Grading All 30 MLB Teams' First Month of Baseball
The first month of the 2015 MLB season is officially in the books, and as usual, there has been no shortage of surprises, proving once again that baseball is as unpredictable as it gets.
After all, how many people picked the Houston Astros to be leading the AL West standings after one month? How about DJ LeMahieu to be hitting over .400, or Nick Martinez to be leading the league in ERA?
With all of that in mind, what follows are first-month grades for all 30 MLB teams, with grades given for offense, starting pitching, relief pitching and then an overall grade.
The overall grade is based more on wins and losses and performance relative to expectations than it is a cumulative collection of the other three grades, so that's something to keep in mind.
Obviously, there is still a lot of baseball to be played, and this is not meant to be projective in any way, but simply a summation of the first month of action.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Offense: B-
While they have not flashed as much power as many expected them to (14 HR), the Diamondbacks offense has been solid to this point, despite the fact that catcher and shortstop have been black holes. Paul Goldschmidt (1.030 OPS, 5 HR, 20 RBI) is again looking like an MVP candidate, while A.J. Pollock and Mark Trumbo have both been terrific as well.
Rotation: B
Considering the starting rotation was viewed as the biggest weakness for this team heading into the season, a 3.72 ERA from their starters that ranks ninth in the league is really as good as anyone could have hoped for. Josh Collmenter took some flak for being a below-average Opening Day option, but he already has a complete game and three straight quality starts to his credit.
Bullpen: C-
The Diamondbacks bullpen has somehow only seen three save opportunities to this point, converting just one of them, and they rank 24th in the league with a 4.19 ERA. That said, the late-inning trio of Brad Ziegler, Randall Delgado and Addison Reed still has a chance to be a strength.
Record: 10-11 (fourth in NL West)
Overall Grade: B-
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Offense: B-
Anemic was the word many expected to best describe the Atlanta Braves offense this season, so a .252 team average and 4.27 runs per game have both been pleasant surprises. Veteran offseason additions A.J. Pierzynski (1.131 OPS, 3 HR, 14 RBI) and Nick Markakis (.822 OPS, 16 R) have led the way.
Rotation: C+
A surprisingly effective group in the early going, the rotation has come back to earth a bit over the past few weeks, and they currently rank 16th in the league with a 4.14 ERA. Shelby Miller (3-1, 2.17 ERA) has been great, but no other starter has an ERA under 4.00.
Bullpen: D
Closer Jason Grilli (7-of-8 SV, 4.50 ERA) has done an admirable job stepping in for the departed Craig Kimbrel, and there are some solid young arms, including Brandon Cunniff and Cody Martin, but the Braves currently sit 28th in bullpen ERA with a 4.64 mark.
Record: 10-12 (second in NL East)
Overall Grade: C
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Offense: A+
Losing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis has done little to slow the Baltimore Orioles' offensive attack, as they lead the league with an .827 OPS and 5.60 runs per game, rank second with a .286 team batting average and lead the AL with 29 home runs. Adam Jones (.400 BA, 5 HR, 19 RBI) has been a beast, while Chris Davis (.549 SLG, 5 HR) is again flashing some power and Jimmy Paredes is looking like a potential breakout candidate.
Rotation: D
A rock-solid group last season that finished 12th in the league with a 3.61 ERA, the Orioles rotation is off to a rough start this year, as they currently sit 25th with a 5.06 ERA. Veterans Chris Tillman (7.58 ERA) and Bud Norris (12.18 ERA) are the main culprits.
Bullpen: C+
The Orioles bullpen currently ranks 26th with a 4.35 ERA, but the late-inning trio of Brian Matusz, Darren O'Day and Zach Britton has been a strength once again. They just need to find a way to bridge the gap with some better middle relief and they should be fine.
Record: 10-10 (fourth in AL East)
Overall Grade: C
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Offense: B+
The Boston Red Sox offense has not been quite as dominant as some predicted, but it has still been the clear strength of the team—and a big reason why they have a winning record to this point. Hanley Ramirez (.999 OPS, 10 HR, 22 RBI) has been an absolute monster out of the cleanup spot.
