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Arizona Diamondbacks (16-7): The toast of the NL
Forget the Cubs, Nationals or defending NL champion Los Angeles Dodgers. The Arizona Diamondbacks are the early kings of the National League.
After winning 93 games in 2017, the Snakes have opened 2018 at 16-7.
They’re hitting. They’re pitching. They’re fielding. They look, talk and slither like a top-tier franchise.
“I just think we have a good team,” veteran starter Zack Greinke told reporters. “There’s not really any holes.”
He’s right.
Colorado Rockies (14-12): Jon Gray getting shelled
Despite a 14-12 start that has them in the thick of the NL West scramble, the Colorado Rockies have to be concerned abut ostensible ace Jon Gray.
Through five starts, Gray owns a 7.09 ERA and has yielded 36 hits in 26.2 innings, including four home runs.
“I can be good 95 percent of the time but not good 5 percent of the time. It doesn’t matter, I guess,” Gray said after a tough loss to the Nationals, per Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. “I’ve got to find a way to be good right there.”
The 26-year-old was a key to Colorado’s success in 2017. The Rockies need him to bounce back.
Los Angeles Dodgers (11-12): What happened to Puig?
Since he burst on the scene with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, Yasiel Puig has been a magnet for attention.
First, it was because of his five-tool abilities. Then, it was because his declining performance and distracting antics spurred a demotion in 2016.
Last season, Puig hit 28 homers with an .833 OPS. He seemed to be on the doorstep of stardom at last.
Through 22 games in 2018, he’s hitting .195 without a home run.
The Dodgers will keep giving Puig rope based on his tantalizing skill set, but at a certain point, the bench will come calling.
San Diego Padres (9-17): Eric Hosmer looking like a toxic asset
The San Diego Padres haven’t made the playoffs since 2006 and are a rebuilding team for all intents and purposes.
Despite that, they handed an eight-year, $144 million contract to first baseman Eric Hosmer this winter.
So far, the 28-year-old has struck out 26 times in 22 games while hitting a paltry four RBI. He still has the rest of this season and multiple years after to make good on the Friars’ investment, but thus far, it appears as though San Diego should have saved its shekels.
San Francisco Giants (11-13): Mac Williamson to the rescue
When the San Francisco Giants placed veteran left fielder Hunter Pence on the disabled list with a thumb injury and called up Mac Williamson, they were hoping for an offensive spark.
So far, Williamson has been that and more.
In five games with the Giants, Williamson has clubbed three home runs. However, he was scratched from Wednesday’s game against the Nationals with a stiff neck, per Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Assuming that’s merely a minor setback, Williamson ought to be a major puzzle piece for the Giants going forward.
All statistics and contract information current through games played April 24 and courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball Reference.
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