Each MLB Team's Most Crucial 2016 Early-Season Storyline
Whether it's a key injury, an underperforming player or an exposed weakness, all 30 MLB teams have at least one crucial storyline surrounding the club here in the early going.
It's important not to put too much stock in less than two weeks' worth of games, but after an offseason of anticipation and a spring of meaningless results, it's easy to do just that.
Whether it's Chris Archer stumbling out of the gates for the Tampa Bay Rays, the Minnesota Twins offense looking completely inept or the Los Angeles Dodgers bullpen pitching batting practice, there are concerns up and down the league.
So let's take a quick inventory of each MLB team's most crucial early-season storyline here in 2016.
Arizona Diamondbacks: So About That Improved Rotation...
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Despite boasting the second-highest scoring offense in the National League last season, the Arizona Diamondbacks still finished below .500 with a 79-83 record.
The biggest reason for that mediocre finish?
A weak starting rotation that ranked 23rd in the majors with a 4.37 ERA and clearly lacked a bona fide ace to lean on at the top.
Looking to rectify that problem this winter and make a serious push at contention, the team coughed up $206.5 million and a wealth of young talent to add Zack Greinke and Shelby Miller, respectively.
So far, those two have not performed as the team envisioned when they acquired them:
- Greinke: 2 GS, 0-2, 9.90 ERA, 16 H, 11 ER, 4 BB, 10 K, 10.0 IP
- Miller: 2 GS, 0-1, 8.18 ERA, 15 H, 10 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 11.0 IP
The rest of the staff hasn't exactly stepped up either, as all told the starters have gone a combined 0-5 with a 7.06 ERA through eight games.
It's obviously still early days, but it's troubling nonetheless.
Atlanta Braves: The Long-Term Impact of Erick Aybar's Defensive Struggles
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It would be fair to say the Atlanta Braves have been spoiled the past few years when it comes to defense at the shortstop position, as Andrelton Simmons was otherworldly with the glove.
However, regardless of his predecessor, new shortstop Erick Aybar has gotten off to a tough start defensively in Atlanta.
Michael Cunningham of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution broke down his early struggles:
"Aybar has been a solid fielder over his career but committed two errors in his first four games with the Braves. His first miscue, a throwing error in the first inning on opening day, didn’t result in any runs for the Nationals but his second error led to an unearned run against the Cardinals on Saturday.
Aybar also had trouble handling Stephen Piscotty’s two-out ground ball in the fourth inning on Saturday and threw wide to first baseman Freddie Freeman as a run scored. The play was ruled a hit.
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That has led to some early speculation that the Braves could consider sliding Aybar over to second base and promoting defensive-minded Daniel Castro from Triple-A to take over at shortstop, per Mark Bowman of MLB.com.
Castro, who hit .240 with a .606 OPS in 100 plate appearances in Atlanta last year, would be a short-term fix.
The big question then would become what this all means for the timetables of top prospects Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies, who both impressed during extended action in spring training.
It's an interesting situation for a rebuilding club, and one definitely worth keeping an eye on.
Baltimore Orioles: The Health of Kevin Gausman's Arm
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The Baltimore Orioles are off to a fantastic start to the 2016 season (7-0), but the long-term outlook of their starting rotation is still a potential cause of concern.
Their starters may currently rank 11th in the league with a 3.74 ERA, but they've managed just one quality start through seven games, which will eventually catch up to the bullpen.
That puts young right-hander Kevin Gausman front and center as the team's biggest X-factor.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2012 draft, Gausman has gone 14-19 with a 4.21 ERA and 1.284 WHIP over parts of three big league seasons, bouncing between the majors and minors as well as between the rotation and bullpen.
This was the year he was finally expected to become a full-time member of the rotation, and a breakout season looked like a real possibility.
"I'm just excited to get going and ready to make 30 to 32 starts. That's my goal, is to make every single one of my starts," Gausman told Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun near the end of spring training. "Because I know if I make every single one of my starts and stay healthy, I'm very confident that I can throw 200 innings."
That turned out to wishful thinking, as the 25-year-old has instead begun the season on the disabled list after receiving a cortisone injection in his sore right shoulder.
He worked two innings for Double-A Bowie on Sunday in his first rehab appearance, allowing four hits and one unearned run while striking out two.
