What every workforce discovered within the season’s first month

On Opening Day, questions abound. Some golf equipment have greater than others, however every has its personal distinctive set of unknowns coming into the brand new season. Now that we’re one month into the 2023 marketing campaign, lots of these questions have been, or are nicely on their method to being answered. With the assistance of all 30 MLB.com beat writers, here is a have a look at one factor every workforce discovered within the first month of the common season:

Blue Jays: The rotation is simply nice
Entering the 12 months, one of many greater worries round this Blue Jays roster was how José Berríos and Yusei Kikuchi would maintain up on the again finish. Not solely had been each coming off poor seasons, however with Hyun Jin Ryu nonetheless months away from coming back from Tommy John surgical procedure and No. 1 prospect Ricky Tiedemann nonetheless needing extra polish within the Minor Leagues, the “next man up” wasn’t precisely knocking on the door. Berríos and Kikuchi have been two of this membership’s higher tales, although, exceeding all exterior expectations and solidifying a rotation that’s all of the sudden a transparent energy after stumbling early. — Keegan Matheson

Orioles: The 2022 success wasn’t a fluke
Baltimore outperformed expectations final 12 months when it remained within the postseason chase all September and completed with 83 wins, solely three video games out of an AL Wild Card spot. After a comparatively quiet offseason, the Orioles had skeptics coming into 2023, questioning whether or not they did sufficient to construct on their ’22 success. So far, the O’s are proving they’re simply nearly as good as they had been late final season — and perhaps even higher, due to the continued growth of their younger core. Through 28 video games, Baltimore is 19-9. The solely years in workforce historical past by which it began higher had been 1969 and ’70, every of which it started 20-8. — Jake Rill

Rays: The lineup is simply nice
All the alarming traits on show in the course of the Rays’ season-ending hunch final 12 months? All the pursuits of a veteran hitter that yielded no outcomes final offseason? All distant reminiscences now. The Rays’ unbelievable run prevention isn’t any shock, however right here they’re a month into the season main the Majors in runs scored (195), OPS (.879) and residential runs (61). Who noticed that coming? They’ll have to show themselves in opposition to elite competitors — 4 of their first 5 losses had been to the Blue Jays and Astros — however they already appear to be a playoff lock due to the best way Yandy Díaz, Wander Franco, Randy Arozarena, Brandon Lowe and Co. are hitting. — Adam Berry

Red Sox: There is numerous combat within the lineup
While the Red Sox are nonetheless making an attempt to get the beginning rotation sorted out, the offense has constructed an identification as a relentless group that’s by no means out of a sport. On Saturday, the Sox pulled out their MLB-leading tenth comeback win of the season, and third of the walk-off selection. Boston ranks third within the Majors in runs (163), is tied for second in doubles (62) and tied for eighth in homers (37). Rafael Devers, Alex Verdugo, Masataka Yoshida and Jarren Duran have been key contributors to a lineup that misplaced red-hot Adam Duvall on April 9 to a fractured left wrist. — Ian Browne

Yankees: Left subject has been disregarded
The Yankees’ punchless offense is a priority, particularly contemplating they’re with out Giancarlo Stanton and (not less than for a short time) Aaron Judge. They’ve been getting little manufacturing from the No. 5-No. 9 spots within the order, however let’s zoom in on left subject, which common supervisor Brian Cashman recognized as an space of want this previous offseason. When Andrew Benintendi got here off the board in free company, the Yanks primarily stood pat and hoped to generate manufacturing from inside. Oswaldo Cabrera, Aaron Hicks, Willie Calhoun and Franchy Cordero have acquired alternatives, however to date none have been the reply. Jake Bauers was swinging a sizzling bat at Triple-A, however he damage his knee in his first inning after being known as up, and a commerce for the Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds is off the desk. So … what’s subsequent? — Bryan Hoch

Guardians: It’s time to belief the youngsters … once more
The Guardians have had extra hiccups of their rotation than they’ve needed to take care of in latest reminiscence, whether or not it’s accidents or hurlers getting off to sluggish begins. In the previous couple of weeks, the workforce tried to fight these woes by as soon as once more turning to the subsequent technology of expertise. Cleveland added Peyton Battenfield into the rotation and he’s gotten off to a comparatively robust begin to his profession. He was key in opening the door to the highest prospects who had been knocking. The workforce’s No. 8 prospect, Logan Allen, made his debut final week and have become the sixth pitcher in membership historical past to report not less than eight strikeouts in a debut. Three days later, No. 5 prospect Tanner Bibee did the identical, turning into the seventh pitcher to report not less than eight strikeouts in his first profession begin. And with No. 2 prospect Gavin Williams persevering with his dominance in Triple-A Columbus, the rotation may change into a complete lot youthful — and extra electrical — within the close to future. — Mandy Bell

