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The 2024 Major League Baseball (MLB) season is in full swing and, although there is still a long way to go between now and the fall, it is easy to identify some surprises and disappointments that have shaken the imagination during the first weeks of the calendar.
Below are the most relevant stories from the first weeks:
Untouchable Berrios
The Toronto Blue Jays have nine wins in 17 outings and Puerto Rican José Berríos is responsible for a third of them. The right-hander has started four games, has won three and has a tiny ERA of 1.05. In addition, he has 21 accumulated strikeouts. Berríos has worked six or more innings in every game. In 25.2 innings, he has allowed 18 hits and only two home runs. His next start will be April 20 against the Padres in San Diego.
Yadier Molina will not return as leader of the Criollos
Edwin Díaz rescues his third victory of the year
José Berríos and two relievers leave the Rockies with just two hits
Quick start
It should not be surprising that the New York Yankees are at the top of the American League East Division with 12 wins in the first 17 games. The offense leaves a lot to be desired with a .246 average, but is fifth in home runs with 19 and first in walks with 86. In addition, the Yankees are third in ERA with 2.93 despite the fact that they have not had the good fortune of having Gerrit Cole, winner of the last Cy Young award.
Dominican Juan Soto (right) celebrates with Aaron Judge after hitting a three-run home run against the Cleveland Guardians. (David Dermer)
Impossible to forget the Kansas City Royals who are half a game behind the Cleveland Guadians in the Central. The ninth began by losing three of the first five challenges, but since then it has played 9-3.
On the other hand, the Central Division of the National League is the color of a fire ant. The Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds are separated by a game and a half. The Cardinals are not far behind three.
The pleasant surprise has been the performance of the Pirates. The pitching team has the second best ERA in the National League at 3.65. Expect an intense fight for the pennant.
They fall like lead
The start of the Chicago White Sox and the Miami Marlins has been a nightmare.
Chicago has only won two games in 16 outings. The collective average is .196, only two points above the Twins (.194), they have hit 12 home runs and have 150 strikeouts. To make matters worse, the pitchers’ ERA is at 4.78.
The Chicago White Sox have the worst record in Major League Baseball. (Erin Hooley)
Miami, for its part, was the last team to win after losing the first nine games. The Marlins are last in offense (.215) and, in turn, the ERA is 5.06.
Returned to normal
The New York Mets missed the presence of Edwin Díaz during the 2023 season and the right-hander has shown that he will be the same dominant pitcher before the injury. Díaz already has four saves with 10 strikeouts in just seven innings.
The Mets are off to a slow start, but at least they’re confident Diaz is ready when the trumpets sound at CitiField.
The Astros’ pitching staff has a collective ERA of 5.35. (Kevin M. Cox)They don’t take off
The Houston Astros find themselves in the basement of the American League West Division, in an unfamiliar place for almost 10 years.
The Astros’ start has been strange. They have the best collective average with .273, are second in home runs with 21 and are the team that has struck out the least with 117, but they are last in ERA with 5.35 and have allowed 94 deserved runs. On the plus side, Houston is 3.5 games behind the leading Texas Rangers, so Puerto Rican manager Joe Espada still has time to make adjustments.
2024-04-16 19:53:52
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