As we sit right here in an fascinating level within the season — nonetheless a small pattern, however not tiny sufficient to completely dismiss — I feel we may stand to take a fast journey again previously. One 12 months in the past, to be particular. The identical variety of days into the 2023 season as we have banked to this point places us on April 23, 2023. 

Right here have been some fascinating information at this level final season together with the place the staff ended up as soon as the 162-game slate was completed. 

• Pirates, 16-7 (greatest file in NL). They’d end 76-86. 
• Yankees, 13-9 (playoff place). That is a 96-win tempo. The Yankees would end 82-80 and miss the playoffs. 
• Mets, 14-9 (playoff place). They’d end 75-87. 
• Dodgers, 12-11. Regardless of what seemed to be a middling begin, the Dodgers gained 100 video games. 
• Phillies, 11-12. They’d find yourself 90-72. 
• Reds, 7-15. No, the Reds did not make the playoffs, however after a horrible begin to the season, they’d sit in first place for 32 days, as late as Aug. 2. They completed 82-80. 

Examples like this together with many, many different causes are why I can not assist however chuckle when folks bust me up on social media for not believing in sure groups just because they’re off to a fantastic begin. 

The largest complaints proper now are coming from the shores of Lake Erie. The Cleveland Guardians are 16-6 and that is the perfect file within the majors. And but, I have not been rating them within the high three and even high 5 (till now). Why not? 

Properly, I simply do not assume they’re that good and there are 4 groups I’ve very assured are higher proper now. 

It realize it sounds simplistic and surface-level, so I will go a bit deeper. 

First off, they’re 6-1 in opposition to the A’s. I do know the A’s aren’t as atrocious as final 12 months, however they are not baseball staff, both. The Guardians are additionally 2-1 in opposition to the hapless White Sox, that means half of their wins are in opposition to two of the worst groups in baseball. They’ve some spectacular collection wins, similar to in Seattle (properly, perhaps not too spectacular with the way in which the Mariners have been taking part in), in Minnesota (properly, perhaps not too spectacular with the way in which the Twins are taking part in) and in Boston. 

By way of personnel, I do not see a lot motive to vary my tune. The rotation is not going to carry up for much longer. Shane Bieber is harm, Triston McKenzie has extra walks than strikeouts and his velocity is down. Carlos Carrasco is 37. Tanner Bibee hasn’t been overly good and Logan Allen is not good. Offensively, yeah, José Ramírez is best than he is been taking part in and he’ll get scorching quickly sufficient, however Josh Naylor and Steven Kwan are as a consequence of regress, and I nonetheless discover the group as a complete uninspiring. 

So, certain, I will reward the Guardians by shifting them up primarily based on physique of labor, however I am not shopping for them long-term this season. Should you look as much as the 2023 information I posted above, the Guardians are my vote to be this 12 months’s Pirates. And whereas it looks like we have been watching loads of baseball, the Guardians have nonetheless solely performed 13.5% of their season (roughly the equal of being early within the second quarter within the third sport of an NFL season). 

I do have some recommendation for Guardians followers who is likely to be strenuously objecting proper now: Ignore folks like me and revel in your staff. I may completely be incorrect about them, anyway. It would not be the primary time and it will not be the final. 

