Early-Season Approval Ratings for All 30 MLB Teams
Fans of any sport tend to react and overreact to anything and everything surrounding their favorite team, and Major League Baseball is certainly no exception.
That goes double for the small sample sizes we have to work with during the early parts of the year, and it's important to remember it's a long, 162-game season.
With that in mind, what follows is my take on the early-season approval rating of all 30 MLB teams, based on how they have performed to this point and how they look to be positioned for the long haul.
This will be largely based on expectation versus performance, as a .500 record can be a disappointment for one team but a pleasant surprise for another.
There will always be detractors, so don't expect to see an approval rating higher than 80 percent on the slides that follow.
Arizona Diamondbacks (13-14)
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Team Overview
After losing an MLB-high 98 games last season, expectations were not exactly sky-high for the Arizona Diamondbacks heading into the season, but a moderate improvement was to be expected at the very least.
With Tony La Russa and Dave Stewart at the helm, the team had a busy offseason, highlighted by the signing of Cuban slugger Yasmany Tomas and acquisition of right-hander Jeremy Hellickson.
Slugger Paul Goldschmidt, de facto ace Josh Collmenter and rookie Archie Bradley have been bright spots so far, but this team still has some work to do before it's ready to legitimately contend.
Approval Rating: 40 percent
All things considered, hovering around .500 is probably about as good as this team could have hoped for so far this season. At the same time, it's fairly clear this team won't be contending for a playoff spot in 2015.
Atlanta Braves (14-14, Second in NL East)
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Team Overview
After a disastrous final month last season, the Atlanta Braves set to work dismantling their roster during the offseason, trading off the likes of Justin Upton, Jason Heyward, Evan Gattis and Craig Kimbrel for young talent.
Shelby Miller, who was acquired in the Heyward deal, is off to a fantastic start at 4-1 with a 1.66 ERA through his first six starts. Once Alex Wood and Julio Teheran round into form, the rotation should be a strength.
The offense is still an issue, though its 4.46 runs per game is slightly above the league average.
A.J. Pierzynski, Chris Johnson and Christian Bethancourt have all seen at least one game in the cleanup spot, and that is not a good recipe for offensive success, despite the solid early returns from Pierzynski.
Approval Rating: 50 percent
This rating all depends on whether or not you buy into the team's long-term plans and can see this is meant to be a rebuild, or at least retooling, season for the roster. There is enough talent on the pitching side of things to stay around .500, and while the Braves may not legitimately contend in 2015, they're far better positioned for the future.
Baltimore Orioles (12-14, Fifth in AL East)
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Team Overview
The good news for the Baltimore Orioles is that despite their slow start, they are still just 4.5 games out of first place, as the AL East looks to be wide open this season.
However, the starting rotation, which was so good a year ago, looks like a serious area of concern despite a strong start from Ubaldo Jimenez (5 GS, 2.36 ERA). Veterans Bud Norris (5 GS, 9.75 ERA) and Chris Tillman (6 GS, 6.25 ERA) have both struggled mightily.
Offensively, the team hasn't missed a beat despite losing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, as they rank fourth in the league at 4.85 runs per game. Adam Jones (.367 BA, 5 HR, 21 RBI) has looked like a legitimate MVP candidate.
Approval Rating: 50 percent
The team does have options on the starting pitching side of things, namely moving Kevin Gausman back into the rotation, and the re-emergence of Jimenez is certainly a plus. Still, it's hard for a fanbase to get too excited sitting in last place.
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Boston Red Sox (13-15, Fourth in AL East)
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Team Overview
Behind newcomers Hanley Ramirez (.949 OPS, 10 HR, 22 RBI) and Pablo Sandoval (.300 BA, 12 RBI, 13 R), the Boston Red Sox offense has managed 4.57 runs per game so far this season.
However, Boston's starting pitching has been the worst in the American League, as its 5.54 ERA as a group puts them ahead of only the Colorado Rockies (5.59 ERA) league-wide.
