1 Reason for Every MLB Fanbase to Be Optimistic Right Now
From the 39-15 New York Yankees all the way down to the 17-36 Kansas City Royals, every MLB franchise has a reason to be optimistic as we make our way into the third month of the 2022 regular season.
Naturally, seeing the glass as half-full is easier for some teams than others. In several cases, we'll need to look ahead to 2023 to see any water in the glass. But we've got rose-tinted glasses on and will be sending out nothing but good vibes today.
Teams are broken up by division and presented in alphabetical order by city/state.
Unless otherwise noted, statistics are current through the start of play on Tuesday, June 7.
American League East
1 of 6
Baltimore Orioles: The Wait for Adley Rutschman Is Over
Adley Rutschman was taken first overall in the 2019 MLB draft, and that switch-hitting catcher finally made his MLB debut on May 21 against the Tampa Bay Rays, smacking a triple in just the third at-bat of his career. Unfortunately, he has struggled at the dish since then and entered play Tuesday with a .137 batting average. At some point this season, though, the hope is that he will at least provide some glimpses of being the man who can dig this franchise out of the AL East basement.
Boston Red Sox: The Big Three Is Raking
The bats of Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts and J.D. Martinez in the middle of the Red Sox order have been en fuego. All three entered play Tuesday ranked top-eight in the majors in batting average, with a combined 23 home runs. Boston has even bypassed both the Angels and the Yankees for most runs scored in the AL. Now if only the pitching could improve...
New York Yankees: This Starting Rotation Is Incredible
After allowing two earned runs in 6.1 innings of work on Sunday, Jordan Montgomery lowered his ERA to 3.02. That still leaves him in last place among the five Yankees starters, as Gerrit Cole, Luis Severino and Jameson Taillon are each below 3.00, while Nestor Cortes is aiming for the ERA title at 1.50. The Yankees will likely need to touch up the bullpen a bit before the Aug. 2 trade deadline, but the thought of trying to win a series against this rotation in the postseason is terrifying.
Tampa Bay Rays: Shane Baz to the Rescue?
An official return date hasn't been announced yet, but Baz—who made 20 starts with a 2.05 ERA between Double-A, Triple-A and the majors last season—is on his way back from an elbow injury. He has made four rehab starts at Triple-A with a 1.38 ERA. And once he's back, this rotation is going to be in a great place, with Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen and Corey Kluber already putting in good work. There's still hope that Tyler Glasnow will make it back from last August's Tommy John surgery before the end of this season too, which would be another big boost.
Toronto Blue Jays: The Bats Are Finally Waking Up
After 42 games, Toronto was treading water at 22-20 with the fewest runs scored (150) in the AL East. But it was only a matter of time before this loaded lineup finally started to figure things out. They averaged 3.57 runs per game during that 22-20 start but have put up 7.0 on average over the last 11 games. The Blue Jays are still seven games back from the Yankees, but they at least now have the best record among the AL's wild-card picture.
American League Central
2 of 6
Chicago White Sox: Michael Kopech Is the Real Deal
Little about this season has gone according to plan for the 25-27 White Sox, but at least Michael Kopech has been outstanding. Between missing all of 2019 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery in September 2018 and subsequently opting out of the 2020 season amid the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been a long and winding road for the first-round pick in the 2014 draft. But through nine starts this season, Kopech has a 2.20 ERA and finally looks like the ace Chicago hoped he might be three years ago.
Cleveland Guardians: Jose Ramirez for AL MVP
Just before Opening Day, Cleveland locked up Jose Ramirez through 2028 on a seven-year, $141 million deal. And that contract is looking like highway robbery for the Guardians right now because he has been arguably the most valuable player in the majors. Whether he'll actually win that title with the NYY's Aaron Judge on pace for around 65 home runs is another story, but the long-term face of the franchise has the Guardians looking like a viable postseason candidate. (They're 24-25 but with a plus-26 run differential.)