Greatest Movers

Rk	Groups		Chg	Rcrd
1	Braves	A number of key members of the offense (Ronald Acuña Jr., Austin Riley, Matt Olson) are able to a lot better and the Braves nonetheless maintain profitable. Marcell Ozuna is a giant a part of that, main the majors with 9 homers and 27 RBI.	1	14-6
2	Orioles	The Orioles have gained six of their final seven video games and have outscored the opposition 46-29 in doing so.	4	14-7
3	Yankees	In placing them on the high final week, I famous the robust risk that they’d solely be there one week. Certain sufficient, they misplaced three in a row. Nonetheless, they have not fallen aside or something and gained a collection over the Rays at house to conclude this previous week.	2	15-7
4	Phillies	Right here they arrive? Hmm … That is a six-game profitable streak, however it was all at house in opposition to the Rockies and White Sox. Good groups care for enterprise like that, however it’s exhausting to inform if they’re actually scorching or have been simply beating up on weaklings. We’ll go together with “each.” They have not misplaced a collection since April 3.	9	14-8
5	Guardians	After internet hosting the Pink Sox for 3 video games, the Guardians hit the street to tackle the Braves and Astros. In the event that they steamroll by way of this portion of the schedule, I’d begin changing into a believer.	3	16-6
6	Brewers	You can’t reward the Brewers sufficient for a way they’ve dealt with adversity for the reason that starting of spring coaching. The newest can be the harm of Christian Yelich. They’re 5-3 with out him, to this point.	2	14-6
7	Cubs	They’re in completely fantastic form, as they’re taking part in at a 96-win tempo. That is together with nearer Adbert Alzolay turning 4 wins into losses. You possibly can’t assume perfection, however even when he was 5 for 7 in saves as an alternative of three for 7, the Cubs can be 15-7. The complete bullpen is skinny, too. Jed Hoyer should tackle this. The remainder of the staff is simply too good to see their wins wiped away.	—	13-9
8	Dodgers	Since that 7-2 begin, the Dodgers have gained one collection and misplaced 4 of them, together with at house to the Nationals. That is, nevertheless, the very same file that they had final season at this level and that staff gained 100.	5	13-11
9	Rangers	The schedule is comparatively weak for the subsequent month or so. My hunch is they will get scorching and construct a pleasant lead within the AL West.	1	12-11
10	Blue Jays	The Jays have gained six of eight, and the way about José Berríos? Not solely is he again to All-Star kind, he is likely to be the All-Star Sport starter proper now.	7	12-10
11	Mets	Keep in mind when the Mets have been 0-5 and getting no-hit within the second sport of a doubleheader? Since then, they’ve gone 12-4. Their situational hitting has been spectacular, particularly with runners in scoring place and two outs (.314 earlier than Sunday’s blowout loss).	9	12-9
12	Royals	That is curious: The Royals are 6-1 in opposition to the White Sox and 7-8 in opposition to everybody else.	3	13-9
13	Rays	The highest of the order has to return round quickly, proper? Yandy Diaz is hitting .221/.265/.295 with Randy Arozarena slashing .157/.231/.241 proper behind him. It is exhausting to win many with the highest two spots within the order floundering like that.	1	12-11
14	Pink Sox	This pitching is ridiculous! The Pink Sox have a employees ERA of two.52, simply the perfect in baseball.	2	13-10
15	Padres	They actually do not miss Josh Hader. Robert Suarez has been wonderful and is 7 for 7 in save probabilities.	—	12-12
16	Mariners	The Mariners simply went 9 scoreless innings in Coors Area on Sunday. A contender has bought to hit higher than that. Nonetheless, that they had week general.	8	11-11
17	Reds	Elly De La Cruz and Spencer Steer have been crushing the ball, however general the Reds are able to rather more, offensively. And but, they’re 12-9.	5	12-9
18	Tigers	Certainly they will begin hitting for extra energy, proper? The Tigers solely have 15 house runs all season.	—	12-10
19	Diamondbacks	Ketel Marte is placing up monster numbers, however Corbin Carroll is hitting solely .216/.330/.273. He’ll get it going quickly sufficient. For now, think about the Snakes mendacity within the weeds earlier than releasing themselves within the coming weeks.	8	11-12
20	Pirates	It did not take lengthy to unravel that 9-2 begin. They’ve misplaced six straight.	15	11-11
21	Astros	We’re moving into the vary the place it is gotta be at the very least a bit bit regarding. The Astros at the moment are 7-16 and simply misplaced a collection to the Nationals. They’re 4-9 at house and 3-7 on the street.	2	7-16
22	Cardinals	The largest subject final 12 months was beginning pitching. This season, they’ve already misplaced 5 video games wherein their starters allowed two or fewer runs.	1	9-13
23	Twins	The Twins are within the ballpark for probably the most disappointing staff of 2024 thus far. The offense is putrid. They’re hitting .195 as a staff.	1	7-13
24	Nationals	Taking collection over the Dodgers and Astros in a single week is fairly rattling spectacular — and somewhat humorous, contemplating they only misplaced a collection to the A’s. Baseball!	2	10-11
25	Giants	Patrick Bailey has now performed in solely 114 profession major-league video games. He is underrated, nationally, and seems to be a top-tier catcher already.	2	10-13
26	Angels	They have been 7-6 at one level. The Halos have misplaced seven of 9 since then. Proper on schedule, depressingly.	3	9-13
27	Athletics	They did not win their eighth sport till Could 6 final season. That they had 26 losses on the time. Progress!	2	8-14
28	Marlins	You understand who appears actually spectacular? Proper-handed reliever Calvin Faucher, who has now labored 5 2/3 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts, zero walks and solely three hits allowed.	1	6-17
29	Rockies	The Marlins began 0-9 and the White Sox are traditionally dangerous. Simply do not lose the Rockies within the shuffle. They’re fairly atrocious in their very own proper.	1	5-17
30	White Sox	How embarrassing. Good lord, they’re pathetic.	—	3-18