The 2025 Major League Baseball season may still be its infancy, but there have already been some surprises across the league.
With that in mind, here are the five biggest MLB shockers so far.
Arizona Diamondbacks’ rotation isn’t good
With a rotation paced by Corbin Burnes, Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen, the Diamondbacks were supposed to be able to match up well with their division counterparts in Los Angeles and San Diego. However, entering Tuesday’s home game against the Baltimore Orioles, Arizona’s rotation had the third-worst earned run average (ERA) in all of baseball, coming in at 6.27.
In his first two starts, Burnes has been the poster boy for Arizona’s early problems on the mound, logging a 5.79 ERA and 1.929 WHIP (both numbers almost double his career averages) over 9.1 innings. After signing a six-year, $210M deal in the offseason, Burnes is dealing with high expectations as Arizona hopes their starters turn things around soon.
Atlanta Braves are in the National League East cellar
Just one win in their first nine games? It’s strange to see the Braves falling so far behind their NL East counterparts so early, especially in a season where many expected them to compete with the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies for the top of the division.
Part of the problem in Atlanta has been the offense, with the Braves being shut out in three of their first 10 outings. As a note, the Braves went 182 consecutive games without being blanked between May 12, 2023 and June 4, 2024. That’s the fifth-longest streak in the Modern Era (dating back to 1900).
That, however, is the past. The Braves are now trying to figure out how to fix their present problems before they fall too far behind in the standings.
Los Angeles Dodgers are looking mortal
With a wealth of talent on their roster and a World Series title to defend, many expected the Dodgers to perhaps challenge for the regular-season MLB wins record (116). However, after starting the season 8-0, the Dodgers have now lost four of their last five games on an East Coast trip through Philadelphia and Washington.
The defense has looked shaky and offseason starting pitcher acquisition Blake Snell is already on the injured list. It’s way too early to panic over anything with the Dodgers, but recent games have shown that this team is beatable and a repeat is anything but inevitable.
Chicago Cubs’ catching … is a strength?
Through the team’s first 13 games, Chicago’s Miguel Amaya and Carson Kelly posted a combined .333 batting average along with a 1.030 OPS. Compare that to 2024 when Cubs catchers batted a cumulative .215 and had an OPS of .601 and you can see what a surprise it has been early on behind the plate on the North Side.
By the way, entering Monday, the current tandem of Amaya and Kelly paced MLB in runs scored with 20 and tied for the lead with 18 RBI.
All of the extensions
From Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s deal with the Toronto Blue Jays to Jackson Merrill’s payday with the San Diego Padres to the Boston Red Sox handing out two extensions, it seems the early season has been the time to lock up future stars for teams.
This season has been an outlier compared to years past when big money was doled out in the offseason or spring training. We’ve learned this year that past Opening Day deadlines for contract talks could well be a thing of the past.
