The 2018 season has begun, and there are some teams who look like they are in midseason form, but also some teams who are already looking to turn things around.
Who’s hot
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates lost two big stars during the offseason, but they have shown that they can thrive without Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole.
The Pirates have played very well in the first few weeks of the season and currently have one of the highest team batting averages in the league.
This team did not lose a lot of offensive firepower this offseason, and it has shown in the first games of the season.
Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are off to a very hot start. After dropping the first game of the season, theu are currently riding an eight-game win streak.
The Red Sox have a team ERA of 2.69, and their offense can explode at any moment.
The Red Sox are about to face an inconsistent Yankees team, but this is the first real challenge for the Red Sox this season, so we will see how they fare against the Bronx Bombers.
Who’s not
Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have had a very rough start to the 2018 season recording just one win in the first nine games of the season.
They have played two of the top projected teams in the American League East and just wrapped up playing against the Red Sox for a second series in a matter of a week, though.
The Rays are going through the first stages of a rebuild, and it is going to be tough to bounce back in a division that is stacked with power.
Kansas City Royals
It is pretty obvious that the Royals have lost a lot of talent this offseason and that the inevitable rebuilding phase has finally begun.
The bullpen lacks that dominant factor they had in the playoff years, and the offense has failed to score in key situations. That is a very bad combination, and it will be difficult to beat even the other rebuilding teams in the division.
There is plenty of baseball left to play this season, and there is plenty of time for these teams to turn the ship around.
Cody Friesen is a junior in family studies and human services. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Collegian. Please send comments to opinion@kstatecollegian.com.
