Believe it or not? Surprising early-season MLB returns

The unprecedented hot start from the Metropolitans has been something to behold. They became the 22^nd team since 1903 to start at least 11-1 and built up a nine-game winning streak along the way. With a revamped lineup and (finally) healthy pitching staff, there is legitimate reason to buy in on the Mets’ big start being sustainable; after all, they were a playoff team just two years ago. However, buyer beware: Of the 21 other teams that got off to such a torrid start, none managed to win a single playoff series.

A year ago, the Dodgers stood as the kings of the MLB mountain for much of the year and made it as far as Game 7 of the World Series. However, they have stumbled out of the gate thus far and currently reside smack dab in the middle of the NL West. Meanwhile, fueled by an offseason overhaul led by the breakout of Shohei Ohtani and the usual MVP-level efforts of Mike Trout, the Angels have surpassed even the world champion Astros in the AL West standings. Can the early buzz keep the Halos as the top squad in the aptly named "City of Angels"?

The questions about how Shohei Ohtani could possibly live up to even half of the (literally) double-sized expectations he brought across the Pacific Ocean to Anaheim were more than justified. However, he has somehow exceeded expectations thus far, both on the mound and at the plate. If Ohtani continues at his current pace, he would win 20 games and strike out over 180 batters in just over 130 innings, while also topping 20 home runs and driving in 60 runs. If he somehow approaches this incredible showing of duality, it will be one of the most impressive seasons ever.

Over the course of the prodigious start to his tenure in Houston, Gerrit Cole has shown a previously unforeseen propensity for missing bats. Cole leads the AL in strikeouts despite having one less start than the next six men who follow him. Although his current career high for K’s is 202, he is on pace to fly past that mark to a whopping 365 in 2018. While that might be a lofty goal, could Cole emerge as the top strikeout artist in his new league?

Although Mauer is a three-time batting champ and recently posted hit No. 2,000 for his career, it was generally believed that his salad days were well behind him. Well, somebody forgot to mention that to Joe, who at 34 is among the American League leaders in hitting yet again, nearly a decade after his last hit batting crown. Can the venerable slugger keep up his vintage pace?

Thus far, even broken bats cannot keep Bryce's clouts within the confines of the diamond. Harper has done a phenomenal job of diverting attention away from his forthcoming date with free agency and toward the best start of his accomplished career. With eight home runs in the first two weeks of the year, he is currently on pace for an incredible 76 homers. Even if he teeters off some, it would be far from surprising if Harper has his first rendezvous with 50 long balls in a single summer.

A question that is becoming increasingly more popular is if Max Scherzer, who is now a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is destined to become a Hall of Famer. If he keeps up the pace he’s at now, he could very well be headed toward a third straight NL Cy Young. He is already up to his old tricks in the new year, leading the league again in five separate categories (he even retired 20 straight Rockies on April 15). If Scherzer can win top pitcher honors yet again, he will tie Greg Maddux and Steve Carlton for the third most in MLB history.

Baltimore  starting pitching has been in critical condition for much of the past two years, largely without a stopper in its midst to put the brakes on the continual skid. However, the long-awaited breakout of Dylan Bundy appears to be taking shape, as the 25-year-old hurler has been the lone bright spot in the Orioles' arsenal. Although he is still chasing his first win, Bundy has allowed over one earned run only once on the year, and opponents are hitting only .219 against him.

The third leg of the anticipated devastation that the Yankees’ lineup held came in the form of Gary Sanchez, who actually outslugged Giancarlo Stanton in last year’s All-Star Home Run Derby. However, he has gotten off to a horrid start to the year with his average dipping as low as .056 on April 10. However, the underwhelming early returns will eventually be offset by another of the prolonged hot streaks he has come to be known for, as he already has three months with an OBP north of .390 in his young career.

Led by an exciting young core and the late addition of Jake Arrieta, the Phillies have made up for a worrisome start to the year with a five-game winning streak that has pushed them toward the top of the NL East standings. Is this a sign of an earlier-than-expected return to prominence or just an early flash of potential that will eventually balance itself out? It is hard to tell, but the promise is enticing: Over 60 percent of the club’s runs have been produced by players 25 or younger, tops in the MLB.

