Playing Fact or Fiction with Every MLB Team's Early-Season Record

As fans, it's always easy to get a little too swept up in a team's early-season performance, but it's important to remember that we're just a week and a half into the 2013 MLB season.

Putting too much stock in what a team has accomplished can lead to a false outlook for the rest of the season, and on the flip side, it's way too early to panic for a team that's struggling.

With that in mind, here is where each team's early-season performance stands as fact or fiction.

AL East

Boston Red Sox (5-2): FICTION

Currently averaging 5.6 runs per game and fifth in team ERA at 2.95, the Red Sox are off to a great start this season thanks to a myriad of newcomers and the bounce-back performances of Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz.

The Red Sox should have no problem improving on last year's terrible 93-loss campaign, and they have a decent chance to be a fringe competitor. But I don't think they're the best team in the division, and some regression seems to be in order.

New York Yankees (4-4): FACT

No team has had to overcome more to start the season than the Yankees, as the bulk of their starting lineup is currently on the disabled list.

To top things off, their bullpen has struggled mightily to this point (6.51 ERA), and the back-end of their rotation has pitched poorly. They have some upside once their roster starts to get healthy, but for now, hanging around .500 seems like a legitimate goal.

Baltimore Orioles (3-4): FACT

The Orioles offense is off to a nice start this season, led by slugger Chris Davis who is hitting .417 with four home runs and 17 RBI.

However, the starting rotation has been wildly inconsistent, a problem that plagued the team last year. The bullpen has been good once again, but until the starters prove they've improved, the O's will likely hover around the .500 mark.

Tampa Bay Rays (3-5): FICTION

The bullpen, a strength of the Rays the past few seasons, has let Tampa Bay down to this point (7.32 ERA), as even closer Fernando Rodney has struggled.

The offense has struggled as well with just four home runs and 30 runs scored in eight games despite making a number of improvements in the offseason. The relievers are too good to continue to pitch as poorly as they have thus far, and the offense should pick things up a bit, so expect some improvement.

Toronto Blue Jays (2-5): FICTION

No team entered the 2013 season with more hype than the Blue Jays, but they have stumbled out of the gates and find themselves in last place early on.

R.A. Dickey (0-2, 8.44 ERA) has been a disaster, and impact hitters Brett Lawrie and Jose Bautista have been sidelined. It's hard to imagine the team not turning things around at this point, but it's been a rough start.

AL Central

Kansas City Royals (5-3): FACT

After a dominant spring, the Royals have enjoyed some early-season success thanks to their revamped starting rotation.

Outside of Wade Davis, their starting pitching has been terrific, and while their bullpen has not been great, they have the potential to be one of the best groups in baseball. The offense is playing well but has room to improve, so the best may be ahead for the improved Royals.

Chicago White Sox (4-3): FACT

The White Sox were a surprise last season when they led the AL Central for most of the year, though a late-season collapse kept them out of the postseason.

Offense drove them last season, but it's been the pitching that has led the way so far this year. They've put up a 3.09 ERA as a staff—the best mark in the American League. The bullpen has been fantastic with a 2.01 ERA, led by an emerging star at closer in Addison Reed.

Detroit Tigers (4-3): FICTION

The reigning AL champions, Detroit improved an already loaded roster this offseason with the return of Victor Martinez and signing of Torii Hunter.

The deep starting rotation has gotten off to a slow start behind Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez, so they should be able to improve in that area. The bullpen has been struggling as well, as the closer-by-committee has been an up-and-down experiment to this point. There's plenty of room for improvement, and they still have to be viewed as the favorites in the division.

Minnesota Twins (4-4): FICTION

After finishing in the cellar and losing 96 games last season, the Twins set out to improve their pitching staff in the offseason.

They kicked off the year with a pair of series victories against postseason teams from last year in the Detroit Tigers and Baltimore Orioles. The starting pitching has been decent, and the bullpen has been phenomenal, but the team still has an uphill battle if it is to even post a winning record.

Cleveland Indians (3-5): FACT

The Indians had a busy offseason, adding Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn and Mark Reynolds to their lineup in an effort to make a run at contention.

Pitching remains the issue though and will likely be what keeps them from being any more than a .500 team. Opening Day starter Justin Masterson is 2-0 with a 0.69 ERA, as he's pitched like an ace, but the rest of the staff remains a question mark at this point.