Only Rick Porcello (3-2, 4.38 ERA) has an ERA under 5.00 among the team's staff, and the bullpen has been in a state of flux as well, with the team already cutting ties with Anthony Varvaro and Edward Mujica.
Approval Rating: 20 percent
All of the concerns about the starting rotation that were talked about to death during the offseason have come to fruition. This team has too much money invested on the offensive side of things to not pull the trigger on trading for an ace, and it needs to be sooner rather than later.
Chicago Cubs (14-13, Second in NL Central)
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Team Overview
The kids have finally arrived for the Chicago Cubs, and a lineup boasting the likes of Kris Bryant, Jorge Soler and Addison Russell alongside incumbent stars Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro has provided plenty of excitement already.
The starting pitching is not where it needs to be just yet, but Jon Lester seems to be finding his groove with three straight quality starts, and Jake Arrieta has been mostly terrific once again.
The bullpen has been perhaps the biggest issue so far, as it ranks 15th in the league with a 3.76 ERA and has five blown saves. Injuries have played a big part in that, as Justin Grimm and Neil Ramirez have both missed significant time.
Approval Rating: 75 percent
Cubs fans have pointed to the 2015 season since Theo Epstein and Co. first took office as the year the team could finally turn a corner, and they've backed that up so far. They will need to continue to manage the hype, but this just looks like a different team from a year ago, and it's fair to say the Cubs' best baseball could still be ahead of them this season.
Chicago White Sox (10-15, Fourth in AL Central)
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Team Overview
At least on the American League side of things, no team added more overall talent this offseason than the Chicago White Sox.
Melky Cabrera, Adam LaRoche, David Robertson, Zach Duke and Emilio Bonifacio all joined the team in free agency, while right-hander Jeff Samardzija was acquired from the Oakland Athletics in a six-player deal.
That was expected to make the team immediate contenders in the AL Central, but instead the Sox have struggled mightily, including a five-game losing streak last week.
The offense currently ranks as the lowest-scoring in the American League at 3.32 runs per game, while the starting rotation sits 28th in the league with a 5.41 ERA.
Approval Rating: 5 percent
Suffice it to say this is not the start the White Sox envisioned after their aggressive offseason, and outside of the performance of Jose Abreu and the improved bullpen (2.86 ERA), there is not much to point to in the way of positives.
Cincinnati Reds (14-14, Third in NL Central)
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Team Overview
Something of an afterthought in the NL Central after a disappointing 2014 season, the Cincinnati Reds have shown here in the early going that they still have the talent to make some noise in one of the deeper divisions in baseball.
The starting rotation looks to be the big question mark. Anthony DeSclafani has come back to earth a bit after a red-hot start and Homer Bailey is out for the season following Tommy John surgery, leaving a lot of uncertainty behind the veteran duo of Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake.
Teams around the league are no doubt rooting for the Reds to fall out of contention, as Cueto could wind up being the prize of the trade deadline if they wind up as sellers.
Approval Rating: 55 percent
Heading into the season, the Reds looked like a team that could surprise some people if they could stay healthy and some key veterans could bounce back. They've been solid so far, but cautious optimism might be the best approach until they sort out the back of their rotation.
Cleveland Indians (10-17, Fifth in AL Central)
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Team Overview
A trendy pick to make a run at the AL pennant, the Cleveland Indians entered the season with a level of expectation they have not faced in a number of years.
Some pundits had their starting rotation pegged as the best in the AL heading into the year, but instead they currently rank 26th in the league with a 5.31 starters ERA.
That comes despite a terrific start from No. 5 starter Trevor Bauer (2-0, 3.38 ERA), as reigning AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber (0-5, 5.04 ERA) in particular has struggled to get things going.
Offensively, the team has been good enough at 4.41 runs per game, and Michael Brantley (.341 BA, .919 OPS) is excelling once again despite dealing with back problems early.
Approval Rating: 10 percent
This team is too talented, especially on the pitching side of things, to be as bad as it's been so far this season. A productive offense and a potential breakout from Bauer are about all that contributes positively to the approval rating, though.
