The Memorial Day holiday is traditionally a checkpoint for teams and players to gauge their current performance and outlook. While some finished the first third of the regular season on fire, others have been unable to heat up.
Hot
4. Steven Matz
For all the attention and praise (well-deserved, though) heaped upon teammate Noah Syndergaard, it’s the understated and smooth-throwing lefty that’s really making a statement. Tuesday night versus the White Sox was his only slip-up in recent memory. Despite that, he went 4-0 for the month — extending his unbeaten streak to seven. A 1.26 ERA and a 0.59 WHIP (not to mention just two walks) give good reason place Matz among the crowded field vying for National League Rookie of the Year.
3. Ben Zobrist
When the 35-year-old signed with the Chicago Cubs this off-season, the intent was for Zobrist to become a veteran presence and a versatile utility player on a team already loaded with young hitting talent. Well, at least for the past few weeks, he’s become the primary source of offense. Since April turned to May, Zobrist has hit .418 with 25 RBI and 16 walks. Even more startling, a man who hit 15 home runs for all of 2015 posted six during this last month.
2. Red Sox Offense
If offense is contagious, the Sox have an epidemic. First, it was Jackie Bradley Jr.’s 29-game hitting streak. But by the time Bradley’s streak had run its course on May 26, Xander Bogaerts was off and running with his. The 23-year-old surpassed his age when his run extended to 24 on Tuesday at Baltimore.
Xander Bogaerts & Jackie Bradley Jr.: 1st @RedSox teammates to have 23-game hit streaks in same season since George Burns/Dell Pratt in 1922
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 31, 2016
Throw in the three-homer performance that same night by Mookie Betts as well as consistent showings from David Ortiz, and Boston’s bats drove in 176 runs for the month while racking up a .307 average (both league-highs).
1. Clayton Kershaw
It doesn’t seem possible that he could get any better. And it doesn’t seem fair to opposing batters, either. Kershaw’s amazing display of power and control was at its peak in May: a 0.91 ERA, a WHIP of just 0.52, 65 strikeouts and only two walks over 49.2 innings. When he notched his 100th K of the season on May 29 against the Mets, he became the first in modern history to achieve this milestone against only five walks. If not for bullpen mismanagement by Dave Roberts in the eighth inning that Sunday night start in New York, his overall numbers would – remarkably – be even better.
Not
4. Ryan Howard
The Phillies may be on the upswing, but Howard is continuing to trend downward. Even though he’s never been one to hit for average throughout his long career, a .101 May batting average is still alarming (bringing him down to .154 for the season). Howard is known for power, and three home runs just doesn’t cut it. With 28 strikeouts, only seven hits and five walks, Ryan’s on-base percentage for that 31-day span is a meager .160.
3. Luke Gregerson
There’s no easy answer to the question: “what’s wrong with the Astros?” Recently, it was their closer. Gregerson began the month a pair of saves before the bottom fell out. He gave up three runs to Seattle in a loss on May 5. He blew a save opportunity against Cleveland six days later. The act was repeated twice more — six days apart. Perhaps Gregerson has righted himself over the past week, but seven earned runs in 13.2 innings over 28 days is still reason for concern.
2. White Sox and Reds Bullpen
Take your pick…if you dare. Cincinnati’s relief staff made dubious history earlier this season. From April 11 through May 5, the Reds bullpen allowed at least one run in a record 23 consecutive games. More futility came in Tuesday’s match-up with Colorado, when four relievers combined to allow three homers and 10 runs.
The Reds have the majors’ worst bullpen ERA by a margin of about 1 1/2 runs. https://t.co/nSapcZzzh0
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) June 1, 2016
As for the White Sox, the bullpen has only been a recent problem. But it wasn’t any less spectacular. During a Memorial Day weekend set with the Royals, Chicago blew late-inning leads of four, six and two — and were swept out of Kansas City.
1. Ubaldo Jimenez
It’s not very hard to figure out the most disappointing performer of May. The difficult part, though, was finding the most dreadful statistic in Jimenez’s utterly embarrassing pitching line. He recorded as many walks as strikeouts (19). He had more runs allowed (31) than innings pitched (29.1). His final ERA for the month was 8.28 — en route to losing four of his five decisions. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to read that his job security with the Orioles is wavering.