Rotation: F
No Red Sox starter has an ERA lower than the 4.94 mark Joe Kelly has posted through four starts, and the rotation as a whole currently sits dead last with a dismal 5.75 ERA overall. Those offseason concerns about the rotation? Legit.
Bullpen: C
With the rotation struggling mightily, the Red Sox bullpen currently ranks second in the league with 82.2 innings of work to this point. Their 4.03 ERA puts them middle of the pack, and their 12 home runs allowed tops all relief corps, but all things considered, they've done a decent job for as often as they've been called on.
Record: 12-10 (second in AL East)
Overall Grade: C+
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Offense: A-
The young Chicago Cubs offense has been terrific to this point, though it is established stars Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro that have led the way. The strikeouts are starting to pile up, as 185 on the season puts them fourth in the league, but their 4.45 runs per game are currently good for fifth in the National League.
Rotation: B-
Despite the struggles of offseason addition Jon Lester (0-2, 6.23 ERA), the rotation still ranks 11th in the league with a 3.89 ERA. Jake Arrieta has picked up right where he left off last season, while Travis Wood has made the team look smart for opting against trading him this winter.
Bullpen: B+
The relief corps has been dealt some blows with injuries to Neil Ramirez and Justin Grimm, but the one-two punch of Pedro Strop (11 G, 9.1 IP, 0.00 ERA) and Hector Rondon (10 G, 10.0 IP, 1.80 ERA) at the back end is as good as any in baseball.
Record: 12-8 (second in NL Central)
Overall Grade: A-
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Offense: F
At just 3.37 runs per game, the Chicago White Sox currently stand as the lowest-scoring team in the American League. Jose Abreu (.932 OPS, 5 HR, 13 RBI) is again putting up big numbers and Avisail Garcia (.309 BA) has been solid, but the rest of the lineup around them have yet to really hit their stride.
Rotation: F
Only the Boston Red Sox have a worse starter's ERA through the first month, as the White Sox rotation enters play on Friday with a 5.47 mark. Jeff Samardzija (1-2, 4.78 ERA) is the only starter with an ERA under 5.00 at this point.
Bullpen: B+
The bullpen was perhaps the biggest weakness of the 2014 White Sox, and it's a big reason why the team has managed to post an 8-11 record so far despite horrible performances from their offense and rotation. The new-look pen currently ranks sixth with a 2.91 ERA, and they've converted all three save chances.
Record: 8-11 (fourth in AL Central)
Overall Grade: D
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Offense: C+
They are hitting just .224 as a team, but the Cincinnati Reds have managed to turn that into a respectable 4.05 runs per game, a marked increase over the 3.67 mark they posted last season. Joey Votto (1.069 OPS, 7 HR, 17 RBI) and Todd Frazier (.890 OPS, 7 HR, 16 RBI) have provided the power, while Zack Cozart (.280 BA, .818 OPS) has finally found some offense to pair with his phenomenal glove.
Rotation: B
The Reds rotation ranks third in the NL Central with a 3.15 ERA, but that also happens to be good for third-best in all of baseball. Anthony DeSclafani (2-1, 1.04 ERA) has done a great job stepping into one of the vacated rotation spots, but there is still work to do shoring up the staff with Homer Bailey injured and Jason Marquis struggling.
Bullpen: F
Despite ranking 26th in the league with a 4.11 bullpen ERA last season, the Reds did little to address the relief corps this offseason, and it has already come back to bite them more than once. Flame-throwing closer Aroldis Chapman has been great once again, but getting him the ball has been an adventure, and the pen currently sits dead last with a 5.91 ERA.
Record: 11-11 (fourth in NL Central)
Overall Grade: C
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Offense: D-
The Cleveland Indians rank near the bottom of the heap at 3.76 runs per game this season, as they are hitting just .238 as a team with a .675 OPS. Michael Brantley (.339 BA, .839 OPS) is the only regular hitting over .250, but he has yet to homer while nursing a back issue.
Rotation: C-
Picked by some to be the best rotation in the American League, the Indians staff has been a huge disappointment so far, currently ranking 23rd overall with a 4.88 ERA. However, four disastrous starts from T.J. House (13.15 ERA) skew that number a bit, and the breakout of Trevor Bauer (2-0, 1.80 ERA) could go a long way this season.
