The 2024 MLB season is about to turn four weeks old on Thursday, so it’s a good time to put a question to all 30 fanbases: How’s everyone feeling out there?
Though I can’t speak for everyone in answering this question, I do want to dive into things that would have me feeling nervous if I was a fan of a given team. Because as early as it is, alarming developments are still alarming developments.
For contenders, this is about things that should be working but which simply aren’t. For non-contenders, it’s about supposed silver linings showing some unexpected tarnish.
We’ll proceed in alphabetical order by city and check off three teams at a time.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Corbin Carroll Doesn’t Look Like Corbin Carroll
Record: 11-13, T-3rd in NL West
If the Diamondbacks have had one constant amid their up-and-down start to the season, it’s runs. Their 134 runs are the most in MLB, which is extra impressive considering that their best hitter hasn’t come online yet. That’s Carroll, who’s only batting .215 with a .593 OPS.
Skepticism shouldn’t be warranted here, yet it is. His exit velocity and even his sprint speed are both down substantially from 2023. It could be that he’s holding back. It could also be that he just doesn’t have the power and speed that he had last year.
Atlanta: This Rotation Really Couldn’t Afford to Lose Spencer Strider
Record: 15-6, 1st in NL East
It’s all well and good that Atlanta is in its customary perch atop the NL East, but it’s still working on recovering the wind that got knocked out of it when Strider underwent season-ending elbow surgery on April 12.
With that, a true ace was subtracted from a rotation that has a 4.57 ERA this season and a 5.05 ERA dating back to last year’s All-Star Game. The trade deadline could offer salvation in theory, but the summer market could be light on ace pitchers.
Baltimore Orioles: Jackson Holliday Looks Overmatched
Record: 15-7, 1st in AL East
Remember the freakout that followed when the Orioles reassigned Holliday to minor league camp in March? It was a doozy alright, as the consensus was that he was more than ready to start at second base on Opening Day.
If anything, it now looks as if waiting to call up Holliday for his debut on April 10 was too soon. He has one hit in 30 at-bats, with 16 strikeouts to boot. Patience is a virtue, as they say, but not when a 20-year-old rookie is putting up numbers like those.
Boston Red Sox: This Team Isn’t Built to Withstand So Many Injuries
Record: 13-10, T-3rd in AL East
The Red Sox have succeeded in playing above expectations, but seemingly every victory they’ve had has been of the pyrrhic variety. They lead the league in players on the injured list, and the list itself reads like a who’s-who of their best guys.
They already know Lucas Giolito and Trevor Story are out for the year, and now Triston Casas may be staring down a long absence with a rib injury. It’s a lot for any team to overcome, much less one with back-to-back losing seasons in its wake.
Chicago Cubs: The Bullpen Is Doing Its Best to Ruin Everything
Record: 13-9, 2nd in NL Central
The Cubs need a healthy Justin Steele and better offensive performances from Dansby Swanson and Cody Bellinger. But whereas such things should only require patience, fixing the bullpen may require a more aggressive strategy.
Its 3.99 ERA isn’t terrible, but it has more blown saves (6) than successful conversions (5). It’s also been the butt of some crushing defeats. Clearly, it’s not too early for president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer to be working the phones.
Chicago White Sox: Their Best Prospect Is Having a Hard Time
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This article was originally published by a syndication.bleacherreport.com . Read the Original article here. .