Getting him back healthy and pitching up to his front-line potential will be huge for an Orioles team that has come out swinging.
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Boston Red Sox: The Health of Eduardo Rodriguez's Knee
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Eduardo Rodriguez turned in four truly terrible starts as a rookie last season, giving up a combined 40 hits and 30 earned runs in 15 innings.
An issue with tipping his pitches was largely to blame, but those four stinkers aside, he was nothing short of brilliant.
In his other 17 starts, the left-hander went 10-2 with a 1.86 ERA and 1.031 WHIP, tallying 13 quality starts along the way.
To be blunt, if anyone on the Red Sox staff is going to step up this season and emerge as a second front-line option alongside new ace David Price, the 23-year-old Rodriguez has the best chance of being that guy.
But first, he needs to get on the field.
The left-hander is working his way back from a patellar subluxation in his right knee, and he threw a 36-pitch simulated game on Sunday in the latest step toward returning to the Boston rotation.
According to Christopher Smith of MassLive.com, he'll throw again on Monday, but at this point there is still no definitive timetable on when he could begin a rehab assignment.
Chicago Cubs: Replacing Kyle Schwarber
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If any team is equipped to overcome the loss of someone like Kyle Schwarber, it's the Chicago Cubs.
It won't be easy, though.
With the addition of free agent Jason Heyward and the late move to re-sign Dexter Fowler, along with a pair of incumbent young bats in Jorge Soler and Javier Baez, who are also expected to see time in the outfield, the Cubs have as much depth out there as any team in baseball.
Schwarber was a special talent, though, and a player who was expected to make a major impact in his first full season in the majors.
In just 273 plate appearances last year, the 23-year-old posted an .842 OPS with 16 home runs and 43 RBI, and he added a 9-for-27 performance in the postseason that included five home runs and eight RBI.
Soler and Baez are both capable of being standout players in their own right, but Soler is off to a 3-for-23 start and Baez is currently on a minor league rehab assignment as he works his way back from a bruised left thumb.
This also further slows the development of Schwarber as a potential option behind the plate and could in fact put an end to his days as a backstop as Chicago won't be quick to rush him back to the squatting position after suffering a torn ACL and LCL.
The Cubs have the pieces to do it, but overcoming the loss of Schwarber is still the big story right now on the North Side.
Chicago White Sox: A Snail-Like Start from the Offseason Additions
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First baseman Jose Abreu had another big season for the Chicago White Sox last year, but the rest of the infield was wildly unproductive offensively.
Here's a look at where they stacked up compared to the rest of the league:
- 2B: .580 OPS (30th in MLB), 6 HR, 41 RBI
- 3B: .622 OPS (30th in MLB), 13 HR, 50 RBI
- SS: .631 OPS (25th in MLB), 10 HR, 62 RBI
As a result, the team went out and traded for second baseman Brett Lawrie and third baseman Todd Frazier, before capping off their infield overhaul by signing veteran shortstop Jimmy Rollins.
Unfortunately, the early returns for that trio have not been much better than what the club saw at those three positions a year ago:
- Lawrie: 6-for-26, 8 K, .516 OPS
- Frazier: 6-for-29, 5 K, .706 OPS
- Rollins: 4-for-25, 3 K, .505 OPS
The performance of that trio will be one of the biggest keys to success for a White Sox team looking to put a disappointing 2015 in the rearview, so their respective slow starts are the crucial storyline for the time being.
Cincinnati Reds: A Hot Start from Potential Trade Chip Jay Bruce
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Jay Bruce has frequently seen his name floated on the trade market dating back to last season's deadline, and in fact he's nearly been traded twice.
A deal that would have sent him to the New York Mets in exchange for Zack Wheeler fell apart at the trade deadline, while a potential three-team swap that would have ended with Bruce joining the Toronto Blue Jays also came up short.
Instead he stayed put and again began the year as the Cincinnati Reds starting right fielder, but the odds remain high that he's dealt at some point considering the team's current rebuilding strategy.
A two-time All-Star with 210 career home runs, Bruce has slumped to a .695 OPS over the past two seasons amid injuries and general ineffectiveness.
However, he's still just 29 years old, is making a reasonable $12.5 million this season and carries the added intrigue of a $13 million option for next year if he does flip the switch and return to his previous form.