Bullpen: C-
Closer Cody Allen has blown just one save, but he also has two losses and an 11.57 ERA, as opponents have hit a ridiculous .406 against him. That is something that will need to be addressed if he continues to struggle, and it's a big reason for the pen's 4.03 ERA overall.
Record: 7-14 (fifth in AL Central)
Overall Grade: D
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Offense: B+
While they currently lead the National League with a .280 team average, the Colorado Rockies actually sit below the league average at 4.19 runs per game. Second baseman DJ LeMahieu currently has the second-best average in all of baseball at .406, and Carlos Gonzalez (.200 BA, .594 OPS) is the only regular not hitting over .290.
Rotation: D-
The Rockies rotation started off the season exceeding expectations, but they've come crashing back down since and currently have a 7-7 record and 5.12 ERA. They also rank last in the league with just five quality starts, though Tyler Matzek (2-0, 2.70 ERA) and Eddie Butler (2-1, 3.27 ERA) are off to solid starts.
Bullpen: C+
The plug was pulled on LaTroy Hawkins as the team's closer during the first week of the season, and Adam Ottavino (10 G, 3/3 SV, 0.00 ERA, 11.3 K/9) has been fantastic as his replacement. A rejuvenated Rafael Betancourt (10 G, 1.86 ERA) has also been huge, and overall this looks to be a vastly improved group.
Record: 11-10 (second in NL West)
Overall Grade: C+
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Offense: A
With a .286 team average and .795 OPS, the Detroit Tigers offense ranks among the best in baseball, right where most expected them to be. Victor Martinez is off to a slow start, but the rest of the sluggers are producing and a healthy Jose Iglesias (.377 BA, .963 OPS) has given the team a big boost.
Rotation: C+
Detroit starters have recorded an AL-high 12 wins, but their 4.07 ERA in the process puts them 14th overall heading into May. Offseason additions Alfredo Simon (4-1, 3.13 ERA) and Shane Greene (3-1, 4.60 ERA) have been terrific, but they need Anibal Sanchez (1-3, 5.46 ERA) to pitch like the No. 2 guy he's capable of being.
Bullpen: B
A 4.04 ERA puts the Tigers relief corps 20th in the league, but they've converted 10-of-11 save chances and gone 3-1, so it's fair to say the bullpen is improved over a year ago. Joakim Soria moved into the closer's role when Joe Nathan landed on the disabled list, and he's nailed down all 10 of his save chances while posting a 1.69 ERA and 0.66 WHIP over 12 appearances.
Record: 15-8 (second in AL Central)
Overall Grade: A-
Houston Astros
11 of 30
Offense: B-
The Houston Astros have struck out a whopping 210 times on the year, or about 9.5 times per game, and have gotten virtually no production from the first base (.538 OPS) or designated hitter (.470 OPS) spots, yet they have still managed to score 4.68 runs per game.
Rotation: A-
Few considered the rotation to be a legitimate strength for the Astros entering the season, but they enter the month of May with a 3.50 ERA that is good for eight overall and third-best in the American League. Dallas Keuchel (3-0, 0.73 ERA) and Collin McHugh (3-0, 2.92 ERA) have quickly proved their breakout performances from a year ago were no fluke.
Bullpen: A
This is where the Astros have made the most drastic turnaround, as they ranked last in the league with a 4.80 bullpen ERA in 2014. That number has improved to 2.18 so far this season, good for fourth in the league, and offseason additions Will Harris, Luke Gregerson, Joe Thatcher and Pat Neshek have all played a key role.
Record: 15-7 (first in AL West)
Overall Grade: A
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
Offense: A
The Kansas City Royals were somewhat lacking in offensive firepower last season, but that has not been the case so far this year. They currently lead all of baseball with a .306 team average, and rank second to the Baltimore Orioles with 5.41 runs per game. Lorenzo Cain (.329 BA, .880 OPS) has quickly silenced those calling for significant regression (raises hand), and Mike Moustakas (.356 BA, .942 OPS) is finally off to a strong start.