AL West

Oakland Athletics (6-2): FACT

The A's were one of the biggest surprises of the 2012 season, thanks in large part to the performance of their young pitching staff.

The pitching has been terrific once again this year, bolstered by the return of Brett Anderson (1.38 ERA, 16 K, 13 IP), as the staff has a 2.88 ERA so far. The offense is still largely a rag-tag group of youngsters and journeymen, but they continue to get the job done and I wouldn't bet against them at this point.

Texas Rangers (6-2): FICTION

No one lost more this offseason than the Rangers, who parted ways with Josh Hamilton, Mike Napoli and Michael Young among others in free agency.

That said, they still have one of the better offenses in the AL, and newcomers A.J. Pierzynski (.346 BA) and Lance Berkman (.480 BA) have done a nice job picking up the slack. On the pitching side, Yu Darvish (2-0, 1.98 ERA, 20 K) is emerging as an ace, and Alexi Ogando (2-0, 0.77 ERA) has been even better. They're still playing like one of the best teams in baseball, and I think they'll take a step back at some point.

Seattle Mariners (4-5): FACT

The Mariners are a team on the rise, with a fantastic farm system loaded with top-end talent ready to make a serious impact at some point in the very near future.

As for this season, they have taken strides to improve what has been the AL's lowest-scoring offense each of the past three seasons. With the additions of Kendrys Morales and Mike Morse, they should at least be able to hang around .500 with potential for more if the youngsters can make an impact.

Los Angeles Angels (2-5): FICTION

One of the league's biggest disappointments last season after they spent big, the Angels opened up their wallets again this offseason with the signing of Josh Hamilton.

The team is off to a slow start, as their new-look rotation has been subpar, and now, ace Jered Weaver is on the disabled list with an elbow injury. Things snowballed after a slow start last season, so they need to turn things around quick, but they have as much talent as any team in the league.

Houston Astros (2-6): FACT

The Astros looked great when they kicked off the season with a win against the Rangers, but since then, they've settled into the level of mediocrity that can likely be expected the rest of the way.

Their offense is improved from last season, evidenced by their outburst against the Mariners on Tuesday, but it's still among the worst in the league. Bud Norris has pitched well as the ace, and Phil Humber could be a nice pickup. But the bullpen is terrible, and the rest of the rotation is poor.

NL East

Atlanta Braves (7-1): FACT

Adding the Upton brothers to a roster that was already among the best in baseball made the Braves one of the best teams entering the season.

Their pitching has been terrific so far, led by Paul Maholm (2-0, 0.00 ERA, 12.2 IP), and their bullpen is, again, arguably the best in the game. The offense has a plethora of weapons, led by Justin Upton who has six home runs and nine RBI already. They should be able to give the Nationals a serious run for the division title.

Washington Nationals (5-2): FACT

As heavy favorites in the National League entering the season and with undoubtedly one of the most complete rosters in baseball, the Nationals have opened the season strong.

Their bullpen has struggled (6.85 ERA), but it should come around in time. The starting rotation remains one of the best in baseball, aside from Dan Haren. And the offense is better than last year, led by a rapidly improving Bryce Harper.

New York Mets (5-3): FICTION

The Mets entered the season as a team with a promising future but one expected to struggle to finish above fourth place in the division.

Matt Harvey (2-0, 0.64 ERA, 19 K, 14 IP) has quickly emerged as one of the game's top young arms, and Jon Niese is a plus arm as well. The rotation has the potential to remain a plus, but the offense and the bullpen remain question marks at this point.

Philadelphia Phillies (3-5): FACT

With a 6.43 ERA as a staff, it's a miracle the Phillies have managed to go 3-5 to this point. Cole Hamels (0-2, 10.97 ERA) and Roy Halladay (0-2, 14.73 ERA) have both been horrible, and the bullpen has struggled as well.

One has to think Hamels will turn things around at some point, and Cliff Lee looked sharp in his first start, but there is legitimate reason for concern surrounding Halladay. With an average offense, the Phillies' pitching staff needs to pick up the slack, and thus far, they don't look capable of doing that.

Miami Marlins (1-7): FACT

Nothing like an offseason fire sale to make a fanbase lose interest and a team spiral to the bottom of the power rankings.