Detroit Tigers: In Tarik Skubal, the Tigers Might Finally Have Another Ace
It has been a rough past half-decade for Detroit, particularly in the starting pitching department. Matthew Boyd was probably the Tigers' best (definitely their most durable) starter, and he had a 4.79 ERA from 2017 to '21. But 2018 ninth-round pick Tarik Skubal—who had a 2.11 ERA in the minors in 2018-19—has been lights-out with a 2.15 ERA through 10 starts this season. He's got a long hill to climb before being mentioned in the same breath with a Justin Verlander or Max Scherzer in recent Tigers lore, but at least he has been the ace they were hoping Eduardo Rodriguez would be for them.
Kansas City Royals: Bobby Witt Jr. Has Found His Footing
Rookie phenom Bobby Witt Jr. got out to a rough start. Through 10 games, he was batting .128. His first home run didn't come until his 81st plate appearance. But the soon-to-be 22-year-old has been rock-solid since the beginning of May and is well on his way to becoming one of the youngest members of the 25-25 club with seven home runs and eight stolen bases already under his belt. The Royals entered play Tuesday with the worst record in baseball (17-36), but this 3B/SS is giving fans in Kansas City a reason to keep tuning in.
Minnesota Twins: The Standings
Even the most optimistic fans in Minnesota probably didn't expect to be sitting here two months into the season with eight more wins than their closest challenger in the AL Central. The Twins did recently sputter through a nine-game stretch with a 3-7 record against the bottom-feeding Royals and Tigers, but they had built up such a cushion through their first 43 games that they're still in great shape. At the risk of putting the cart before the horse one-third of the way through a 162-game marathon, it's already fair to start wondering if Minnesota might even be able to bypass the Houston Astros (or Yankees) to secure a first-round bye in the postseason.
American League West
3 of 6
Houston Astros: Who Needs Carlos Correa?
In failing to re-sign Carlos Correa this past offseason, the Astros put a lot of eggs into the Jeremy Pena basket. And the highly touted rookie shortstop has delivered with a .273 batting average, eight home runs and what FanGraphs rates as the most valuable defense among all qualified fielders, regardless of position. And because Pena's salary ($700,000) is 2 percent of what Correa is making in Minnesota this season ($35.1 million), he's also a big reason Houston can afford to make a major acquisition or two before the Aug. 2 trade deadline.
Los Angeles Angels: Still in Good Shape for the Playoffs
Optimism is at an all-time low in Anaheim. The Angels are mired in an 12-game losing streak, Mike Trout has gone hitless in eight of his last 11 games and breakout star Taylor Ward hit the IL with a hamstring injury suffered in game No. 9 of their brutal skid. But for as bad as things have gotten as of late, the Halos are just 1.5 games back from a wild-card spot. They just got to flip that switch back to where it was two weeks ago.
Oakland A's: Shea Langeliers Is Mashing in Las Vegas
When the A's traded Matt Olson to Atlanta in March, Cristian Pache was viewed by most as the best piece they got in the deal. But the No. 9 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Shea Langeliers, has gotten out to a great start in Oakland's farm system. After hitting 22 home runs in 92 games played at the Double-A level last season, he hit 11 home runs in his first 26 games in Triple-A with Las Vegas. He does strike out quite a bit (44 times in 198 plate appearances this year), but his propensity for drawing walks and mashing home runs is what this Moneyball franchise loves to see. Got to think we'll see him in the big leagues sooner rather than later.
Seattle Mariners: Julio Rodriguez's Rookie of the Year Campaign
More than a quarter century after A-Rod took the world by storm out of Seattle, it's J-Rod's time to shine. The 21-year-old rookie is leading the majors with 17 stolen bases and since May 1 is batting .316 with seven home runs. Pitchers not named Logan Gilbert have been a disappointment for the Mariners, but the young nucleus of Rodriguez, Ty France and J.P. Crawford should eventually (but probably not this season) get this team back to the postseason for the first time since 2001.
Texas Rangers: Marcus Semien Has Finally Arrived
Marcus Semien crushed 45 home runs last season for Toronto before opening the Texas Rangers portion of his career with one of the slowest starts in recent memory. Through 43 games, he was batting .193 without a single dinger. But with three round-trippers and three stolen bases in his last nine games, he's finally at least starting to deliver on that seven-year, $175 million contract. And for a team hovering just two games back of the third wild-card spot, his arrival could be the catalyst for meaningful baseball in October.