Rotation: C+
No James Shields, no problem for the Royals, right? That may be taking things a bit far, considering the team's rotation ranks 19th in the league with a 4.25 ERA, but Edinson Volquez (2-2, 1.91 ERA) has done a terrific job stepping into the rotation spot vacated by the aforementioned Shields.
Bullpen: A
The Royals currently have the best bullpen ERA in the majors by a wide margin at 1.02, as their relief corps has allowed just 36 hits and eight earned runs in 70.2 innings of work. The team is currently without All-Star closer Greg Holland, who is shelved with a pectoral strain, but Wade Davis has been able to hold down the fort in his absence.
Record: 15-7 (first in AL Central)
Overall Grade: A
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
Offense: C-
The highest-scoring offense in baseball a year ago, the Los Angeles Angels currently sit below the league average at 4.05 runs per game. Mike Trout, Kole Calhoun and Johnny Giavotella are all off to solid starts, but no other regular is hitting over .240 and they are hitting .232 overall as a team.
Rotation: C-
The return of Garrett Richards should help the rotation moving forward, but the Angels really need veteran Jered Weaver (5.83 ERA) and 2014 breakout star Matt Shoemaker (6.00 ERA) to get on track if the rotation is going to be a legitimate weapon for this team. They currently rank 15th with a 4.12 ERA on the year.
Bullpen: B
A major weakness at the beginning of last season, the Angels bullpen eventually rounded into form in the second half and has been solid again to open the year. A 3.29 ERA puts them 12th overall and fifth in the American League, and closer Huston Street (9-of-9 SV, 1.00 ERA) has been lights out once again this season.
Record: 11-11 (second in AL West)
Overall Grade: C
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
Offense: A
Currently the highest-scoring team in the National League at 4.76 runs per game, the Los Angeles Dodgers have not missed a beat offensively despite a number of new faces in the lineup following a busy offseason. Newcomer Howie Kendrick (.879 OPS) and rookie Joc Pederson (1.057 OPS) have both been terrific, while Adrian Gonzalez (.383 BA, 1.222 OPS, 8 HR, 19 RBI) is off to as hot a start as any player in baseball.
Rotation: C-
One of the best rotations in baseball a year ago, the Dodgers have had some issues on the starting pitching side of things so far this season. Zack Greinke (4-0, 1.93 ERA) has been great and Clayton Kershaw is rounding into form, but the rest of rotation is a mess. Brandon McCarthy has already been lost for the season to injury, while Hyun-Jin Ryu has yet to make his season debut.
Bullpen: B+
The Dodgers looked at a ton of different bullpen options during spring training and have been without All-Star closer Kenley Jansen to start the season, but things have fallen into place nicely, as their bullpen currently ranks fifth in the league with a 2.25 ERA. Things should only get better once Jansen returns from his foot injury.
Record: 13-8 (first in NL West)
Overall Grade: B+
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
Offense: B
After locking up Giancarlo Stanton long-term, the Miami Marlins set to work upgrading the offense around their prized slugger, and the result so far has been a solid 4.41 runs per game that ranks sixth in the National League. Speedster Dee Gordon (.409 BA, 11 R, 8 SB) currently leads all qualified players in batting average.
Rotation: C
While the Marlins continue to patiently await the return of ace Jose Fernandez from Tommy John surgery, the rotation has held its own, with the starters currently ranking 10th in the league with a 3.84 ERA. They are also currently without 2014 All-Star Henderson Alvarez, and Mat Latos left his last start early, so all things considered, they've done as well as anyone could have hoped.
Bullpen: C
As a whole, the Marlins bullpen has struggled this season with a 4.31 ERA and four blown saves in six chances. The trio of A.J. Ramos, Bryan Morris and Sam Dyson have all made at least 10 appearances and pitched to an ERA under 2.00, but closer Steve Cishek (0-1, 2/4 SV, 9.82 ERA) has struggled mightily.
