With the odds for upcoming MLB games obviously still changing every day and with that the trajectory of late-year success, it’s never too early to take a look at some of the biggest surprises now that we’re pretty much through the first week of the regular season.
AL Central
Look no further than the Akil Baddoo show in Detroit. In his first three games of the season, Baddoo homered on the first MLB pitch he ever saw, hit a grand slam, and hit a walk-off base hit in the 10th against his former team the Twins.
It’s not going to be incredibly shocking in some respect to see Baddoo continue to catch fire this first half of the season if you consider he’s a relative unknown for pitchers and opposing scouting reports. The biggest test perhaps for the 22-year-old outfielder will be the second half of the season when teams have finally warmed up to him.
Nonetheless, given his Rule 5 status, Baddoo will likely get every chance at success with Detroit as the front office will do whatever they can to avoid having to send him back to Minnesota.
AL East
The Orioles made history to start the season by handing the Red Sox their first 0-3 start to the season since 1948 when Boston opened up the year at Fenway. In fact, this was only the second time this phenomenon has happened in the 109 year history of the famed ballpark.
Either way, both Boston and Baltimore are going to be bad this year, perhaps though this is some very early indication on who finishes last in the AL East.
AL West
No surprises here at the top of the division, however, at the bottom the Athletics coming off a third-straight postseason appearance sit 0-6 on the year and have matched the worst start in franchise history tying the 1916 Philadelphia A’s.
Heading into the year though, it was anticipated that Oakland would be a contender for the division and a team that could make a deep postseason run.
Now, it’s still too early to hit the abort button on the 2021 campaign but the Athletics need to get things turned around now before things totally get away from them. Keeping in mind too the AL East is going to be very competitive which can also be said for the AL West as the Astros and Angels have both looked pretty solid to start the season.
NL Central
There’s really not a whole lot to be surprised at in the NL Central thus far. Anyone not named the Pittsburgh Pirates has a decent shot at winning the division and that’s how things have pretty much shaped up so far.
The NL Central has been fun to watch though if you love on-field contention.
Especially given what has happened with the Cubs/Brewers and the Reds/Cardinals.
NL East
Things haven’t gone all that well for Atlanta to start the season. First, they were stripped of hosting the All-Star Game, and second, they’ve started the season 0-4 and currently sit last in the division.
Now their situation is a little less concerning that of Oakland out of the American League when you consider the numbers and the fact that I believe the American League is a little more competitive than the National League is this year. Still, though, the NL East is better than last year, and Atlanta, like the Athletics, doesn’t want to fall too far behind to start the year. Before you know it, it’ll be late May and teams will begin to start thinking about being buyers or sellers at the deadline.
NL West
Like the NL Central, there’s not much to highlight as “surprising” since things are playing out pretty much as expected. However, the baseball world certainly needs to keep an eye on that Fernando Tatis injury in San Diego and how that impacts the Padres moving forward.
The Dodgers are going to leave San Diego little room for error in the West and this Tatis injury certainly puts the Padres in a very concerning situation to start the season.