Memorial Day is one of the most important American holidays. It is a day of reflection and a chance to honor the brave men and women of the US Military who made the ultimate sacrifice to keep us free. It is also an important milestone on the MLB calendar. Historically, 58% of teams that are in first place in their division on Memorial Day go on to win that division. It is the perfect time to assess the MLB landscape and get a sense of how the rest of the season will go for teams and players. Here is who has been the best, the worst, the most surprising, and the biggest disappointment.
The Best
Team: Atlanta Braves- After a disappointing 2025 season, the Atlanta Braves are back. Over the first month and a half of the season, the Braves have dominated, earning a record of 38-16. This is the best record in the MLB at this point. The strength of this Braves team has been the pitching. Chris Sale and Bryce Elder have been the aces of the staff, with both having ERAs under two. They have also baffled hitters, having opposing averages under .200. Their bullpen has also been lights out, anchored by Rasiel Iglesias, who has not allowed a run in 15 innings. Everything that could go right has gone right, and it will carry them to another NL East crown.
Player: Cam Schlittler, NYY- The New York Yankees have found the new ace of their rotation. After a cup of coffee last season, Cam Schlittler has been the best starter in baseball. In 11 starts, he has pitched 66 innings to a MLB-low 1.50 ERA and 0.854 WHIP. He also has 66 strikeouts to 13 walks, and an ERA+ of 274. Schlittler’s pitch mix of a four-seamer, cutter, and sinker has been lethal this season. With all of these pitches sitting at over 94 mph, hitters have had a hard time making contact. The three pitches have produced a .177 opposing batting average. It looks like Schlitter is a lock for the AL Cy Young Award.
The Worst
Team: Los Angeles Angels- You can make the case for either the Colorado Rockies or the Los Angeles Angels being the worst team in the MLB. But the Rockies have a few pieces that can become part of a future core. Something you can not say about the Angels right now. Sure, there are some interesting players like Jose Soriano, Zach Neto, and Nolan Schanuel, but outside of them, it’s a bunch of aging veterans who have struggled this season. There is also no one the Angels can trade at the deadline to bring back anything exciting. The only thing Angels fans have is that Mike Trout has been healthy this season.
Player: Bo Bichette, NYM- Bo Bichette was expected to be a key contributor to the New York Mets offense. But at this point, Bichette looks like one of the worst free agent signings in franchise history. In 54 games, he has slashed .227/.274/.323 with five home runs, 27 RBIs, and a 72 OPS+. What’s most concerning is how overmatched he’s been against fastballs this season. He has a .222 batting average against fastballs this season, an 85-point drop from last season. Sure, he’s had some bad luck, but with such a drastic drop off, it’s a sign of regression or a flawed approach. The Mets definitely have buyer’s remorse on Bichette right now.
Most Surprising
Team: Tampa Bay Rays- Going into the season, many did not have high hopes for the Tampa Bay Rays. Many felt they had a thin roster that would struggle to contend in a tough AL East. However, they are currently one of the best teams in the MLB. They are currently 34-17, leading the AL East and have the highest win total in the American League. Their rotation has been the key to their success. The three-headed monster of Nick Martinez, Shane McClanahan, and Drew Rasmussen has been very efficient in keeping opposing teams off the board. It has taken pressure off the offense and allowed some of their young players to take the next step.
Player: Jordan Walker, STL- Few MLB fans could have expected the season that Jordan Walker is having. In 51 games, he has slashed .297/.367/.585 with 15 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a 172 OPS+. It is the most success he’s had over his four years in the MLB. The biggest reason for this breakout has been Walker making much better contact. He has a 16.4 Barrel%, which ranks in the 94th percentile. This is a 28% jump from last season. He’s also hitting balls in the air 60.7% of his at-bats, the best mark of his career. This has led to more extra-base hits and balls leaving the yard. He’s a big reason why the St. Louis Cardinals are in a playoff spot.
Biggest Disappointment
Team: New York Mets- Despite a rollercoaster offseason, the Mets were expected to be a playoff team. Many felt they had enough talent to take one of the wild-card spots or potentially win the NL East. But after 54 games, those takes look silly. The Mets are 22-32 and have been one of the worst teams in baseball. Their season fell apart when they went on a 12-game losing streak, in which the Mets were unable to buy a run. While they have shown flashes, it’s always one step forward, two steps back. While injuries have been a problem, they did not look good when everyone was healthy. It’s going to be a long summer in Queens.
Player:Â Fernando Tatis Jr., SD-Â Fernando Tatis Jr. is in the middle of one of the weirdest seasons we’ve seen in the MLB. Tatis is in the middle of his worst statistical season since 2023. He has slashed .255/.338/.297 with 16 RBIs and an 83 OPS+. But what’s most concerning is the fact that Tatis has not hit a home run this season. Tatis has been hitting the ball, but he has been hitting it on the ground. He has a groundball rate of 53.1% and a launch angle of 0.8. He has not been able to make solid contact when putting the ball in the air. A couple of tweaks to his approach and swing can fix this power outage.