Record: 10-12 (second in NL East)
Overall Grade: C-
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Offense: D
Not much has gone right for the Milwaukee Brewers so far this season, and that includes the offense, as they rank 28th in the league at 3.23 runs per game. One of the few positives has been newcomer Adam Lind (.975 OPS, 4 HR, 13 RBI), who has already been a significant upgrade over last year's first base situation.
Rotation: F
With a 5.40 ERA, the Brewers' starting rotation has been the worst in the National League, a far cry from the red-hot start their staff got off to a year ago. Jimmy Nelson (1-2, 4.03 ERA) has been the closest thing to a standout on the staff, while veteran Kyle Lohse (1-4, 7.28 ERA) has been a disaster.
Bullpen: B
What few games the Brewers have been leading in, the bullpen has managed to slam the door shut, as closer Francisco Rodriguez has converted all three of his save chances and the pen as a whole has pitched to a solid 3.63 ERA so far.
Record: 5-17 (fifth in NL Central)
Overall Grade: F
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Offense: C-
The Minnesota Twins offense was surprisingly productive a year ago, as they ranked seventh in the league with 4.41 runs per game. Things have not gone quite as well this season, as their 3.91 runs per game puts them 11th in the American League. On the plus side, Joe Mauer (.318 BA, .804 OPS) is off to a nice start at the plate.
Rotation: C
The Twins have boasted the worst starting rotation in baseball each of the past two seasons, so the fact that their starters currently rank 21st in the league with a 4.50 ERA could actually be viewed as a positive. Originally demoted to the bullpen before Ervin Santana was suspended, Mike Pelfrey (2-0, 2.25 ERA) is off to a strong start, and Trevor May (2-1, 4.43 ERA) has also shown flashes.
Bullpen: B
Rough starts from Brian Duensing (3.2 IP, 3 ER) and Tim Stauffer (9.2 IP, 9 ER) have skewed the Twins' bullpen ERA some as they rank 22nd with a 4.11 mark. However, the rest of the relief corps has been solid, and closer Glen Perkins (6/6 SV, 1.00 ERA) has been lights out.
Record: 10-12 (third in AL Central)
Overall Grade: C
New York Mets
18 of 30
Offense: B-
Offense has not been the driving force behind the New York Mets' hot start, as their 4.22 runs per game puts them just below the league average, but that still marks a significant improvement over their 3.88 runs per game from last year. Lucas Duda (.325 BA, .915 OPS) has backed up his breakout season with a strong start.
Rotation: A
Pitching was the clear strength of the Mets roster heading into the season, and they have not disappointed, as the starters currently rank fifth in the league with a 3.40 ERA and are tops in the NL with 12 wins. Top prospect Noah Syndergaard is off to a great start in Triple-A, and it might not be long before he unseats Dillon Gee for a rotation spot.
Bullpen: B+
Despite the fact that Jerry Blevins, Vic Black, Bobby Parnell and Josh Edgin are all on the disabled list and Jenrry Mejia is suspended, the Mets bullpen has still been a strength. Jeurys Familia stepped into the closer's role to replace Mejia, and he's a perfect 9-of-9 on save chances with a 1.69 ERA, 0.66 WHIP and 11.0 K/9.
Record: 15-8 (first in NL East)
Overall Grade: A
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Offense: A-
The New York Yankees offense has managed to stay healthy so far this season, and as a result they currently rank fifth in the league at 4.95 runs per game. That comes despite nonexistent production from the middle infield spots, as veterans like Mark Teixeira (.930 OPS, 8 HR, 18 RBI) and Alex Rodriguez (.876 OPS, 5 HR, 13 RBI) have both come out of the gates strong.
Rotation: C-
Starting pitching depth was a major area of concern for the Yankees entering the season, and seeing Masahiro Tanaka land on the disabled list is troubling to say the least. Even prior to his injury, the rotation had been average at best, ranking 18th with a 4.19 ERA and tallying an AL-low six quality starts.
Bullpen: A
The Yankees currently boast the third-best bullpen in the league, as they have a 1.75 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 82.1 innings of work. The late-inning duo of Dellin Betances (12.1 IP, 3-0, 19 K, 0.00 ERA) and Andrew Miller (11.1 IP, 8/8 SV, 20 K, 0.00 ERA) have yet to allow an earned run in 23.2 innings.