The early returns here in 2016 have also been promising, as he's gone 9-for-27 with two home runs and nine RBI. If he keeps this up, he'll be one of the most coveted trade chips in the league, and the Reds will be able to add more high-end young talent.
Cleveland Indians: The Health of Michael Brantley's Shoulder
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The offseason additions of Mike Napoli, Juan Uribe, Marlon Byrd and Rajai Davis were solid low-cost moves by the Cleveland Indians, but the fate of their offense still rests heavily on the surgically repaired right shoulder of Michael Brantley.
That nagging shoulder issue sapped his power a bit last season, but he still hit .310/.379/.480 and led the American League with 45 doubles.
After undergoing surgery in November, Brantley appeared to be progressing ahead of schedule as he played in a pair of spring training games and continued to push toward being ready for Opening Day.
However, his shoulder did not respond as well as hoped to that spring action and the team eventually decided to shut him down to avoid further issue.
"I think it was healthy for him to shoot for (Opening Day)," manager Terry Francona told ESPN.com news services. "Anytime you have a goal, I think it's good. I hope he's not disappointed. I think maybe he understands probably better than anybody here what he means to this team."
The 28-year-old began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus on Tuesday, so barring any further setbacks he should return to big league action before the month is over.
Colorado Rockies: Same Old Issues on the Mound
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In most cases, seven games is far too small a sample size to justify any sort of significant conclusions, but for the Colorado Rockies things look all too familiar.
Last season, they ranked fifth in the majors in runs scored but finished with 94 losses thanks to an MLB-worst 5.04 team ERA.
Entering play on Wednesday, they currently rank ninth with 5.29 runs of offense per game but are again dead last with a team ERA of 7.84.
This is nothing new for an organization that has spent the better part of its existence trying to out-slug opponents while employing below average pitching staffs, and a lot of that has to do with their inability to attract top-end free agents.
No significant additions were made to the starting rotation this winter, and that group has gone 2-3 with a 7.12 ERA so far.
However, the team did attempt to address the bullpen by signing Chad Qualls and Jason Motte (currently injured) and trading for Jake McGee, but the relief corps has actually been worse with an atrocious 8.88 ERA.
We're less than two weeks into the 2016 season, but all signs point to it being another long year for the Rockies.
Detroit Tigers: The Jekyll and Hyde Show from Justin Verlander
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Justin Verlander has not been a true front-line starter over an entire season since 2013, but he showed signs of rounding back into ace form down the stretch last year.
After dealing with injuries early and then going 1-4 with a 5.05 ERA over his first nine starts, Verlander rattled off 10 quality starts over his final 11 outings, going 4-4 with a 2.12 ERA and 0.956 WHIP in the process.
With a strong spring (19.0 IP, 16 H, 6 ER) and a quality start on Opening Day (ND, 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 ER), it appeared he was ready to once again lead the rotation for a Detroit Tigers team looking to rebound from a dismal 2015.
However, he was absolutely shelled on Monday, allowing 10 hits and seven earned runs in 4.1 innings of work.
"The whole day I was trying to find something to build on," Verlander told Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press. "You’re really just trying to find your rhythm and find a quick inning here or there and turn the tide. But today I just wasn’t able to do that."
With Anibal Sanchez (2 GS, 2-0, 3.38 ERA, 10.2 IP) and Jordan Zimmermann (1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 7.0 IP) both off to strong starts, Verlander is the key to the rotation.
His next start will be a telling one, and it comes against the Houston Astros on Saturday.
Houston Astros: The Health of Lance McCullers' Right Shoulder
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Despite a solid overall performance from the starting rotation a year ago, the Houston Astros were without a true No. 2 starter behind ace Dallas Keuchel.
Collin McHugh finished the season with a 19-7 record, but his 3.89 ERA and 1.277 WHIP painted him as more of a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm, who benefited greatly from 5.13 runs of support per game, than a true No. 2.
While McHugh, Mike Fiers, Scott Feldman and free-agent addition Doug Fister are all capable of being quality options, the pitcher with the potential to give the team that second ace is young right-hander Lance McCullers.
Promoted last May straight from Double-A, McCullers posted a 3.22 ERA and 1.186 WHIP while striking out 129 batters in 125.2 innings of work, and he didn't turn 22 until after the regular season wrapped up.
Expected to be a big piece of the puzzle this year, McCullers was instead forced to the disabled list to begin the season with shoulder soreness.