Colorado Rockies (11-15, Fifth in NL West)
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Team Overview
New season, same old story for the Colorado Rockies, as they have plenty of offensive fire power but currently rank last in team ERA by a wide margin with a 5.38 mark.
Things looked grim from the start when Kyle Kendrick took the ball on Opening Day, and while guys like Tyler Matzek, Jordan Lyles and Eddie Butler certainly have some upside, this team simply doesn't have the arms to push for anything more than a .500 record.
On the plus side, third baseman Nolan Arenado looks like a bona fide superstar in the making and the duo of Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez have managed to make it through the first month of the season unscathed.
Approval Rating: 10 percent
The fact the Rockies still rank seventh in average attendance (32,459 per game, according to ESPN.com) is shocking, as you would think fans would be tired of watching a team with the same exact shortcomings year in and year out.
Detroit Tigers (18-11, Second in AL Central)
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Team Overview
Losing Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello could have been a disaster for the Detroit Tigers, but instead their starting pitching has remained a strength, as the rotation has gone 15-9 with a 3.99 ERA so far this season.
Getting Justin Verlander healthy and Anibal Sanchez pitching to his capabilities will only help that number moving forward, and with a vastly improved bullpen behind closer Joakim Soria (11-of-11 SV, 1.38 ERA), this team may actually have a better pitching staff top to bottom.
Offensively, they are dealing with some slow starts from guys like J.D. Martinez and Victor Martinez, but a healthy Miguel Cabrera (.350 BA, 6 HR, 21 RBI) again looks like a force, and overall Detroit's averaging a solid 4.45 runs per game.
Approval Rating: 60 percent
With a number of guys off to slow starts or dealing with injuries, the best may still be ahead for this Tigers team, and that's a scary proposition given their 18-11 start. If nothing else, a bullpen that has converted 12 of 14 save chances has pleased the fanbase.
Houston Astros (19-10, First in AL West)
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Team Overview
It's not often a 92-loss team is considered a pleasant surprise, but that represented a 19-game improvement in the win column for the Houston Astros last season and served as a telling sign of better things to come.
That being said, those better things have come much faster than most would have expected, as Astros enter play on Friday with the best record in the American League.
Offensively, they lead the AL with 42 home runs, and their 4.59 runs per game are good for sixth-best in MLB. However, it's their pitching that has really surprised.
Dallas Keuchel has followed up his breakout season with a tremendous start, and a bullpen that was the worst in baseball a year ago now ranks fifth in the league with a 2.12 ERA after a number of offseason additions.
Approval Rating: 80 percent
This team has flaws, namely its propensity to strikeout (MLB-high 265 times) and questions at the back of the rotation, but things have gone about as well as anyone could have hoped over the first month-plus.
Kansas City Royals (18-10, First in AL Central)
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Team Overview
Many analysts, myself included, wrote the Kansas City Royals off as a team that got hot at the right time last season and saw them with an uphill battle to face in an improved AL Central.
However, they have come out firing on all cylinders offensively (5.11 runs per game) and are again backed by arguably the best bullpen in baseball, and that's been enough to keep them atop the division standings to this point.
While there have been plenty of positives, the starting rotation is a concern. Edinson Volquez (6 GS, 2.65 ERA) is the only starter with an ERA under 4.50, and the team is relatively thin as far as depth beyond its current five starters is concerned.
Approval Rating: 65 percent
Will the starting pitching improve by the time the offense starts to level out? Either way, this is still a team built on speed, defense and relief pitching, and those areas remain rock solid.
Los Angeles Angels (13-16, Second in AL West)
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Team Overview
Mike Trout: really, really good.
Kole Calhoun: legitimate impact player.
Johnny Giavotella: pleasant surprise at second base.
The rest of the Angels offense: terrible, with no one hitting over .250.
That's bad news for a team that put up the best record in baseball last season on the strength of the highest-scoring offense in the league.