Record: 13-9 (first in AL East)
Overall Grade: A-
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Offense: B+
The Oakland Athletics offense has been inconsistent at times this season, but when they're clicking they've been as good as any team in baseball—their 4.78 runs per game is currently good for sixth in the league. Outside of third baseman Brett Lawrie (.229 BA, .595 OPS), the rest of the lineup has been solid for the most part.
Rotation: A
With a 3.27 ERA, the A's currently feature the best rotation in the American League, and their one-two punch of Sonny Gray (3-0, 1.98 ERA) and Scott Kazmir (2-0, 0.99 ERA) stacks up to any in baseball. Take away Kendall Graveman's 8.27 ERA over his four starts, and the rest of the starters have pitched to a 2.58 ERA.
Bullpen: D
The bullpen has been the big weakness for the A's so far, as they have tallied three blown saves and seven losses, undermining the terrific start from the rotation. Getting Sean Doolittle back will help that, but in the meantime they need to find someone they can trust in the late innings.
Record: 9-14 (fourth in AL West)
Overall Grade: C-
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Offense: F
Anemic does not quite do the Philadelphia Phillies offense justice to this point, as they rank dead last at 2.74 runs per game and have scored one run or fewer on seven different occasions. On the plus side, Rule 5 pick Odubel Herrera (.301 BA, .763 OPS) looks like a keeper.
Rotation: D
Many would have picked the Phillies rotation to be the worst in baseball heading into the season, and while a 5-13 record and 4.97 ERA is by no means good, it does put them ahead of a handful of teams at 24th overall. Low-cost veteran signing Aaron Harang (2-2, 2.51 ERA) has been the saving grace alongside ace Cole Hamels (1-2, 3.19 ERA).
Bullpen: B
They have not had many leads to protect, but the Phillies bullpen has been stellar when called upon, converting 5-of-6 save chances and ranking eight in the league with a 3.03 ERA. Ken Giles (9.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 9.6 K/9) has followed up his standout rookie season with a scoreless start to 2015.
Record: 8-15 (fifth in NL East)
Overall Grade: D-
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Offense: C
The Pittsburgh Pirates have had to overcome slow starts from Andrew McCutchen (.194 BA, .636 OPS) and Josh Harrison (.213 BA, .613 OPS), but their offense has still managed to post a respectable 4.05 runs per game to this point. No regular is hitting .300, and they are batting just .230 as a team, so there is plenty of room for improvement.
Rotation: A
The Pirates trail only the division rival St. Louis Cardinals in starter's ERA with a terrific 2.94 mark, and they've done it with Charlie Morton still on the recovery trail from offseason hip surgery. Gerrit Cole (4-0, 1.76 ERA) appears ready to take the next step toward being an ace, while veterans Francisco Liriano (1-1, 2.22 ERA) and A.J. Burnett (0-1, 1.80 ERA) have proved well worth the contracts they were given in the offseason.
Bullpen: B-
While the 2.98 ERA the Pirates bullpen has posted is solid, they've blown three saves in nine opportunities and have surrendered a relatively high .246 opponent batting average. Closer Mark Melancon was fantastic last season, but he already has a loss, a blown save and a 5.23 ERA so far this year.
Record: 12-10 (third in NL Central)
Overall Grade: B-
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Offense: A-
The worst offense in baseball last year when they scored a meager 3.30 runs per game, the San Diego Padres have done a complete 180 at the plate thanks to a massive offseason overhaul, and they currently rank second in the National League at 4.57 runs per game. The new outfield of Justin Upton, Wil Myers and Matt Kemp has led the way so far.
Rotation: B+
The Padres had a solid 3.55 starter's ERA last season, and they've improved that mark slightly to 3.42 over the first month of 2015. Andrew Cashner, Brandon Morrow and James Shields have all pitched to an ERA under 3.00, and Odrisamer Despaigne has done a commendable job stepping in for the injured Ian Kennedy.