He threw three innings in his first rehab start on Monday night, and he's slated to make his second start on Saturday, according to Jake Kaplan of the Houston Chronicle.
With the Astros rotation currently sporting a robust 5.63 ERA through eight games, they anxiously await his return.
Kansas City Royals: Joakim Soria Might Be the Key to the Bullpen
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One of the greatest strengths of the Kansas City Royals during their recent run of success has been their dominant bullpen, but it was an offseason of change on that front.
The team cut ties with All-Star closer Greg Holland, who's set to miss the entire season recovering from Tommy John surgery, while standout setup man Ryan Madson and top lefty option Franklin Morales also departed in free agency.
In an effort to maintain their late-inning superiority, the team signed Joakim Soria to a three-year, $25 million deal to join Luke Hochevar, Kelvin Herrera and Wade Davis at the back end of the bullpen.
A two-time All-Star who spent the first six seasons of his career in Kansas City, Soria was terrific once again last season with a 2.53 ERA, 1.094 WHIP and 8.5 strikeouts per nine innings in 72 appearances with the Tigers and Pirates.
However, he's off to a rough start in his return to KC:
- April 3: 0.2 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 1 K
- April 5: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 2 K
- April 8: 1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
- April 12: 1.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
That's two poor outings, one good outing and one outing where he put two runners on but managed to avoid any damage. Not exactly what you're looking for from a quality setup man.
The Royals will give Soria every chance to prove he can still be an impact arm in the late innings because that's exactly what they need him to be. But at this point it appears their bullpen has taken at least a small step back.
Los Angeles Angels: New Year, Same Lack of Offensive Firepower
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After plummeting from first in the league in scoring in 2014 (4.77 runs per game) to 20th in the league last season (4.08 runs per game), many expected the Los Angeles Angels to make a splashy offseason addition to upgrade their offense.
Unless you consider Andrelton Simmons, Yunel Escobar, Daniel Nava or Craig Gentry to be splashy additions, that didn't happen.
As a result, it's been much of the same so far from an offensive standpoint, as they've managed just 21 runs through their first eight games while hitting .220 with a .599 OPS as a team.
The good news: Mike Trout hit his first home run of the season on Monday.
The bad news: It was just the third home run they've hit as a team, and Trout is batting all of .185 even after his 1-for-3 performance on Monday.
That being said, Trout is the least of their concerns.
He'll eventually round into form—he's too good not to—but who's going to step up alongside him and provide some sort of support?
C.J. Cron (2-for-26) and Albert Pujols (5-for-30) are the team's two best power threats outside of Trout, but Cron has yet to prove himself and Pujols is another year older (36).
As things currently stand, this simply doesn't look like a team with enough offensive firepower to contend.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Oops, We Forgot to Upgrade the Bullpen
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For as much was made of the starting rotation being a potential weakness for the Los Angeles Dodgers, an even more glaring issue went largely overlooked.
The bullpen.
After struggling all year in 2015 to bridge the gap to closer Kenley Jansen and finishing with a 3.91 bullpen ERA, the Dodgers' big additions to shore up the relief corps wound up being Joe Blanton and Louis Coleman.
Here's how their relievers have performed so far in 2016, excluding Jansen, who is 2-for-2 on save chances in two scoreless innings:
- Joe Blanton: 3 G, L, 3.0 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 ER
- Louis Coleman: 4 G, L, 4.2 IP, 3 H, 4 BB, 3 ER
- Pedro Baez: 4 G, BS, 4.0 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 2 ER
- Yimi Garcia: 4 G, BS, 3.2 IP, 5 H, 0 BB, 2 ER
- Chris Hatcher: 4 G, W, L, BS, 3.1 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 2 ER
- J.P. Howell: 3 G, 1.0 IP, 6 H, 0 BB, 6 ER
Every single one of those pitchers has either a loss or a blown save, with the exception of J.P. Howell who has essentially been pitching batting practice to this point.
So what's the solution?
Once Hyun-jin Ryu returns to action the team could push someone like Alex Wood to the bullpen. And at some point Mike Bolsinger and Brandon McCarthy will also be back in the mix.
The team also has Luis Avilan, Adam Liberatore, Ian Thomas, Sean Burnett and Sam LeCure as Triple-A options with MLB experience.