The Angels currently rank 23rd in that category at 3.72 runs per game, and the starting pitching (8-12, 3.89 ERA) has failed to pick up the slack.
Approval Rating: 25 percent
This team is one Trout injury away from being an absolute disaster, and that does not speak to a team that is built to legitimately contend for a title. Getting Jered Weaver on track would go a long way on the pitching side, but the offense is a mess.
Los Angeles Dodgers (18-10, First in NL West)
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Team Overview
With Brandon McCarthy lost for the season and Hyun-Jin Ryu still nursing a shoulder injury that has sidelined him since spring training, the Los Angeles Dodgers have seen their pitching depth tested early this season.
A total of nine different pitchers have started a game to this point, with the latest being Joe Wieland (4.2 IP, 6 H, 6 ER) on Wednesday, and that No. 5 spot in the rotation is once again up in the air for next week.
Luckily, their pitching has been backed by the highest-scoring offense in the National League (5.11 runs per game) and a bullpen that has been better than anyone could have ever imagined (1.92 ERA), considering they are still without All-Star closer Kenley Jansen.
Approval Rating: 60 percent
The starting rotation is a serious concern, and the situation may inevitably call for a trade to be made, but as long as the Dodgers are piling up runs and winning games, it's hard to complain.
Miami Marlins (14-15, Third in NL East)
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Team Overview
After a horrible 3-11 start to the season, the Miami Marlins are now 11-4 in their last 15 games, as they have started to look more like the team that was expected to at least contend for a wild-card spot after a busy winter.
Dee Gordon (.437 BA, 52 H, 12 SB) has played out of his mind so far, and even with some significant regression, he still figures to be a difference-maker out of the leadoff spot. Now the sluggers behind him need to pick things up, as they have just 17 home runs as a team.
With Jose Fernandez still on the mend and Henderson Alvarez making just two starts before joining him on the disabled list, a 3.74 ERA (10th in MLB) is as good as the team could have hoped for out of its starters.
The bullpen is a different story, though, as it ranks 22nd in the league with a 4.18 ERA and has converted just three of nine save chances.
Approval Rating: 45 percent
With that rough start in the rearview, the approval rating is climbing, but there are still some concerns to iron out before this team can be considered a legitimate contender.
Milwaukee Brewers (9-20, Fifth in NL Central)
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Team Overview
A 20-7 start last season masked the fact that the Milwaukee Brewers were 62-73 the rest of the way, including 9-17 over the final month of the season to fall out of first place in the NL Central and eventually out of the playoff picture.
Those struggles have carried over to the 2015 season and have already cost manager Ron Roenicke his job, as Craig Counsell has taken over as the team's manager.
Rebounding from a 9-20 start is no small task, and this team doesn't look to have the pitching to pull it off. That could mean a fire sale come summer, with Carlos Gomez ranking as its top potential trade chip.
Approval Rating: 0 percent
If the Brewers were a president, impeachment would be imminent.
Minnesota Twins (16-13, Third in AL Central)
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Team Overview
The Minnesota Twins have had the worst starting pitching in baseball each of the past two seasons, so while the rotation's 4.31 ERA so far this season is by no means great, a jump to 20th in the league in that category is a significant improvement.
That improvement comes as an even bigger surprise when you consider 2014 standout Phil Hughes (1-4, 5.02 ERA) has been the team's worst starter, as the duo of Mike Pelfrey (2-0, 2.63 ERA) and Kyle Gibson (3-2, 2.97 ERA) have led the way.
The offense, which ranked seventh in the league in runs scored a year ago, has been a plus once again at 4.59 runs per game. No one player is having a huge season, but the team continues to come get contributions up and down the lineup on a daily basis.
Approval Rating: 60 percent
There are a lot of unsung heroes on this Twins roster, and with a solid minor league system to pull from, Minnesota could really surprise some people this season.
New York Mets (18-10, First in NL East)
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Team Overview
The New York Mets have cooled off a bit after a blistering 13-3 start to the season, but they are not going anywhere, and with the Washington Nationals struggling, they could quickly become the favorites in the NL East.