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National League East
4 of 6
Atlanta Braves: Been Here Before (And Heating Up)
The reigning World Series champions were undoubtedly hoping for more than 23 wins through their first 50 games. But the Braves were also hoping for more than 24 wins by that point last year, and that didn't stop them from winning it all. Also, thanks to a five-game winning streak since that 23-27 start, Atlanta now has a winning record—something it didn't achieve until improving to 56-55 in early August 2021. Granted, the team was never as far behind the New York Mets in 2021 as it is right now (9.0 GB), but there's no need to panic.
Miami Marlins: Starting Rotation Is in a Great Place
Of the 17 starting pitchers making at least $20 million this season, six—Max Scherzer, Jacob deGrom, Stephen Strasburg, Patrick Corbin, Zack Wheeler and Charlie Morton—reside in the NL East. And yet, it's Miami that boasts the best one-two punch atop the rotation in Sandy Alcantara and Pablo Lopez, who have a combined ERA of 1.98 through 22 starts. The Marlins also have Trevor Rogers, who is struggling in 2022 but made 25 starts with a 2.64 ERA as a rookie last season. And they just called up highly touted prospect Edward Cabrera, who allowed one hit over six scoreless innings against the potent Colorado Rockies lineup in his 2022 debut on June 1. The team is 22-30 right now, but the future is bright in Miami.
New York Mets: Best Record in the NL
After wins over the Dodgers on Saturday and Sunday, the Mets moved back into first place in the NL standings with a 38-19 record. This is despite the fact that they are waiting on starting pitchers Jacob deGrom, Max Scherzer and Tylor Megill to make their way back from the IL. And because of that great record and the aforementioned nine-game lead over Atlanta, the Mets have the luxury of exercising a little bit of patience in getting those arms back on the mound.
Philadelphia Phillies: No More Manager Drama, and Bryson Stott Finally Woke Up
As it turns out, firing Joe Girardi was exactly what the Phillies needed to get Bryson Stott going. The first-round pick in the 2019 draft had a .143 average with no home runs through his first 25 games. But make a managerial change and all of a sudden he's mashing a pair of three-run home runs during the three-game sweep of the Angels. And after the current three-game set in Milwaukee, Philadelphia's schedule lightens up substantially. There could be a big run coming for this club.
Washington Nationals: Luis Garcia Is Back; Stephen Strasburg Is Coming
22-year-old middle infielder Luis Garcia was hitting the cover off the ball in Rochester when he finally got the call back to the big leagues. Through his first five games, he's batting .368, giving this lineup a long overdue spark. And it looks like the starting rotation is about to get quite the jolt as well, with Stephen Strasburg expected to make his first appearance in over a year. Maybe, just maybe, this team that went 19-31 en route to winning the 2019 World Series might be able to rally from its 21-35 start to make the playoffs.
National League Central
5 of 6
Chicago Cubs: Christopher Morel Is All Sorts of Fun
On May 17, Christopher Morel became the 129th player in MLB history to homer in the first at-bat of his career. It's something Aaron Judge did. It's also something Adam Wainwright did, so it doesn't really mean anything. But it was a cool moment for a player who unofficially leads the NL in fun had while playing baseball. (Tampa Bay's Brett Phillips leads the majors, though.) Morel is also quite good at this sport, reaching base via a hit or walk in each of his first 20 games. For Cubs fans, here's hoping this hot start lasts longer than Seiya Suzuki's did.
Cincinnati Reds: They're Actually Kind of...Good Now?
Listen, there's no coming back from a 3-22 start to the season. Even with the expansion to 12 playoff teams, the Reds are 10.5 games out of postseason position and well on their way to becoming the first team to embrace selling ahead of the trade deadline. But did you know Cincinnati is 16-13 overall with a plus-35 run differential since that horrendous start? The bats have woken up in a huge way, and the young pitching staff has turned a corner from "might have the worst team ERA in MLB history" to "competent enough to win games on a regular basis."