Big picture, though, this could very well be an issue that plagues the Dodgers all season.
Miami Marlins: Will They Pitch Enough to Contend?
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With a healthy Giancarlo Stanton and a new-look coaching staff, the Miami Marlins are hoping for big things in 2016 on the heels of a disappointing 71-91 finish a year ago.
Will they pitch enough to be serious contenders, though?
That's the big question, and it's one that has only become more prevalent amid the starting rotation going a combined 0-2 with a 6.18 ERA through the team's first six games.
Tom Koehler has their lone quality start to this point, allowing eight hits and two earned runs in 6.1 innings while taking the loss.
Meanwhile, ace Jose Fernandez has failed to pitch out of the sixth inning in either of his starts while racking up high pitch counts, and Wei-Yin Chen took a no-decision on Opening Day after allowing nine hits and five earned runs over five innings.
Jarred Cosart looked like the same wild Jarred Cosart with four hits and three walks allowed in 4.2 innings, while Adam Conley saw his start cut short by rain after stumbling out of the gates with two hits, two walks and three earned runs allowed in his lone inning of work.
There's some useful young depth in the farm system ready to contribute—but no one capable of carrying the staff.
Fernandez and Chen need to live up to their billing as the leaders of the rotation, and the other three starters need to at least prove capable of holding down their spot if this team is going to be considered a serious contender.
Milwaukee Brewers: Is Anyone a Long-Term Piece?
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As the Milwaukee Brewers continue with their rebuilding efforts, this season will be about evaluating their in-house talent and deciding who will be a part of their long-term plans.
At this point, the answer might be no one.
Looking at their current 25-man roster, the following players appear to be the only guys with a real chance of being a part of the next contending Brewers club:
- OF Domingo Santana (23)
- 2B Scooter Gennett (25)
- IF Yadiel Rivera (23)
- SP Wily Peralta (26)
- SP Jimmy Nelson (26)
- SP Taylor Jungmann (26)
Those are six quality young players, but no one exactly jumps out as a someone to build around, profiling more as complementary pieces instead.
The current faces of the franchise—Jonathan Lucroy and Ryan Braun—could both wind up being trade chips before the rebuild is complete and could in fact be on the move as soon as this year.
At some point, top prospects like shortstop Orlando Arcia, center fielder Brett Phillips and pitchers Jorge Lopez and Zach Davies are going to get the call, but for now this is largely a roster made up of placeholders.
Minnesota Twins: 0 Wins, 0 Offense
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The Minnesota Twins are off to an 0-7 start, and an absolutely horrendous performance by the offense is almost entirely to blame.
They've scored a grand total of 13 runs so far, hitting an impossibly bad .091 with runners in scoring position in the process.
"I know everyone wants us to say we’re freaking out, but we’re not," third baseman Trevor Plouffe told Brian Murphy of the Pioneer Press. "Obviously we’re not happy where we’re at. I think we’re pressing a little bit. I think that’s obvious."
So far, Joe Mauer (9-for-24, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 3 R) and Eduardo Escobar (10-for-27, 4 2B, 2 RBI, 2 R) are the only players with at least 10 plate appearances who are hitting over .200.
That includes the young duo of Miguel Sano (3-for-22, 13 K) and Byron Buxton (4-for-22, 11 K), who have both looked lost at the plate, and the same goes for newcomer Byung-ho Park (3-for-21, 12 K).
There's no easy fix, but hitting can be contagious, so once a few guys get going, things could pick up for the entire team.
That being said, Tom Brunansky might want to update his resume because the hitting coach is generally the first in line as a scapegoat when an offense is floundering to this degree.
New York Mets: This Offense Looks a Lot Like the Pre-Cespedes Offense
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You could point to Jacob deGrom being scratched with a lat issue or Steven Matz not making it out of the second inning of his start as potential areas of concern for the New York Mets. But their pitching staff is going to be just fine.
It's the offense that's a concern.
With an MLB-worst .187 team batting average and a total of 18 runs scored through seven games, they've looked an awful lot like the group we saw consistently struggle to plate runs throughout the first half and leading up to the trade deadline last year.
The only difference is, they already have Yoenis Cespedes this time.
Curtis Granderson (2-for-27, 8 K) is off to as rough a start as any hitter in baseball, and outside of David Wright (6-for-22, 3 2B, 6 BB, no one has been particularly good.