The starting rotation, even without Zack Wheeler, currently ranks second in the league with a 2.95 ERA and should get a shot in the arm from top prospect Noah Syndergaard at some point. He's currently 3-0 with a 1.82 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 29.2 innings in Triple-A.
Jeurys Familia has been terrific stepping into the closer's role, and while the offense is averaging just 3.89 runs per game, they have also been without David Wright for nearly a month.
Approval Rating: 70 percent
Given the injuries they have had to deal with, the Mets have played as well as anyone could have hoped to this point. Their starting pitching depth is as big a weapon as any in baseball, and by midseason they could really hit their stride.
New York Yankees (18-11, First in AL East)
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Team Overview
Aside from losing Masahiro Tanaka to a strained forearm, the New York Yankees have managed to stay healthy so far this season, and that's saying something considering the fragile roster they have at their disposal.
As expected, the bullpen has been a strength, though it's fair to say the one-two punch of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller has been even better than expected. Those two have combined for the following line:
- 29 G, 3-0, 13/14 SV, 11 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 16 BB, 52 K, 31.0 IP
Chase Whitley has pitched well in two starts since taking over for Tanaka, and Michael Pineda (4-0, 2.97 ERA) has stepped into the role of staff ace. If the rotation can hold up moving forward, this team has a chance, but it's lacking in overall depth.
Approval Rating: 75 percent
Considering what a mess the rotation looks like on paper (Pineda, Sabathia, Eovaldi, Warren, Whitley) this has actually been a really good Yankees team to this point. I wouldn't bet on them keeping it up all year, but fans have to be thrilled with the way they've started out.
Oakland Athletics (12-18, Fourth in AL West)
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Team Overview
When the Oakland Athletics have been good in 2015, they've been really good, piling up runs offensively and getting dominant pitching performances from the top of their rotation.
However, they've also scored one or zero runs six different times and surrendered eight or more runs seven times. All of that has added up to a plus-four run differential and a losing record.
Sonny Gray (4-0, 1.67 ERA) and Scott Kazmir (2-1, 2.75 ERA) are as good a one-two punch as there is in baseball right now, though Kazmir will almost certainly wind up as a trade chip come July.
The offense has been hit-or-miss outside of Josh Reddick (.354 BA, 4 HR, 20 RBI) and Stephen Vogt (.341 BA, 7 HR, 25 RBI), who have both been fantastic.
Approval Rating: 40 percent
So far, the massive offseason overhaul has not looked great for the Athletics, but this team does have some potential. The eventual returns of Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin will add an interesting dynamic around midseason.
Philadelphia Phillies (10-19, Fifth in NL East)
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Team Overview
The Philadelphia Phillies finally started what figures to be a long and arduous rebuilding process during the offseason, trading away Jimmy Rollins, Marlon Byrd and Antonio Bastardo.
There is still a ton of work to be done, though, starting with moving ace Cole Hamels for an acceptable return. The left-hander is not making things any easier by going 1-3 with a 4.14 ERA and 1.35 WHIP through his first six starts.
With a minus-58 run differential, the Phillies can probably be called the worst team in baseball right now, despite the fact they have one more win than the Milwaukee Brewers.
Approval Rating: 1 percent
Odubel Herrera is fun to watch, and Aaron Harang has been a nice surprise. That's good enough for one percent, right?
Pittsburgh Pirates (13-15, Fourth in NL Central)
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Team Overview
With back-to-back postseason appearances under their belt, the Pittsburgh Pirates entered the 2015 season with some legitimate expectations, but to this point they have fallen short.
Slow starts from Andrew McCutchen (.210 BA, .622 OPS) and Josh Harrison (.175 BA, .504 OPS) have left the offense scoring a meager 3.61 runs per game, and the pitching staff has been unable to make up the difference.
