After a late start due to a lockout, Major League Baseball is back. Coming out of a major strike, the players organization recently agreed to a deal with the league, in which the MLB agreed to raise the bonus pool – the pool of money that funds the league’s bonuses and awards – from $40 million to $50 million. Despite the first two weeks of the season being canceled, the teams are back to their regularly scheduled programming. Here is a look at the top teams in each league right now.
The Toronto Blue Jays are narrowly at the top of the American League East currently, with 6 wins and a .600 winning percentage (ESPN). They were just led to a recent win by pitcher Alek Manoah, after pitcher Hyun Jin Ryu was taken out for a forearm injury. “His last 10 starts, we’ve won every game,” said manager Charlie Monyoyo of Manoah, who has been taking charge of the Blue Jays’ fate this season. This is also due to the Blue Jays’ sixth-starter experiment (MLB). Where most teams have five pitchers that are “starters,” who start off games, the Blue Jays have six in order to allow for more rest for each player. As starters work through their second appearances of the season, they’re just now getting to the point they’d typically be at in time for Opening Day, but because of the shortened season, they are past that date. By adding extra starters, pitchers who open the game, the Blue Jays will go into the season more comfortable and with well rested pitchers. Perhaps this is what has helped them so far.
The Chicago White Sox also have emerged on top in the American League, with a .667 winning percentage, aided by pitchers Dylan Cease in a victory of the Rays on Friday, and Michael Kophech who struck out five on Saturday, and in the West reigning AL champs, the Houston Astros, continue their streak. With a win against the Mariners on Saturday, Houston is evidently still the team to beat in this league. At 39 years old and just back from surgery Justin Verlander was still able to throw eight scoreless innings while striking out eight batters and allowing three hits in a win against the Mariners (MLB).
As for the National League, in the East, despite a loss on Saturday to the Arizona Diamondbacks, of all teams, the Mets have continued to prove themselves. They had only three hits in the first seven innings, and lost 3-2. After a record deal for Max Scherzer, and three stellar additions to their lineup in Starling Marte, Mark Canha and Eduardo Escobar, (New York Post) the Mets have had an exciting first few games and have certainly proven their place at the top of the National League. Rumors of the team taking beloved Yankee Aaron Judge away from the Bronx were also recently put to rest when contract negotiations between the Mets and Judge fell through (Bleacher Report).
The West is once again a toss up between San Francisco and Los Angeles, with both teams starting out the season strong. They both only have two losses so far this season. The Dodgers secured a fourth win in a row on Jackie Robinson day, where Max Muncy hit a double followed by a two-out base hit by Chris Taylor, bringing home Muncy. They had another run in the third on a Trea Turner triple and Gavin Lux scored. Turner also hit a 99-mph fastball in the sixth-inning in the Saturday game against the Reds, for a two-run homer (Dodger Insider).
San Francisco is off to a similarly successful start of what is sure to be an eventful season. Brandon Belt is currently 9-for-24 (.375 average) with five runs and seven RBIs (runs batted in) through six games, as he was surely a huge help in the Giant’s recent successes (MLB). The Giants’ pitching has also famously been elite, and this showed again on Saturday at their game against the Guardians.
Every club in baseball is surely thrilled to be baclk after such a long break. For many baseball fans, we are just thrilled to even be here, as for a while, a season was not even guaranteed. The odds lie with the above-mentioned teams, but if there's one thing I’ve learned from baseball, it’s that anything can happen in a moment's notice. The season's fate truly hangs in the balance, and fans around the country will be watching over these next few weeks as one of the most exciting seasons yet takes off at a galloping pace.