However, Mark Simon of ESPN provides some reason for hope: "But one sign that better things may be ahead...is that the Mets have a major league-low .500 batting average on what video review terms as 'hard-hit balls.' The average major league team gets hits on 70 percent of its hard-hit balls."
Better days are ahead for the Mets offense for the simple reason that they can't get any worse. The question is, how much better?
New York Yankees: That X-Factor of a Starting Rotation
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The New York Yankees will go as far as their boom-or-bust rotation takes them this season—most people would agree with that sentiment.
So when the only starter to go six innings so far is CC Sabathia, there's at least moderate reason for concern.
Nathan Eovaldi (5.0 IP, 6 H, 5 ER) and Michael Pineda (5.0 IP, 8 H, 6 ER) both sport sky-high ERAs after one start, while Luis Severino (5.0 IP, 10 H, 3 ER) managed to dance around all the hits he allowed but looked far from the ace many expect him to be.
Then there's Masahiro Tanaka, who remains the biggest X-factor of all with his partially torn UCL still making him a candidate for a season-ending injury at any point. The team has been careful with him so far.
He allowed four hits and two runs in 5.2 innings in his first start, reaching 87 pitches before being pulled.
On Tuesday, he went five innings against the Toronto Blue Jays and allowed three hits and two earned runs but also walked four and exited with 92 pitches and just 54 strikes.
With a good offense and a bullpen expected to be among the best in the league once Aroldis Chapman returns, it's all about starting pitching in the Bronx.
Oakland Athletics: Big Struggles from the Offensive Additions
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Forced as always to get creative when it came to upgrading an offense that finished in the middle of the pack a year ago, the Oakland Athletics added a handful of players to the mix via trade this offseason.
Outfielder Khris Davis—fresh off of a 27-homer season with the Brewers—was the big pickup, while they also added first baseman Yonder Alonso from the Padres, second baseman Jed Lowrie from the Astros and utility man Chris Coghlan from the Cubs.
So far, that group has not made the impact the front office was hoping for:
- Davis: 5-for-30, 14 K
- Alonso: 3-for-26, 7 K
- Lowrie: 8-for-35, 6 K
- Coghlan: 4-for-23, 7 K
As a result, the offense has scored just 2.89 runs per game so far, and their 76 strikeouts as a team are the fifth-highest in the majors.
To his credit, Davis is a .230 career hitter in April, so his slow start is not a huge surprise.
"Sometimes you’re trying to impress a bit when you go to a new team,” manager Bob Melvin suggested to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. “He’s struck out some, but I don’t think that will continue, certainly not at the rate he’s striking out now."
Philadelphia Phillies: An Awful Bullpen Undermining a Surprising Rotation
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After trading away Jonathan Papelbon at the deadline and Ken Giles in the offseason, the Philadelphia Phillies opted to go the low-cost route with their bullpen this season, and the early returns have been about what you would expect.
James Russell and Dalier Hinojosa blew back-to-back saves to start the season, before Jeanmar Gomez took over the closer's role where he's gone 3-for-3 on save chances with four scoreless innings of work.
Despite seemingly finding their ninth-inning guy, the Phillies bullpen has still tallied two losses and two blown saves in eight games, while currently sporting a hefty 6.33 ERA.
The kicker is, their starting rotation has actually been really good.
Jeremy Hellickson, Aaron Nola, Charlie Morton, Vincent Velasquez and Jerad Eickhoff have combined for a 2.87 ERA, good for the fourth-best starter's ERA in the majors.
There's a good chance that will level out in the weeks to come, but as long as the starters are performing at a high level, the bullpen can't afford to squander potential wins.
They already figure to be hard to come by this year in Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh Pirates: The Health of Jung-ho Kang's Leg
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The Pittsburgh Pirates currently rank second in the majors and first in the NL with a .296 team batting average, but they have struggled to the tune of a .217 average with runners in scoring position.
That makes the return of infielder Jung-ho Kang that much more important.
David Freese, the player signed to help bridge the gap to Kang's return, has gone 2-for-12 with five strikeouts and zero RBI with runners in scoring position hitting out of the No. 3 spot in the batting order.
Kang, who saw his rookie season abruptly ended when he suffered a broken leg on a takeout slide by Chris Coghlan in September, was one of the team's best clutch hitters a year ago.
