There has been no shortage of surprising developments in the 2024 season. Whether they are good or bad developments, or on the player or team-wide level, there are plenty of trends that have already shifted the arc of this season.
With the help of each club’s MLB.com beat writer, here are the most surprising developments for each team.
American League East
Blue Jays: An underperforming bullpen
There has been no shortage of surprising developments in the 2024 season. Whether they are good or bad developments, or on the player or team-wide level, there are plenty of trends that have already shifted the arc of this season.
With the help of each club’s MLB.com beat writer, here are the most surprising developments for each team.
The following numbers are entering Wednesday’s games.
American League East
Blue Jays: An underperforming bullpen
Save for the departure of Jordan Hicks, Toronto’s relief corps looks very similar to the one that ended 2023 with MLB’s eight-best bullpen ERA (3.68). The group entered Wednesday with an MLB-worst 5.27 ERA. Erik Swanson has struggled since being activated on April 16, allowing 11 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, and the Blue Jays have yet to see real dominance from guys like Tim Mayza and Jordan Romano. One bright spot has been Yimi García (0.68 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings), but he hasn’t pitched since April 28 with a lower-back issue. — Julia Kreuz
Orioles: The rotation has thrived despite numerous key injuries
Kyle Bradish (right UCL sprain) and John Means (left forearm strain) both started the season on the injured list before making their 2024 debuts last week. Grayson Rodriguez (right shoulder inflammation) and Tyler Wells (right elbow inflammation) are now on the IL. Despite the injuries, the rotation has been a strength, recording a 3.21 ERA through 35 games that ranked fifth in MLB and third in the AL. Baltimore knew it would get consistent strong outings from new ace Corbin Burnes and other top starters, but Cole Irvin (a 2.86 ERA through six starts and currently on a career-long 20 2/3-inning scoreless streak) has been better than expected. — Jake Rill.
Rays: Who’s kept them afloat
The Rays battled through the first month of the season without a bunch of key contributors, including left-handed hitters Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe and Jonathan Aranda, while All-Stars Yandy Díaz and Randy Arozarena scuffled through dramatic season-opening slumps and their bullpen was a surprising weakness. But they’re hovering right around .500 thanks mostly to quality starting pitching, Isaac Paredes’ steady production and some unexpected offensive contributions from newcomers Ben Rortvedt (.813 OPS), Richie Palacios (.846), José Caballero (.694, 14 steals), Amed Rosario (.758) and Jonny DeLuca (1.172). — Adam Berry
There has been no shortage of surprising developments in the 2024 season. Whether they are good or bad developments, or on the player or team-wide level, there are plenty of trends that have already shifted the arc of this season.
With the help of each club’s MLB.com beat writer, here are the most surprising developments for each team.
The following numbers are entering Wednesday’s game.
American League East
Blue Jays: An underperforming bullpen
Save for the departure of Jordan Hicks, Toronto’s relief corps looks very similar to the one that ended 2023 with MLB’s eight-best bullpen ERA (3.68). The group entered Wednesday with an MLB-worst 5.27 ERA. Erik Swanson has struggled since being activated on April 16, allowing 11 earned runs in 6 1/3 innings, and the Blue Jays have yet to see real dominance from guys like Tim Mayza and Jordan Romano. One bright spot has been Yimi García (0.68 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 13 1/3 innings), but he hasn’t pitched since April 28 with a lower-back issue. — Julia Kreuz
Orioles: The rotation has thrived despite numerous key injuries
Kyle Bradish (right UCL sprain) and John Means (left forearm strain) both started the season on the injured list before making their 2024 debuts last week. Grayson Rodriguez (right shoulder inflammation) and Tyler Wells (right elbow inflammation) are now on the IL. Despite the injuries, the rotation has been a strength, recording a 3.21 ERA through 35 games that ranked fifth in MLB and third in the AL. Baltimore knew it would get consistent strong outings from new ace Corbin Burnes and other top starters, but Cole Irvin (a 2.86 ERA through six starts and currently on a career-long 20 2/3-inning scoreless streak) has been better than expected. — Jake Rill
Rays: Who’s kept them afloat
The Rays battled through the first month of the season without a bunch of key contributors, including left-handed hitters Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe and Jonathan Aranda, while All-Stars Yandy Díaz and Randy Arozarena scuffled through dramatic season-opening slumps and their bullpen was a surprising weakness. But they’re hovering right around .500 thanks mostly to quality starting pitching, Isaac Paredes’ steady production and some unexpected offensive contributions from newcomers Ben Rortvedt (.813 OPS), Richie Palacios (.846), José Caballero (.694, 14 steals), Amed Rosario (.758) and Jonny DeLuca (1.172). — Adam Berry
Red Sox: The rotation is their overwhelming strength
The rotation that pretty much everyone outside the walls of the Red Sox questioned all winter and into Spring Training continues to dominate. Through their first 36 games, the rotation posted a 2.13 ERA, the best in MLB by nearly a half-run. Pitching coach Andrew Bailey has changed the mindset of a young group to pound the strike zone early in the count. Kutter Crawford (1.75 ERA) and Tanner Houck (1.99 ERA) have been the biggest success stories so far. Even with Nick Pivetta, Brayan Bello and Garrett Whitlock all on the injured list at the same time, the group continued to thrive. Pivetta returned this week, and Bello and Whitlock should be back soon. — Ian Browne
Yankees: Aaron Judge’s early-season slump
The Yankees superstar spending most of the first month of the season under the Mendoza Line is the last thing you would expect. But that’s exactly where Judge was (actually, he was batting .197 as recently as May 2). This has been Judge’s slowest start to a season ever, by far. Entering 2024, he had a career .296 batting average, .586 slugging percentage and .978 OPS in the month of April. This season? A .207 average, .414 slugging and .754 OPS. Of course, the Yankees have picked up their captain — they have the most wins in the American League. — David Adler