Royals: Edward Olivares is an on a regular basis participant
Olivares confirmed flashes of his hit instrument in 2021 and ’22 earlier than hamstring points sidelined him for a lot of the season. The Royals are dedicated to seeing how he matches of their lineup for years to come back, and to this point, he’s proven how essential he will be for the way forward for the membership. The 27-year-old outfielder is hitting .289/.344/.482 and annoyed the Twins over the weekend along with his means to hit any pitch in any depend within the zone. He’s made strides along with his strike zone consciousness, and the Royals be ok with his means on the plate. They’ll maintain working with him on his outfield protection and baserunning, with the hope that he can flip right into a well-rounded participant for them. — Anne Rogers

Tigers: Jake Rogers is again
Rogers was on his method to turning into the Tigers’ subsequent mainstay behind the plate when Tommy John surgical procedure halted his profession. After lacking a season and a half, Rogers has just about picked up the place he left off, not simply incomes excessive marks for his work behind the plate but in addition offering some energy on the plate. In the method, he has cut up begins with Eric Haase at catcher, serving to to stabilize what has largely been a weak spot in Detroit over the previous couple of years. — Jason Beck

Twins: The rotation depth is for actual
It’s sort of good when Kenta Maeda and Tyler Mahle can go down with accidents and the subsequent two pitchers up are a man who’s already a confirmed MLB starter with a 3.66 profession ERA (Bailey Ober) and the back-to-back organizational Minor League pitcher of the 12 months (Louie Varland). It’s even nicer when the rotation is helmed by Sonny Gray — the certified MLB chief in ERA — flanked by Pablo López and Joe Ryan. That makes for a pitching workers that’s tied for first within the Majors in WAR, per FanGraphs (4.8), and the very best rotation in baseball by that metric (3.8). — Do-Hyoung Park

White Sox: Last 12 months’s disappointment has carried over
The workforce modified managers, with Pedro Grifol taking on for bench coach Miguel Cairo, who changed Tony La Russa on the finish of the 2022 season as a result of sickness for the Hall of Famer. But the White Sox’s outcomes even have grown worse. The ’22 squad by no means fell greater than 5 video games under .500, nor rose greater than 5 video games above .500, whereas this present model has misplaced 10 of 11 and is 8-21 to this point this season. They have handled accidents to key gamers akin to shortstop Tim Anderson and third baseman Yoán Moncada, whereas nearer Liam Hendriks is working his method again after therapy for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But on this supposed window of competition following the rebuild, the White Sox have simply two general playoff victories and have already got dug a deep gap in ’23. — Scott Merkin

Angels: The added offensive depth has paid off
The Angels bolstered their depth this offseason, buying and selling for veteran outfielder Hunter Renfroe and infielder Gio Urshela, whereas signing infielder Brandon Drury to a two-year deal. Renfroe has been one of many membership’s finest hitters, as he’s tied for the workforce lead in homers with Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout and leads the membership in RBIs. Urshela has been constant all season, hitting for common and taking part in stable protection throughout the diamond. Drury acquired off to a sluggish begin however has been heating up over the past week and has additionally introduced versatility to the infield. The Angels had been damage by their lack of depth final 12 months and it’s been key for them this season, particularly after outrighting veteran David Fletcher off the 40-man roster. — Rhett Bollinger

Astros: Hunter Brown is the true deal
The Astros’ high prospect coming into the season, Brown has been dazzling within the Houston rotation. The 24-year-old right-hander wasn’t even assured a rotation spot coming into Spring Training, however an harm to Lance McCullers Jr. opened the door. Brown is 3-0 with a 2.37 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in his first 5 begins, together with three begins by which he pitched seven innings and didn’t enable an earned run. Brown’s high-90s fastball, onerous slider and large curveball generate numerous swing and miss and delicate contact. He’s struck out 32 batters and walked 10 in 30 1/3 innings and has put himself in early competition for the AL Rookie of the Year Award. — Brian McTaggart

Athletics: Brent Rooker is without doubt one of the high hitters in baseball
A former first-round choose by the Twins, Rooker is taking full benefit of his first actual alternative at common taking part in time in Oakland. Rooker’s .779 slugging proportion leads all Major League hitters with not less than 80 plate appearances, and his 9 homers are third-most within the AL and fifth-most within the Majors. For a rebuilding A’s membership searching for to establish gamers who will help them past 2023, Rooker is actually rising as a long-term middle-of-the-order risk. — Martín Gallegos