He finished the year hitting .287/.355/.461 with 24 doubles, 15 home runs and 58 RBI in 467 plate appearances.
His .283 average with runners in scoring position was fourth on the team among players with at least 100 at-bats, and getting him back in the middle of the lineup should give the offense a serious shot in the arm.
Kang is currently on pace for a late-April return, according general manager Neal Huntington, per RotoWire (via CBS Sports).
San Diego Padres: The Health of Trade Chip Tyson Ross
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The San Diego Padres are not expected to contend this year, but they could be major players on the trade market with a number of valuable pieces that could be on the move.
Tops on that list of trade chips is right-hander Tyson Ross, who has quietly been one of the best pitchers in the National League the past few seasons.
Ross, 28, has posted a 3.03 ERA, 1.259 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 over the past two years and more importantly is under team control through the 2017 season, so he's more than just a rental piece.
His name floated around the rumor mill at the trade deadline and during the offseason, but this year's deadline figures to be when his value is at its highest, and the Padres could look to flip him to help rebuild their farm system.
However, that's not going to happen if he's not healthy.
Ross was hit hard on Opening Day, allowing nine hits and eight runs (seven earned) in 5.1 innings of work, and on Saturday ahead of his second start he was placed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation.
"They've got my best interest at heart," Ross told reporters (via ESPN.com news services). "I know with our training staff, I'll be out on the field soon enough. ... I'm confident that they're going to get me out there, get me right and probably even better than ever."
For the sake of his trade value, the Padres had better hope that's the case.
San Francisco Giants: A Slow Start from Denard Span
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Take your pick between a slow start by Denard Span and a rough first outing by Jake Peavy as the most crucial storyline for a San Francisco Giants team that has otherwise looked sharp on their way to a 6-2 start.
We'll go with Span as the bigger concern, as the team is counting on him to be a table-setter at the top of what has nonetheless been a very productive lineup.
Span, 32, is coming off of an injury-shortened season with the Washington Nationals, as hip surgery held him to 61 games.
It also significantly cut into his free-agent stock, and he wound up inking a three-year, $31 million deal with the Giants that has a chance to be an absolute steal if he's back healthy and productive.
However, he's gone just 7-for-33 with zero walks in his brief time with the team.
He's the one weak link right now in an offense that is averaging 6.25 runs per game, but he still has plenty of time to get things going.
Seattle Mariners: The Ketel Marte Breakout Temporarily on Hold
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Somewhat overlooked in one of the deepest rookie classes in MLB history, Ketel Marte quietly put together a solid debut in his own right.
The Seattle Mariners young shortstop hit .283/.351/.402 with 19 extra-base hits and 25 runs scored in 247 plate appearances (57 games), and he was a popular pick as a breakout candidate heading into his first full season.
A .364 average with six doubles, two triples and one home run in 55 at-bats this spring only further raised expectations, but the 22-year-old has gotten off to a slow start here in the regular season.
He's gone just 4-for-25 with five strikeouts and no extra-base hits, and he was given the day off on Tuesday to try to clear his head.
"Everybody wants to get off to a great start, especially when you are a young player, but it doesn’t always happen," manager Scott Servais told reporters, via Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle. "But Ketel has shown flashes in what he can do. Give him a night off and see where it goes from there."
St. Louis Cardinals: A Pedestrian Start from Randal Grichuk
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The talk all offseason was how the St. Louis Cardinals were counting on Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty to step up and carry the offensive load.
At no point was Jeremy Hazelbaker mentioned in that conversation.
Yet here we are seven games into the season, and Hazelbaker has taken St. Louis by storm with a 10-for-19 start that includes two doubles, one triple, two home runs and five RBI.
Piscotty is off to a strong start as well (9-for-29, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR), but Grichuk has struggled mightily at 3-for-18 with nine strikeouts and has found himself relegated to part-time status for the time being as a result.
Whether or not the 28-year-old Hazelbaker can keep it up remains to be seen, but his .571 BABIP and middling minor league track record suggest he's riding quite the hot streak.
Regardless, the Cardinals are still counting on significant production from Grichuk, who posted an .877 OPS with 23 doubles and 17 home runs in 350 plate appearances a year ago.