Milwaukee Brewers: Best Bullpen in Baseball
As a whole, Atlanta's relievers have officially been more valuable than Milwaukee's, at least as far as FanGraphs is concerned. But this main quartet of Josh Hader, Devin Williams, Trevor Gott and Brad Boxberger—with Aaron Ashby also thriving in a long-relief role—is as good as it gets. Because of them, Milwaukee is 13-6 in one-run games and is going to be mighty difficult to eliminate in a best-of-seven series.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Inexplicably Treading Water
With all sorts of key batters—Roberto Perez, Yoshi Tsutsugo, Kevin Newman, Ben Gamel and others—on the IL, the Pirates have been a walking hospital ward as of late. They also have the third-worst run differential in baseball, allowing 75 more than they have scored. And yet, they're 24-28 with a mind-boggling 5-1 record against the Dodgers and would possibly be a buyer if the trade deadline hit today.
St. Louis Cardinals: Overflowing with Quality Young Hitters
Thanks in large part to 42-year-old Albert Pujols, 40-year-old Adam Wainwright and 39-year-old Yadier Molina, the Cardinals are one of the oldest teams this season. But they also just keep calling up NL Rookie of the Year candidates, as Juan Yepez, Brendan Donovan and Nolan Gorman have all been thriving at the dish. That's great for this season, as St. Louis is now neck-and-neck with the Brewers in the NL Central. But it's also great for the future, as this "old" team has 11 legitimate candidates (not all of them currently healthy, though) for everyday playing time who are 28 or younger.
National League West
6 of 6
Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll's Still Got It
Zac Gallen, Daulton Varsho and Alek Thomas are cause for excitement at the MLB level, but the best news for this franchise this season has been the return of Corbin Carroll. The first-round pick in the 2019 draft didn't play in 2020 since there was no minor league baseball amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and he only managed to play in seven games in 2021 before undergoing season-ending shoulder surgery. But at Double-AA Amarillo, Carroll is annihilating baseballs to the tune of a 1.051 OPS. The D-backs might not rush the 21-year-old to the majors this season, but he should be a major contributor no later than 2023.
Colorado Rockies: C.J. Cron Is Putting Up MVP-Caliber Numbers
C.J. Cron is on a two-year deal that pays him $7.25 million both this season and next season. And thus far, he has been worth every penny and then some, batting .295 with 14 home runs and 40 RBI. If the Rockies opt to keep him into next season, that's one reason to believe maybe they can turn things around and compete in 2023. Or they could try to make up for not trading Trevor Story last season by moving Cron 15 months before he hits free agency. Because if they do put him on the block, he would figure to be the most coveted 1B/DH in this year's market.
Los Angeles Dodgers: *Gestures Wildly at +113 Run Differential*
The dream of breaking MLB's single-season record of 116 wins seems highly unlikely at this point. However, the preseason favorite to win the World Series is still in great shape to win it all. Mookie Betts and Trea Turner have both been red-hot over the past month, Chris Taylor has come on strong over the past two weeks and Freddie Freeman has been doing his thing all year long. If Cody Bellinger and/or Max Muncy ever figure things out, the team that already has the best run differential in baseball will become even more dominant.
San Diego Padres: MacKenzie Gore Has Been Spectacular
While the Padres not so patiently wait for Fernando Tatis Jr. to return from his fractured wrist, at least a different 23-year-old has been performing like a guy who will be a many-time All-Star. Rookie pitcher MacKenzie Gore has logged 48.0 innings of work with 57 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA. Even in a starting rotation in which Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Sean Manaea, Joe Musgrove, Mike Clevenger and Nick Martinez are making a combined $64.5 million this season, the Padres just about have to put Gore on the mound as often as possible.
San Francisco Giants: Back-to-Back Postseasons Still Well Within Reach
In the past 85 years, the Giants have gone to the playoffs in consecutive years just once (2002-03). But after setting a franchise record with 107 wins in 2021, the G-Men have a winning record and would be in the playoffs if they started today. With the way Joc Pederson has been slugging, with the way Carlos Rodon and Logan Webb are hurling atop the starting rotation and with the extra playoff spots available this year, there's a good chance they pull it off.
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