Main League Baseball is just roughly 6 p.c via a 162-game common season, however that is not stopping Yardbarker MLB writers from delivering knee-jerk reactions about AL groups.
Is it time for Houston’s Jose Altuve to make a transfer? Will the Yankees torpedo the remainder of the league with that offense? Learn on.
All data and statistics are via Sunday.
AL East
BALTIMORE ORIOLES (4-6) | Final place received’t be a everlasting state | Going into the season, we predicted the Orioles to win the AL East, albeit not by a big margin. To this point, 2025 has not handled Baltimore kindly, but it surely’s too gifted to remain within the division’s cellar. Nevertheless, Baltimore’s 4.71 ERA, 12th in the AL, is an enormous concern.
BOSTON RED SOX (6-4) | Outfielder Wilyer Abreu is a budding star | Abreu has a ridiculous .483/.595/.897 slash line via his first 10 video games, giving the Crimson Sox a lift amid the immense early struggles of DH Rafael Devers. In fact, Abreu’s numbers will even out over time, however to this point, it’s onerous to not get excited in regards to the early contributions.
NEW YORK YANKEES (6-3) | That is MLB’s greatest lineup, however … | The Yankees lead the majors in slugging share (.585), OPS (.950) and residential runs (25), maybe aided partially by the emergence of the torpedo bat. Regardless, although, it’s unlikely New York can maintain this torrid hitting tempo over an extended season, and when regression arrives, can the Yankees preserve successful?
TAMPA BAY RAYS (4-5) | Rays cannot rating away from residence | Throughout their first homestand at George M. Steinbrenner Subject in Tampa, the Rays scored 27 runs in six video games, a mean of 4.5 runs per recreation. The spacious Globe Life Subject in Arlington, Texas wasn’t practically as variety to Tampa’s lineup over the weekend, nevertheless, because the Rays scored solely 9 runs in three video games towards the Rangers.
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (5-5) | Outfielder George Springer recaptures his outdated type | Springer’s Blue Jays tenure has typically been inconsistent, if not underwhelming, after coming over from the Houston Astros in 2021. Nevertheless, the 35-year-old could have situated the fountain of youth (.379/.455/.621 slash line in 10 video games). — Seth Carlson
AL West
ATHLETICS (4-6) | New residence an offensive haven | The Athletics have performed three video games at Sutter Well being Park in Sacramento, their new residence discipline. In these video games, the A’s and Cubs mixed for 44 runs, making the A’s new residence the AL model of Coors Subject.
HOUSTON ASTROS (4-5) | Jose Altuve is a catastrophe within the outfield | What number of miscues, misplays and balls falling in for hits can the Astros take? It’s gone time to place Altuve the place he belongs: second base, the place he began within the All-Star Sport six instances. “The routes and the fly balls, the monitoring, the entire complete factor, he is trying extra snug and comfy every single day,” supervisor Joe Espada mentioned, according to The Athletic’s Chandler Rome. Ugh.
LOS ANGELES ANGELS (6-3) | Ron Washington is a magician | Supervisor Ron Washington has the group taking part in onerous and believing in itself, a sign the Angels may have their first successful season since 2014. However bear in mind: They have been outscored 47-46.
SEATTLE MARINERS (3-7) | Jorge Polanco is again, baybee! | The Mariners retained the infielder after a disappointing and injury-plagued 2024 season. He has began the season white-hot, belting a two homers and putting out simply 3 times in 20 plate appearances.
TEXAS RANGERS (8-2) | Jack Leiter’s dwelling as much as expectations | Leiter has battled inconsistency as he tried to stay as much as his billing because the second general choose within the 2021 MLB Draft. Though he’s on the injured record due to a blister on his proper center finger, Leiter had the 2 greatest begins of his MLB profession to open the season, giving hope that he could be the top-of-the-rotation starter the Rangers envisioned. — David Hill
AL Central
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (2-7) | White Sox might be extra aggressive than anticipated | Sure, the White Sox are within the AL Central basement, as predicted. Nevertheless, regardless of their lame file, the White Sox have a -5 run differential and misplaced three video games within the closing three innings.
CLEVELAND GUARDIANS (3-6) | Nearer Emmanuel Clase is a catastrophe | Clase has thrown the second-most innings of any reduction pitcher from 2022 to 2024 (219.2, one out fewer than Tyler Rogers) as he has established himself as among the best closers within the recreation. He’s off to a sluggish begin, permitting three earned runs on seven hits over 4 innings; he allowed simply 5 earned runs over 74.1 innings in 2024.
DETROIT TIGERS (5-4) | Spencer Torkelson has figured it out | The primary baseman has carried a white-hot spring coaching into the common season. With a pair of homers and a 1.057 OPS coming into Monday, Torkelson is exhibiting that he could possibly be the participant the Tigers envisioned.
KANSAS CITY ROYALS (4-5)| Mediocre outfield is regressing | Royals outfielders ranked 27th in the majors with a .648 OPS final season. Though Kansas Metropolis tried to improve its outfield, the identical group has led to predictably mediocre outcomes (.583 OPS).
MINNESOTA TWINS (3-6) | Outfielder Harrison Bader an incredible discount | The Twins signed the outfielder to a one-year deal for $6.25M to function their fourth outfielder. As a substitute, in eight video games, he leads the group in homers (three), RBI (eight) and OPS (.988). — David Hill