Bullpen: F
Consistently one of the best bullpens in baseball in recent years, the Padres relievers have struggled to a 5.35 ERA so far this year, putting them ahead of only the Cincinnati Reds in that category. New closer Craig Kimbrel is 6-of-6 on save chances, but he has a loss and has pitched to a 5.19 ERA. Setup man Joaquin Benoit (4.09 ERA) has taken a step backward as well.
Record: 11-12 (third in NL West)
Overall Grade: C
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Offense: F
Offense has never been the strength of the team during the San Francisco Giants' recent run of success, and with the pitching staff struggling, the bats have failed to step up as they rank 29th in the league at 3.00 runs per game. Granted, that's come without Hunter Pence and with new third baseman Casey McGehee (.169 BA, .493 OPS) providing next to nothing.
Rotation: D
To put it simply, a 5-11 record and 4.50 ERA from the starting rotation is not going to cut it for a team like the Giants. Those numbers would be even worse were it not for the unexpected contributions of rookie Chris Heston (2-2, 2.77 ERA), who entered the season as the team's No. 25 prospect, according to the Baseball America Prospect Handbook.
Bullpen: A
The Giants bullpen returned essentially intact, and it has once again been one of the best in the league. In fact, long man Yusmeiro Petit (12.0 IP, 5.25 ERA) is the only reliever who has an ERA over 3.00 at this point, and with his numbers removed the rest of the pen has pitched to a 2.61 ERA on the year.
Record: 9-13 (fifth in NL West)
Overall Grade: D+
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Offense: C-
Even with the addition of Nelson Cruz (1.096 OPS, 10 HR, 22 RBI), the Seattle Mariners offense has still been one of the worst in the league, ranking 13th in the American League at 3.59 runs per game. At some point, Robinson Cano (.253 BA, .665 OPS) will need to start taking advantage of the protection Cruz is providing.
Rotation: C
The rotation has slowly rounded into form after a terrible start, though they still rank in the middle of the pack for the time being with a 4.14 ERA on the year. The young duo of James Paxton (0-2, 5.74 ERA) and Taijuan Walker (1-2, 6.86 ERA) have yet to get things going, and the team is currently without veteran Hisashi Iwakuma, who was also struggling with a 6.61 ERA when he hit the DL.
Bullpen: C-
The Mariners had the best bullpen in baseball last season (2.59), but they have not been nearly as dominant in the early going this year. A 3.55 ERA puts them 14th in the league, and they've tallied six losses and four blown saves.
Record: 10-12 (third in AL West)
Overall Grade: C-
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Offense: B-
The St. Louis Cardinals got off to a very slow start offensively last season that lasted through the first half of the year, but they're kicked things off better this season with 4.38 runs per game. Matt Carpenter (.372 BA, 1.089 OPS, 13 2B) and Matt Holliday (.379 BA, .985 OPS) have led the way, while offseason addition Jason Heyward (.217 BA, .611 OPS) is still trying to get things going.
Rotation: A
To this point, the Cardinals have had the best rotation in baseball, as their starters have gone 11-4 with a 2.85 ERA and 14 quality starts. However, they will now be tasked with replacing ace Adam Wainwright, who was lost for the season to an Achilles injury. Young right-hander Carlos Martinez (3-0, 1.73 ERA) and Michael Wacha (4-0, 2.42 ERA) will be counted on to pick up the slack.
Bullpen: A
On top of having the best rotation in baseball, the Cardinals also feature the best bullpen in the National League with a 1.59 ERA and 11 saves in 12 chances. Closer Trevor Rosenthal (9.2 IP, 8/8 SV, 0.93 ERA) is off to a brilliant start, and the same goes for new setup man Jordan Walden (10.1 IP, 8 HLD, 0.87 ERA).
Record: 15-6 (first in NL Central)
Overall Grade: A
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Offense: C
The Tampa Bay Rays offense is still not a strength, but at 3.95 runs per game, they have been better than most people expected them to be. Kevin Kiermaier (.306 BA, .903 OPS) and Evan Longoria (.293 BA, .820 OPS) have been the standouts, while new catcher Rene Rivera (.149 BA, .410 OPS) has somehow been less productive than Jose Molina.
