Fansided

Five surprises of the 2015 MLB season so far

By Jeff Weisinger

May 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
May 15, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (27) celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning against the Toronto Blue Jays at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 11, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA;New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) celebrates with first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) after a home run by Teixeira in the ninth inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA;New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez (13) celebrates with first baseman Mark Teixeira (25) after a home run by Teixeira in the ninth inning of the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Dyer-USA TODAY Sports /

New York is still Yankee territory, thanks to A-Rod?

While the Mets have gotten off to a very fast and solid start this year, the cross-town Yankees have found a way to get off to a fast-start of their own, something nobody saw coming when the season started.

The Bronx Bombers are 21-16, a game ahead of Tampa Bay in the AL East.

Overall, they haven’t been too special in the AL at the plate.  The Yanks are ninth in batting average (.247), but when they hit, they hit hard.  New York is second in home runs (44) thanks to the solid hitting of both Mark Teixiera, who leads the team with 11 home runs, and Alex Rodriguez, who’s second on the team with nine homers.

A-Rod may be the most interesting man of the lineup.  For a guy who hasn’t played in a year, Rodriguez has been very impressive so far as the team’s designated hitter, hitting .250 in 34 games with the previously-mentioned nine home runs and 21 RBI.  Whether or not he can keep up this pace for an entire season seems to be a stretch, however A-Rod, surprisingly enough has been “the straw stirring the Yankees’ drink” through the first month of the season.

On the mound, the Yanks have gotten some solid pitching from the middle of the rotation from both Nathan Eovaldi (3-1, 4.14 ERA, 31 K) and Michael Pineda (5-1, 3.31 ERA, 55 K).

Next: Top 30 Leadoff Hitters Of All Time

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