3 surprises and 2 disappointments from first month of MLB regular season

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Jason Delay (55) and second baseman Ji Hwan Bae (3) and shortstop Oneil Cruz (right) greet left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) after all players scored runs against the Chicago White Sox during the fifth inning at PNC Park. Reynolds hit a three run triple and scored on an error on the play. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

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Josh Lowe #15 of the Tampa Bay Rays is congratulated by Randy Arozarena #56, Wander Franco #5, and Yandy Diaz #2 after hitting a three run home run in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Tropicana Field on April 29, 2022 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /

MLB Surprise: Tampa Bay Rays

What a start for the Tampa Bay Rays. On The Baseball Insiders podcast, Adam Weinrib and I made the American League East a two-horse race between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays.

Then the Rays started the season 13-0 and it became apparent that we were indeed wrong. Now, entering Friday, the Rays are 21-5 and lead the division by 3.5 games.

What makes the Rays so dangerous is that they can win in numerous ways. They lead the league in OPS (.868) and are well ahead of the second-ranked Chicago Cubs (.768). They lead the league in team ERA (2.83) and that’s without Jeffery Springs, who is out for the rest of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Rival teams marvel at the Rays’ ability to develop talent with a small payroll. This season has been perhaps the greatest testament of that.

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