Mariners: Their one-run magic hasn’t been there
After main the Majors in one-run victories in each 2021 (33) and ’22 (34), they’ve fallen to 3-9 in such contests in 2023, by far essentially the most such losses within the class in baseball this 12 months. A regression right here was most likely at all times destined, but it surely’s been eye-opening to see it this stark. The Mariners nonetheless have an elite bullpen for these high-stakes moments late in video games, however they sorely want extra constant run manufacturing to again it. — Daniel Kramer

Rangers: Josh Jung is the true deal
The rookie third baseman slashed .204/.235/.418 in 26 large league video games on the finish of final season, however he’s greater than regarded the half this 12 months, filling a void the membership has had on the sizzling nook since Adrián Beltré’s retirement. Jung has reached base in 20 of the 26 video games he’s performed on this season and ranks within the high three amongst certified AL rookies in dwelling runs (6), slugging (.500), hits (27), extra-base hits (11), whole bases (44), batting common (.270) and OPS (.824). — Kennedi Landry

Braves: Ronald Acuña Jr. is again
No longer restricted by the lingering results of ACL surgical procedure, Acuña is once more one of the crucial dynamic gamers the sport has ever seen. His MLB-leading 13 steals create cause to consider he’ll make one other robust run on the 40-homer/40-steal membership he completed three stolen bases shy of becoming a member of in 2019. His .986 OPS via 27 video games additionally confirms he has once more change into one in all baseball’s most harmful hitters. If he stays wholesome, he ought to be a high MVP candidate. — Mark Bowman

Marlins: Luis Arraez can hit
Sure, Arraez received the 2022 AL batting title, however there hasn’t been a studying curve transferring over to the NL. He leads the Majors in common (.438) and on-base proportion (.500) amongst certified hitters. Arraez has not less than one hit in all however three of his 23 begins and 12 multi-hit video games. The solely issues that slowed him down — by his requirements — had been a laceration on his left index finger and a bruised left knee. — Christina De Nicola

Mets: The lineup wants extra thump
Over time, the pitching workers figures to regular itself as gamers return from harm. But energy manufacturing figures to be a lingering difficulty for the Mets, who’ve a 7-2 report when Pete Alonso homers, and an 8-10 mark when he doesn’t. Alonso has accounted for 10 of the Mets’ 27 homers, the most important proportion of any workforce’s lengthy ball manufacturing. If that development continues, the Mets might have to look onerous at a DH acquisition earlier than the Trade Deadline. — Anthony DiComo

Nationals: MacKenzie Gore appears to be like like a future ace
Gore was on the injured listing when the Nationals acquired him from the Padres within the Juan Soto commerce final August. The left-hander didn’t make his Nats debut till this season, and the 2017 third general Draft choose has carried out as marketed. He is 3-1 with a 3.00 ERA and 35 strikeouts whereas holding opponents to a .200 batting common in his first 5 begins. Gore tied his profession excessive with 10 strikeouts on Wednesday in opposition to the Mets. — Jessica Camerato

Phillies: José Alvarado is an elite reliever
It was a toss-up between this or “Kevin Long is the best hitting coach in baseball,” given what he’s executed with Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh and Cristian Pache (earlier than his harm). But it needs to be Alvarado. Keep in thoughts, this is identical left-hander who was demoted to the Minors in May final season with a 7.62 ERA. But since returning three weeks later, Alvarado has a 1.43 ERA whereas racking up 88 strikeouts to simply 14 walks over 50 1/3 innings. As for this 12 months particularly, he is allowed only one run over 12 1/3 innings (0.73 ERA), all whereas placing out 24 of the 43 batters he is confronted — and strolling zero. — Todd Zolecki

Brewers: Defense wins video games
The Brewers had a hunch they’d be improved defensively with free agent pickup Brian Anderson taking part in third base and proper subject, and rookies Garrett Mitchell, Brice Turang and Joey Wiemer utilizing their velocity. But they didn’t essentially count on to be the No. 1 protection in baseball by defensive runs saved, even after dropping Mitchell to a season-ending shoulder harm. Anderson has been terrific at two positions, and Turang’s vary has made a giant distinction with groups now not in a position to load up infielders on one aspect of the sector. The dramatic enchancment made by first-year catcher William Contreras has additionally helped Milwaukee make the bounce. — Adam McCalvy

