After starting on April 7th this year, Major League Baseball (MLB) in underway after a delay due to the lockout of players following the expiration of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA).
The New York Mets, New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Angels have made a strong start being the first three sides to reach h20 wins so far.
The Texas Rangers went huge in free agency and unfortunately for them its really not paying off. After spending $581 million on talent are way off the pace in the AL West, and at time of writing have 11 wind and 16 defeats.
A fantastic free-agency story can be found in Chicago, after the Cubs brought in Seiya Suzuki on an $85 million deal. He has stepped into MLB as a star from the Japanese League, and his early form have him looking set to be a star in the United States as well.
Last season’s World Series winners, the Atlanta Braves, are sitting behind the Mets and six games back at time of writing. A new challenger seems likely and the MLB odds are steering towards the likes of the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Below are some of the most exciting teams to watch throughout the rest of the season:
Los Angeles Dodgers:
They have the best team that money can buy, with the highest payroll total in the league at $289,366,956.
The Los Angeles Dodgers are this generations New York Yankees from the 90s and 00s in terms of budget and getting star names onto the field.
Freddie Freeman was added this year from the Atlanta Braves after winning the World Series with them in 2021. He joined the Dodgers on a six-year $162 million contract and adds to the star power which will draw in the crowds every week.
While their owners have been diversifying into Premier League Club ownership with Chelsea Football Club, on the field records have been broken. Clayton Kershaw recorded the 2,697th strikeout of his career in April to break the Dodgers record set by Don Sutton which has stood across five decades.
New York Mets:
The Mets have a varied and fascinating history which consistently lends itself to the modern side. The feeling that there is always something “Metsy” coming, no matter how well the team is performing.
Since 2020 Steve Cohen has been the owner of the side having purchased them for $2.4 Billion.
Cohen has added some exciting talent to draw the crowds with the trade for Francisco Lindor in 2021, while bringing in Max Scherzer this off season, someone who was considered the best pitcher available on free agency this off season.
The players they have and the start they have made suggests things are looking good again in Queens, but the feeling of potential self-destruction is always lurking.
Pete Alonso has been in great form and his homeruns helped the Mets get back level in the May doubleheader 1-1 in Game 2 against the Philadelphia Phillies with a 6-1 win.
Toronto Blue Jays:
If you want to see your batsman swinging, then the side from north of the border are definitely ones to keep up to date with.
The Blue Jays ranked first in home runs last season while also striking out fewer times than any other side. An incredible achievement as well as something which is great to see from the fans and neutrals alike.
Kevin Gausman was signed to a five-year deal worth $110 million and has stepped up, being one of the best pitchers in MLB so far in the early stages of the season.
The Canadian side are also using a four-man outfield which is a rare shift from the standard three. In their first 30 games, they used this system from 270 pitches and bringing something different for fans to enjoy.
Los Angeles Angels:
The Angels have started brightly and their reliance on their star players though is already evident.
Shohei Ohtani is helping to carry the side to the post season in record breaking fashion. The Japanese sensation threw seven scoreless innings with 11 strikeouts in his sides 8-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox in May.
In the same game he became the first starting pitcher to bat in one of the top four spots in Fenway Park since Babe Ruth did way back on September 20, 1919.
There is a lot of pressure on Ohtani and despite being a little way off his form of last year, his side are still top of the AL West.
The season is still young, but sides are showing their potential and the excitement is raising for the race to the post season. Each team will look to its star players to bring the victories as well as the fans with their ability to change games.
So far things are looking good for teams from Los Angeles and New York, while the rest of the league looks to keep improving and challenging the favourites in their quest for the World Series.