Gerrit Cole (4-1, 2.27 ERA), A.J. Burnett (1-1, 1.66 ERA) and Francisco Liriano (1-1, 1.95 ERA) have all been terrific, and the team ranks third in the league with a 2.92 ERA.
Approval Rating: 33 percent
The record is not where they want it to be, but the talent is obvious with the Pirates, and it's only a matter of time before they're up over .500 and right in the thick of things in the NL. That said, they can't afford to let the Cardinals get too far out of reach early.
San Diego Padres (15-15, Second in NL West)
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Team Overview
Behind general manager A.J. Preller, the San Diego Padres completely rebuilt their offense this offseason, adding the likes of Justin Upton, Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Derek Norris and Will Middlebrooks to the mix via trade.
The result has been an improvement from 3.30 runs per game last season to 4.67 so far this year, and those five newcomers have combined for 17 home runs, 85 RBI and 93 runs scored.
Meanwhile, the starting pitching has been terrific once again, as it ranks 11th in the league with a 3.81 ERA and has tallied an MLB-high 20 quality starts. It's the bullpen that has been the issue, with a 4.79 ERA and three blown saves.
Approval Rating: 50 percent
A .500 record is not quite where the Padres want to be, but the pieces are there for this team to be great, and it's nice to see all the offseason wheeling and dealing pay immediate dividends on the offensive side of things.
San Francisco Giants (14-15, Third in NL West)
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Team Overview
Pitching has been the strength of the San Francisco Giants throughout their recent run of success, and with that in mind, a 9-13 record and 4.03 ERA from their rotation simply doesn't cut it.
Rookie Chris Heston helped them tread water briefly with Matt Cain and Jake Peavy both sidelined, but he's been shelled in two of his last three starts, and with below-average stuff, his luck looks to have run out.
Hunter Pence is close to returning from a fractured forearm, which should give the offense and the team as a whole a shot in the arm, but unless the pitching rounds into form, it looks to be a distant third in the NL West this season.
Approval Rating: 30 percent
It's an odd-numbered year, what did you expect?
Seattle Mariners (11-17, Fifth in AL West)
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Team Overview
After finishing one game shy of reaching the playoffs last year, the Seattle Mariners ranked among the AL favorites heading into 2015 after patching a number of holes in the offseason.
The biggest addition was the signing of Nelson Cruz, who has posted a 1.130 OPS with 14 home runs and 26 RBI so far this season. The trouble has been the rest of the offense around him, as no other starter is hitting over .270 and the team as a whole has a .692 OPS.
Meanwhile, on the pitching side of things, Taijuan Walker (1-3, 8.74 ERA) and James Paxton (0-2, 5.08 ERA) have not turned in the breakout seasons many were predicting, while Hisashi Iwakuma made just two starts before landing on the disabled list with a strained lat.
Approval Rating: 10 percent
Cruz has been a great addition to the lineup, and at some point Robinson Cano and Kyle Seager figure to pick things up around him. The issue is the rotation, as the young arms Seattle was counting on to take a big step forward have instead fallen on their respective faces.
St. Louis Cardinals (21-7, First in NL Central)
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Team Overview
The St. Louis Cardinals enter Friday with the best record in baseball, and they have won nine of their last 10 heading into their weekend series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Manager Mike Matheny talked to Mike Bauman of MLB.com about how the team is coming together:
"They're coming through as a tough team and I don't know how they could be any tougher. They're out there competing and doing the things we believe in. It comes down to wins and losses; we're all honest about that. But I think, outside the record, there are things you can see, that are maybe indicative of what you'll see down the long haul. So I really like what I'm seeing so far.
"
Losing Adam Wainwright for the season to an Achilles injury obviously hurts the rotation, but the team still has an MLB-best 2.53 ERA overall and a 3.11 mark out of its starters.
Offensively, Matt Carpenter has been an absolute beast, and Jason Heyward is finally hitting his stride after a slow start. The Cardinals are not as deep on the position player side of things, so an injury would hurt there, but for now, there are no glaring holes on the roster.