Cardinals: The pitching depth isn’t fairly what that they had hoped
For a workforce that entered the season with World Series hopes, the primary month of the season has been a reasonably jarring kick within the intestine. A rotation that’s nonetheless awaiting Adam Wainwright’s return has been underwhelming. The starters have mixed for simply 4 high quality begins and are among the many worst staffs within the league in placing hitters away with two strikes. Things haven’t settled within the bullpen, both. There has been a run of blown saves, seemingly a byproduct of the workforce’s late-inning relievers not getting constant work. — John Denton

Cubs: Offense is healthier than anticipated
Manager David Ross has been in a position to roll out a constant entrance 4 of Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki, whereas mixing and matching the remainder of the best way. Hoerner has been a tone-setter along with his elite contact means, whereas absolutely embracing the velocity component when on base. The likes of Cody Bellinger and Patrick Wisdom have offered much-needed energy for a lineup that was anticipated to be largely a gap-to-gap group. Altogether, the Cubs’ offense boasts a 117 wRC+ as a unit, rating first within the NL and third in MLB behind the Rangers (120) and the Rays (150). — Jordan Bastian

Pirates: This workforce is enjoyable
Few folks outdoors the Pirates’ clubhouse would’ve envisioned this workforce being amongst baseball’s finest, however over the primary month of the season, the Bucs stand as the very best workforce within the NL. The rotation is racking up high quality begins, the place gamers are racking up steals, the bats are racking up blasts and the workforce is racking up wins. Between their pitcher of the sport Pikachu, dwelling run sword, dwelling run jacket and postgame win celebration, they’re having no scarcity of enjoyable, too. — Justice delos Santos

Reds: The workforce’s protection isn’t as much as par
According to Statcast, the membership ranks on the backside of MLB of their proportion of turning groundballs into outs and close to the underside in Outs Above Average. Shortstop Jose Barrero has regressed in 2023. Second baseman Jonathan India could make the routine performs however lacks vary. The workforce has combined and matched at first base with out Joey Votto, however their finest infielder may be Wil Myers, who performed about half his video games as an outfielder this month. Reds pitchers may use extra assist behind them to keep away from giving opponents additional outs. — Mark Sheldon

D-backs: Zac Gallen could also be even higher than he was final season
Gallen is driving a 28-inning scoreless streak, which remains to be a methods away from the 44 1/3-inning streak he put collectively final 12 months. But D-backs supervisor Torey Lovullo thinks Gallen has been extra dominant throughout this one. A perfectionist, Gallen is consistently seeking to get higher and by some means after final 12 months’s excellent season, he appears to be doing simply that. — Steve Gilbert

Dodgers: James Outman is a legit NL Rookie of the Year candidate
Outman was the final place participant to make the roster out of Spring Training, however the 25-year-old rookie has been one of the crucial constant hitters in an in any other case inconsistent Dodgers lineup. Outman wants to chop down on his strikeouts with the intention to keep this degree of manufacturing, however his seven homers in March/April are essentially the most by a Dodgers rookie to start out a season. — Juan Toribio

Giants: J.D. Davis deserves to play daily
Davis didn’t seem to have a transparent path to taking part in commonly at the start of the season, however he’s entrenched himself because the Giants’ beginning third baseman after batting .289 with an .885 OPS and 6 homers over his first 24 video games. Perhaps extra stunning has been his much-improved protection at third, the place he’s at the moment tied for second within the Majors with 4 Outs Above Average this 12 months. — Maria Guardado

Padres: Juan Soto’s swing shouldn’t be but mounted
Soto torched opposing pitchers this spring throughout Cactus League play and within the World Baseball Classic. But his early struggles within the common season have him looking for solutions once more, as he tries to get better his means to drive the ball to the alternative subject with authority. Before going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles in opposition to the Giants on Sunday, Soto was hitting .219/.378/.385 since becoming a member of the Padres – first rate numbers for anybody else, however nicely under his profession marks. Then once more, that is Juan Soto. He’s nonetheless taking his walks and reaching base. When he will get that swing ironed out — opposing pitchers beware. — AJ Cassavell

Rockies: Key guys not producing results in a messy scenario
C.J. Cron was the primary 2023 NL Player of the Week, however he has cratered since and entered Sunday with a .681 OPS — although in a hopeful signal for the Rockies, he went 3-for-5 with a double and a homer in opposition to the D-backs to finish the month of April. Charlie Blackmon and Ryan McMahon, who’ve had thunder prior to now, haven’t been a lot better. Kris Bryant is hitting a good .297 with a .360 on-base proportion, however a .426 slugging proportion has not been almost sufficient to raise this offense. The Rockies have by no means misplaced (or received) 100 video games in a season, however negating their pure home-field benefit with a .745 dwelling OPS — to their opponents’ .900 at Coors Field — is a recipe for the unsuitable sort of triple figures. — Thomas Harding