Back in the lineup on Monday, he went 2-for-3 with a double and two walks, so perhaps he's ready to turn a corner.
Tampa Bay Rays: Ace Chris Archer Not Looking Very Ace-Like
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One of the breakout stars of 2015 and the unquestioned ace of the Tampa Bay Rays staff heading into 2016, Chris Archer has struggled through his first two starts.
Here are his final lines:
- April 3: L, 5.0 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 12 K
- April 8: L, 5.0 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
He surrendered four home runs in that second start against the Baltimore Orioles, and a downturn in his velocity has raised some early red flags.
His average fastball velocity is down from 95.2 to 93.3 mph, and his devastating slider is also down from 87.9 to 86.3 mph, according to FanGraphs.
The 27-year-old doesn't seem to be worried, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times:
"I've seen some headlines, and it's comical, because I was throwing 92-96 (mph) last game instead of 94-97, and it's a big deal. My slider was 85-88 instead of 86-90 and it's a big deal. And I don't know why. I think people just need something to talk about, something to write about, something to justify me not having the greatest start.
"
Maybe he's right—maybe we're making too much of this after two early-season starts.
When your ace gets shelled like that, though, it becomes a storyline.
Texas Rangers: The Catching Situation
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Already without backup catcher Chris Gimenez, who began the year on the disabled list with a leg infection, the Texas Rangers lost starting backstop Robinson Chirinos to a fractured forearm over the weekend.
The injury is expected to sideline him for 10 to 12 weeks, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, and in the meantime the Rangers are left with spring acquisition Bryan Holaday and 27-year-old rookie Brett Nicholas as their catching tandem.
Nicholas did go 2-for-4 with a double in his MLB debut on Monday, and he's shown some offensive chops in the past with a .725 OPS that included 22 doubles, 12 home runs and 63 RBI in Triple-A last year.
Holaday, who put together a terrific spring with the Tigers but lost the backup job to Jarrod Saltalamacchia, is a career .247/.280/.336 hitter in 295 plate appearances in the majors.
The Rangers expressed some level of interest in Milwaukee Brewers catcher Jonathan Lucroy during the offseason, and as Jon Heyman of MLB Network tweeted, a potential deal between the two sides makes sense now more than ever.
For a Rangers team looking to make a legitimate run at a title this year, it will be interesting to see how they address arguably the most important position on the field.
Toronto Blue Jays: The Late-Inning Relief Corps Around Roberto Osuna
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Roberto Osuna has once again been a stud at the back of the bullpen for the Toronto Blue Jays, going a perfect 3-for-3 on save chances while allowing just two hits and zero walks and striking out six over four scoreless innings.
It's getting the ball to Osuna that has been the problem.
Former Nationals closer Drew Storen and left-hander Brett Cecil were expected to be a solid one-two punch in the setup role, based on their performances a year ago:
- Storen: 58 G, 29 SV, 3.44 ERA, 1.109 WHIP, 11.0 K/9
- Cecil: 63 G, 5 SV, 2.48 ERA, 0.957 WHIP, 11.6 K/9
Instead, they've been nothing short of terrible:
- Storen: 3 G, 0-1, 7.71 ERA, 2.1 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K
- Cecil: 4 G, 0-2, 10.13 ERA, 2.2 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
With Aaron Sanchez moving to the starting rotation and deadline pickups LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe gone, the team has a lot invested in that duo if they hope to have a solid bullpen this year.
As such, getting them on track immediately becomes their most crucial storyline here in April.
Washington Nationals: The Health of Ben Revere's Oblique
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The Washington Nationals were 36-25 (.590) with Denard Span in the lineup last season, compared to 47-54 (.465) without him, so the importance of an impact table-setter atop the lineup is abundantly clear.
After Span missed significant time with a hip injury and then walked in free agency, the team was left without a proven leadoff hitter.
Enter Ben Revere, who was acquired from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for reliever Drew Storen.
With a similar skill set, Revere was expected to be an integral part of the offensive attack, but instead he made it just one game before hitting the disabled list with a strained oblique.
Oblique injuries are tough to gauge and can often turn into nagging issues throughout the season, so the Nationals will need Revere to get back to 100 percent quickly.
In the meantime, Michael Taylor (4-for-25, 7 K) is filling in as the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted, and current through Tuesday, April 12. Contract information via Spotrac.com.
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