Approval Rating: 80 percent
The Wainwright injury is a blow, but with Marco Gonzales and Jaime Garcia on the mend in the minors, they still have plenty of pitching depth. Outside of that, this again looks like one of the most complete teams in the league top to bottom.
Tampa Bay Rays (15-14, Second in AL East)
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Team Overview
A subpar offense (3.62 runs per game), a patchwork rotation that has been the best in the American League (3.40 ERA) and a winning record.
That's Tampa Bay Rays baseball at its finest.
Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi were the lone holdovers in the rotation to begin the season, but Drew Smyly has since returned from injury and now Alex Colome has looked sharp in two starts after dealing with pneumonia during spring training.
The unsung hero has been reliever Brad Boxberger, who has stepped into the closer's role with Jake McGee injured and gone a perfect 7-of-7 on save chances with a 1.59 ERA and 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings pitched (K/9).
Approval Rating: 70 percent
Trading away the likes of Ben Zobrist, Matt Joyce and Sean Rodriguez left what was already a weak offense with a number of questions, but the pitching has picked up the slack for the Rays, and their offense has been good enough. Losing manager Joe Maddon was viewed as the big blow, but his replacement, Kevin Cash, has done a terrific job so far.
Texas Rangers (12-16, Third in AL West)
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Team Overview
The Texas Rangers were hit as hard by injuries last season as any team in recent memory, and it's been more of the same this year.
Yu Darvish was lost for the season during spring training, and fellow frontline starter Derek Holland is also sidelined, leaving the rotation in shambles.
Nick Martinez (2-0, 1.47 ERA) has stepped up as one of the bigger surprises of the season so far, and the starters actually rank ninth in the league with a 3.71 ERA, but that comes with a 4.27 FIP and 4.53 xFIP (per FanGraphs).
Offensively, Prince Fielder (.342 BA, .870 OPS) is the only player with more than 50 at-bats who is hitting over .240, and they are hitting an AL-worst .224 as a team.
Approval Rating: 5 percent
The Rangers entered the spring looking like solid candidates to rebound, but things quickly went south with the Darvish injury. They look destined for the AL West cellar at this point.
Toronto Blue Jays (14-15, Third in AL East)
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Team Overview
Adding Josh Donaldson and Russell Martin has given the Toronto Blue Jays offense a boost as expected, but the real star so far has been rookie second baseman Devon Travis.
The 24-year-old has a .940 OPS with seven doubles, seven home runs and 23 RBI after entering spring training looking like a long shot to break camp with the team.
Offense was never going to be the issue with this team, though. It's the starting rotation that was a concern coming into the year, and even more so after Marcus Stroman was lost for the year.
It currently ranks 27th in the league with a 5.40 starters ERA, and unless that changes drastically, the Blue Jays will likely come up short in the AL East once again.
Approval Rating: 15 percent
It's hard to justify spending big on Martin and dealing for Donaldson as opposed to focusing on improving the pitching staff, given the early returns this season. That said, I expected better from Drew Hutchison as well as rookies Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris.
Washington Nationals (14-15, Third in NL East)
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Team Overview
Behind their juggernaut rotation, the Washington Nationals entered the season as World Series favorites but were quickly cut down to size by a 7-13 start.
Injuries played a part in those early struggles, as the team was without Denard Span and Jayson Werth and is still without Anthony Rendon, but the Nats have started to find their footing of late and are 7-2 in its last nine games.
The starting pitching has been solid (3.59 ERA), and all signs point to it being even better moving forward with Jordan Zimmermann figuring things out after a terrible start.
The real X-factor here could be Bryce Harper, as we may finally see the breakout offensive season we've been waiting for since he first entered the league. He currently has a .977 OPS with eight home runs and 20 RBI, as well as an MLB-high 26 walks.
Approval Rating: 50 percent
This team was obviously too talented to keep struggling like it did early on, and perhaps a rough couple of weeks is exactly what the Nationals needed after an offseason of hearing how great they were. A dangerous team on the upswing.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.
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