Ten MLB Stars Off To Slow Starts This Season

These ten stars are off to slow starts this year.

We’re over around one-fifth of the way through the MLB season, and it’s safe to say these ten starts off to slow starts.

Seattle Mariners OF Julio Rodriguez

Rodriguez came into the league as a mid-year call-up in 2021 and the top prospect hit the ground running as a 6 WAR player. He’s been one of the league’s better players since, though he’s shown some regression at the plate. That’s continued into this year. He’s hitting just .212 and has an OPS under .700. That’s not good enough for a franchise player, though the offense has been humming otherwise.

Toronto Blue Jays OF Anthony Santander

Anthony Santander was one of the biggest free agent signings in the league after becoming an All-Star in Baltimore. It’s safe to say he has not played up to that level so far this year. His OPS is a dreadful .577, and he’s hitting well under the Mendoza line. So far, the contract looks like a bust.

Miami Marlins SP Sandy Alcantara

Alcantara’s return from missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery has not gone to plan. The former Cy Young has an ERA of over 8 in six starts. The Marlins are looking to trade him, but right now he’s lost a lot of his trade value.

Philadelphia Phillies 1B Bryce Harper

The Phillies are off to a solid start, but Harper hasn’t been his normal self. He has been hitting for power and getting on base at a solid rate. But, a career .280 hitter is hitting just .234 and his OPS is over 100 points lower than his career average. He needs to get it going.

Atlanta Braves SP Chris Sale

Sale rejuvenated his career in his first year in Atlanta last year, winning the NL Cy Young. But, Sale, now 36, is off to a poor start with an ERA just under 5. He’s been a bit unlucky, but he’s struggled to keep the ball in the ballpark, having surrendered five home runs already.

Baltimore Orioles SS Gunnar Henderson

Henderson, 24, has established himself as one of the league’s premier players since being called up as the game’s top prospect back in 2021. But, coming off a 9 WAR season last year, he’s really struggled at the plate. He has just 3 home runs and 5 RBI’s, and has 29 strikeouts against 6 walks. That’s contributed significantly to a slow start for Baltimore.

New York Yankees OF Cody Bellinger

Cody Bellinger has long been inconsistent. The Yankees paid a pretty penny for Bellinger after two solid years in Chicago. But, it appears he is once again struggling at the plate. He’s hitting just .200 with an OPS well under .700. That’s not the player they paid for.

Houston Astros OF Yordan Alvarez

Alvarez has long been one of the most pure hitters in all of baseball. But, that’s not the case this year. The slugger has an OPS under .700, over 300 points lower than his career average. He has just three home runs in 121 at-bats. That’s not good enough for a player of his caliber.

San Francisco Giants P Justin Verlander

Verlander, in his age 42 season, is a lock for the Hall of Fame. But, this is shaping up to be a season to forget, just like 2024. Verlander, playing for his fourth team, has pitched to a 4.38 ERA and an ERA+ well below average at just 87. This might be the legend’s last season.

Philadelphia Phillies SP Aaron Nola

Nola is a franchise icon, but he hasn’t been pitching like one in the early going. He’s got an ERA of 4.61, and continues to give up a ton of home runs, something that’s carried over from the last few years. The Phillies rotation has been solid, but Nola has been a weak spot so far.