They have lost 20 of their last 30 games after a 13-12 start. They are entering a total rebuild.

Miami Marlins (16-34)

They are hitting .225 as a team and pitching to a 4.63 team era. The rebuild continues for the Marlins.

San Francisco Giants (21-31)

The last season for Bruce Bochy will be a sad one. He led the Giants to 3 World Series Championships in 2010, 2012, and 2014. The 2019 season though will not result in the same. The big question surrounding the Giants is if they’ll trade their prized and beloved ace, Madison Bumgarner.