Rotation: B+
Even with Alex Cobb and Matt Moore on the disabled list and Drew Smyly missing time early, the Rays still have one of the best rotations in baseball, as they currently rank second in the American League with a 3.49 ERA. In the absence of those aforementioned arms, Chris Archer (3-2, 0.84 ERA, 37 K, 32.1 IP) has stepped up big time.
Bullpen: B-
Despite a 4.04 ERA that ranks 20th overall, the Rays bullpen has gotten the job done, posting a 6-3 record and converting 10-of-11 save opportunities. Brad Boxberger (9.1 IP, 5/5 SV, 1.93 ERA) has stepped into the closer's role with Jake McGee sidelined and done a terrific job after a breakout year as a setup man last season.
Record: 12-10 (second in AL East)
Overall Grade: B-
Texas Rangers
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Offense: D-
Healthy seasons from Shin-Soo Choo and Prince Fielder, among others, was supposed to help the Texas Rangers offense bounce back this season. Instead, they are currently hitting an MLB-low .210 as a team and rank 14th in the league at 3.57 runs per game. To his credit, Fielder (.333 BA, .813 OPS) has had a solid season to this point, albeit with just one home run.
Rotation: C+
The Rangers had already lost Yu Darvish before the season even started, and Derek Holland joined him on the disabled list shortly after, leaving the team scrambling to piece together a rotation. With that in mind, a 4.40 ERA that ranks 20th in the league is probably as good as they could have hoped for. Right-hander Nick Martinez (2-0, 0.35 ERA) was one of the biggest surprises of the first month.
Bullpen: C-
The Rangers bullpen has worked an MLB-high 83.1 innings so far this season, posting a respectable 3.89 ERA. However, they've converted just 2-of-6 save chances and allowed a .257 opponent batting average.
Record: 7-14 (fifth in AL West)
Overall Grade: D
Toronto Blue Jays
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Offense: A
As expected, the Toronto Blue Jays offense has been one of the best in the league, averaging 5.30 runs per game. It has not necessarily been the guys everyone expected who are doing the damage, as Edwin Encarnacion (.205 BA, .610 OPS) and Jose Bautista (.164 BA, .767 OPS) have been relatively quiet. Instead, rookie second baseman Devon Travis (.325 BA, 1.018 OPS, 6 HR, 19 RBI) has been the standout to this point.
Rotation: D
While rookies Daniel Norris (1-1, 3.86 ERA) and Aaron Sanchez (1-2, 5.03 ERA) have started to round into form after slow starts, veterans R.A. Dickey (0-3, 5.23 ERA) and Drew Hutchison (2-0, 6.67 ERA) have gone in the other direction. There are five talented, capable arms here, it's just a matter of whether or not they can find some consistency.
Bullpen: C-
There were significant question marks about the Blue Jays bullpen heading into the season, and the decision to turn closer duties over to rookie Miguel Castro during the first week only added to the uncertainty. They currently rank 22nd in the league with a 4.11 ERA and have converted 4-of-9 save chances.
Record: 11-12 (fifth in AL East)
Overall Grade: C
Washington Nationals
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Offense: B
Without Jayson Werth and Denard Span to start the season and still without Anthony Rendon, the Washington Nationals have still managed to score 4.48 runs per game, good for fourth in the National League. Is this finally the season Bryce Harper (.985 OPS, 5 HR, 15 RBI) takes that next step?
Rotation: C-
Expected to be a juggernaut, the Nationals rotation has instead been merely average, as they rank 12th in the league with a 3.98 ERA and have gone a combined 7-9. Max Scherzer (1-2, 1.26 ERA) has been great and Doug Fister (1-1, 3.28 ERA) has posted his usual numbers, but the other three starters all have ERAs north of 4.50.
Bullpen: D
While they rank 10th in the league with a 3.11 ERA, the Nationals bullpen has converted just 5-of-10 save chances and contributed another three losses on top of that. Closer Drew Storen (5/6 SV, 2.00 ERA) has been solid and Aaron Barrett (10.1 IP, 2-0, 1.74 ERA) is off to a great start, but the rest of the relief corps is a work in progress.
Record: 10-13 (fourth in NL East)
Overall Grade: D
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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