While much of the offseason hype circled the new and improved Yankee lineup, the early returns resemble much of how the last two years have gone. The Red Sox have been the class of not only the East, but the American League in full, doing so with an lineup that has a habit for hammering doubles and a pitching staff that is finally living up to its collective potential. 

For as hot a start as the BoSox have gotten off to, it is easy to forget at times that a rookie manager is setting the tone from the bench. While the Red Sox are currently the pole setters in the AL, keeping them on track in the always rough AL East will be the true test for Cora. Only four managers in MLB history have won the World Series in their first go at it as skipper, while the most wins for a first-year manager taking over a playoff team is 103, which both Art Howe and Dick Howser accomplished. Odds are that Cora will likely fall short of both marks this time around the block.

There is no right time to be injured, but there are certainly worse times than others. For Donaldson, who is both amid a resurgence in Toronto and in his final year before hitting free agency, it is the wrong time to have a nagging injury that could bring his stock into question. While the 2015 AL MVP’s track record is enough for him to fall back on, it will not do him any favors to have his productivity clipped for a significant part of a second consecutive year, especially with millions of dollars in the balance. However, it is far too soon to bet against Donaldson, who should likely still have his customary strong finish.

A month ago, the arrival of Ronald Acuna seemed to be simply a matter of time. However, after a 7-for-40 (.175) start at Triple-A Gwinett with 15 strikeouts and two extra-base hits, the arrival of the game’s top prospect could be understandably delayed. However, a talent like his will not stay down for long, and after a hot week or two, the 20-year-old will still find his way to the Atlanta outfield in due time.

An early look at the top of the MLB hits leaderboard will yield some surprising inhabitants, as Jose Pirela, Jed Lowrie and Ozzie Albies carry the top three slots. Among these quick starters, which — if any — will still be in the chase by the All-Star break? His track record says it would be Lowrie, who has been one of the more underrated producers in the game over the last year. However, do not give in on Albies either, whose speed makes him a legitimate threat to stick.

With his fourth home run of the year, Judge became the fastest player in MLB history to reach 60 career home runs, needing just 197 games. While his precocious power displays continue to be amazing, his overall play on the year has him as a better all-around performer than during his Rookie of the Year, MVP runner-up debut. With his strikeout percentage down, walk rate up and on-base percentage all headed in the right direction, it would be no surprise for the hulking outfielder to claim the AL’s top player nod the second time around.

Although in his best season at the helm the Reds finished 10 games south of .500, Price was still given the green light to return for a fifth season last fall. However, with the Reds off to a league-worst start in the new year, it could be an agreement that is revoked in short order. The Reds have surrendered the most runs in the game this year, while scoring the fewest in the National League. Price’s seat has become the hottest in the game and could be inhabited by someone else come July, at the latest.

A few years removed from Tommy John surgery and finally carrying a full load of starts a year ago, Corbin has gotten his walk year off with a bang. He has both missed bats with regularity — 12.2 strikeouts per nine over his first four outings — while also producing ground ball contact 60 percent of the time. In other words, he makes it incredibly easy on his defense when not taking matters into his own hands with harsh regularity. This could all add up to a big payday for the 28-year-old southpaw very soon.

Ever since his breakout on the big stage in the 2016 postseason, the search to replicate what Andrew Miller brings to the Indians has spanned far and wide. But where many have failed to find the role, Josh Hader may be prepared to succeed. The 24-year-old southpaw was a revelation out of the bullpen as rookie and has gone to another level, lowering his WHIP to 0.514 while picking up his strikeouts per nine innings to an absurd 19.3 (25 K’s in 11.2 innings through April 17). Hader is on pace to fly up the power rankings of relievers in all of baseball this year.

The hype train around Giancarlo Stanton’s arrival in the Bronx has gone off the tracks in the early going, as he has made swinging — and missing — far too frequent of an occurrence. Stanton has whiffed a staggering 29 times in his first 16 games, a pace that is on course for 284 on the year if he stays at his current rate. It is a total that would fly past Mark Reynolds’ record of 223 in a year and keep the boo birds chirping loudly all summer in the Bronx. So while the power will remain in play, his struggles to square the ball up could be a massive offsetting issue.