USA TODAY International Edition
Conforto rebounds; Hendricks struggles
We are just about a month into the 2017 baseball season, and injuries have begun to nail every team — fantasy and big league — not to mention the slumps and streaks to make us jump for joy or run and hide. ( Note: Statistics through Sunday.)
Sizzlers
OF Michael Conforto, New York Mets: After a disappointing 2016 (. 220, .310 on- base percentage), the youngster’s hot start has him in the right place at the right time with Lucas Duda hitting the disabled list. Given a chance to play every day, Conforto homered in two of the three weekend games against the Washington Nationals, raising his average to .361 with four home runs and eight RBI.
OF- SS Taylor Motter, Seattle Mariners: The American League’s hair answer to the Mets’ Noah Syndergaard, Motter, 27, has hit .255 with five homers and 12 RBI. He played more outfield last season but has added shortstop eligibility filling in for Jean Segura ( 13 games at shortstop). Even when Segura comes back, Motter’s versatility could keep him in the lineup, especially with former starting center fielder Leonys Martin having been designated for assignment.
RP Trevor Rosenthal, St. Louis Cardinals: Hamstring and shoulder injuries cost Rosenthal the closer’s job to Seung Hwan Oh last season. But he’s back to 100% and throwing 100 mph. Rosenthal got a save April 19 after struggling Oh ( 5.59 ERA) had worked back- to- back days.
SP Amir Garrett, Cincinnati Reds: The Reds seem to have a bunch of solid young pitchers, but none seems to have Garrett’s upside. The 24- year old rookie has been nothing short of lights- out with 21 strikeouts in 192⁄3 innings, with two wins and a 1.83 ERA.
1B Mitch Moreland, Boston Red Sox: He has settled in nicely with his new team, posting a .315 average with two homers, nine RBI and a major league- leading 11 doubles.
Fizzlers
SP Kyle Hendricks, Chicago Cubs: After two increasingly solid seasons, a correction could have been expected for 2016’ s National League ERA champion ( 2.13). He has gone into reverse with a 1- 1 record, 6.19 ERA and 1.38 WHIP ( walks plus hits allowed per inning pitched).
SP Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles: Beginning the season as his team’s No. 1 starter, Gausman has one quality start ( at least six innings with three earned runs or fewer) in his first five. His ERA ( 7.50) and WHIP ( 2.04) are bad enough, but 17 strikeouts and 15 walks in 24 innings could indicate larger mechanical or health issues.
1B Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins: Last season seemed like a resurgence, but in reality he knocked in only 49 runs over 134 games. This year the 34year- old is hitting .222 with six RBI and an on- base- plus- slugging percentage ( OPS) of .523.
1B Tommy Joseph, Philadelphia Phillies: Joseph had a nice rookie run that featured 21 homers and came into 2017 as the unquestioned starter. But a .200/. 250/. 291 slash line ( batting average/ on- base percentage/ slugging percentage) with a homer and seven RBI could test the team’s patience.
3B Jose Reyes, Mets: Reyes might have had his glory days with the Mets, but he could soon lose playing time, even with injuries to David Wright and Wilmer Flores. A manager can only endure a .104 batting average and nothing else over 19 games.