There is reason for excitement surrounding 20-year-old right-hander Jose Fernandez, and at some point, Giancarlo Stanton has to get going offensively. But there is no reason to think the Marlins will finish anywhere but last in this division. With the Astros gone, they have the inside track on worst record in the NL.

NL Central

Cincinnati Reds (5-3): FACT

The Reds started off the season in impressive fashion, winning series against the Nationals and Angels, and they have to be considered among the teams to beat in the National League.

Shin-Soo Choo (.512 OBP, 10 R) has been a difference-making addition atop the team's lineup, and despite an injury to Ryan Ludwick, they have one of baseball's best offenses. On the pitching side of things, they have a 3.04 ERA as a staff, and an experienced rotation is backed by one of the best bullpens in the game.

St. Louis Cardinals (4-4): FACT

After losing Kyle Lohse in free agency and Chris Carpenter and Rafael Furcal to season-ending injuries, the Cardinals have a new look entering the season.

Shelby Miller looked more than capable of being an impact starter in his first outing of the season, and the offense remains one of the best in the National League. However, the bullpen has been terrible in the early going (6.58 ERA), though it should benefit from the return of Jason Motte.

Chicago Cubs (3-5): FACT

Over a full season, a 3-5 record amounts to about 102 losses, and despite their best efforts to improve the pitching staff this offseason, that seems to be right about where the team is headed.

Jeff Samardzija (2.63 ERA, 22 K, 13.2 IP) has looked the part of staff ace in the early going, and Travis Wood and Carlos Villanueva have both pitched well. The offense, however, looks as though it'll struggle to score runs with a thin talent pool beyond Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro.

Pittsburgh Pirates (3-5): FICTION

I'm not sold on the Pirates being a legitimate contender this season, but they're better than they've played so far this season.

The offense has once again been horrible aside from Andrew McCutchen, and they're hitting just .152 as a team. The pitching on the other hand has been fantastic with a 2.87 team ERA. The offense should improve a good deal, while the pitching will likely take a few steps back. But in the end, that should result in some improvement.

Milwaukee Brewers (2-6): FICTION

The Brewers have been banged up in the early going, as Corey Hart and Aramis Ramirez are both on the disabled list, and Ryan Braun has missed time as well.

Aside from the injuries, closer John Axford has been terrible and already lost his job, and the bullpen has again been a weakness. They should only get better when their offense gets to full strength and their bullpen gets sorted out. 

NL West

Arizona Diamondbacks (5-3): FACT

The Diamondbacks underwent a good deal of change this offseason, highlighted by the trades of outfielders Justin Upton and Chris Young.

So far so good with the new-look team, as their offense ranks near the top in most categories. The pitching staff has been good aside from a poor start from Brandon McCarthy and the struggles of Heath Bell. The return of Adam Eaton should make their offense even better.

Colorado Rockies (5-3): FICTION

The surprise team of the season's first week, when they went 5-1 against the Brewers and Padres, the Rockies have now dropped two in a row to the Giants to kick off the week.

They're not as good as they played the first week, but they may not be as bad as many people thought either. With a .296 average as a team, and their starting rotation pitching well, they should continue to be a tough draw for teams if nothing else.

San Francisco Giants (5-3): FACT

It's been the same old story for the reigning champions, as their pitching has led the way in the early going while their offense has been below average.

Getting Buster Posey going alongside Hunter Pence and Pablo Sandoval, who have both hit well, will certainly help. In the end, it's still early, and the Giants tend to find ways to do just enough to get by at the plate. So expect them to be in the hunt for another division title.

Los Angeles Dodgers (4-3): FACT

The free-spending Dodgers have ridden their pitching staff in the early going, and their starting rotation has a 1.76 ERA through the first seven games of the season.

The offense has scuffled out of the gates, hitting just four home runs and scoring 20 runs, but it has the pieces to improve greatly. The Dodgers' pitching will likely come back to earth a bit, but getting Matt Kemp going and finding their power stroke should keep them playing at a high level.

San Diego Padres (2-5): FACT

The Padres pitching staff has struggled out of the gates, posting a 5.90 ERA, and the team's top two starters, Edinson Volquez (0-2, 10.00 ERA) and Clayton Richard (0-1, 8.68 ERA), have been at the forefront of those struggles.

With one of the deepest farm systems in baseball, the Padres have a bright future, but at this point, they'll have trouble not being among the worst teams in the NL.