An extended playoffs in Major League Baseball gives teams lots of tracks to recover from bad starts.
2021 Atlanta Braves won the World Series even though they did not get over .500 for the first time until August 6. 2022 The Philadelphia Phillies won the National League vault after shooting Joe Girardi after a 22-29 start.
The Phillies were succeeded as NL Champs by Arizona Diamondbacks, which was below .500 2023 as late as August 14. And a quarter of last season’s playoffs – Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros in the American League and New York Mets and San Diego Padres in NL – did not become .500 for Good for Good 30 or later.
But even shortly after the tax day, some slow starts are more about than others. Here is why teams that come in today in the last place in their division should be worried, even with 140 plus games left.
Baltimore Orioles (7-10, 3 1/2 GB)
The New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are constantly incorrect and often poorly driven, while Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay beams always extend across the border between fighting and rebuilding. So Orioles seemed foremost on a long driving on top of Al East when their long tank gave a record of 101-61 2023. But Baltimore is only 39-43 since last year’s All-Star break, and this slow start has been damaged by an al-Worst 5.29 ERA from a rotation that lacks a true essay.
Chicago White Sox (4-13, 5 1/2 GB)
April 8, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Chicago White Sox -Kannan Mike Clevinger (52) reacts during the ninth round against Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn images Fresh Off Going 41-121 last season and used ’62 Mets as the losing team in the modern era, White Sox is … in a 121 loss pace again. They will probably avoid such an unclear place in history this time, but things do not look so bright for a team that is ranked last in Majors with a .579 Ops and Zero Saves. Even 2024 White Sox had two rescues through 17 games!
Don’t call them Sacramento Athletics & Houston Astros (8-10, 3 GB)
April 2, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; Athletics Outfielder Lawrence Butler (4) puts down a bundle during the third round against Chicago Cubs in Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn images Do we live in a world where the homeless and basically ownership athletics have the rosiest view among teams in last place? The A. has the same minus-13th differential as the divisional leader Texas Rangers, while Astros-who has won Al West in each of the last seven full season-friends not won in a row. Houston recovered from a start of 12-24 last year, but the dynasty seems to be about.
Atlanta Braves (5-13, 6 GB)
April 12, 2025; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Atlanta Brave’s starting jug AJ Smith-Shawver (32) is watching from Dugout during the second round against the Tampa Bay beams at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn images We don’t have to look back too far to find a reminder of how dangerous it can be to figure out Braves. But Atlanta is 41-44 since last season’s all-star break. And the historical start of NL West’s Big Four means that Braves-which has the fourth worst era in NL and the second most strikings at the plate-can already be in the division-title or-bust mode.
Pittsburgh Pirates (7-12, 4 GB)
April 16, 2025; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirate’s starting jug Bailey Falker (6) delivers a pitch against Washington Nationals during the first round in PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles Leclaire-Imagn Pictures Imagine not winning a pennant since 1979 and recording the smallest victories in any NL team since 2000, but has a generation pitching talent like Paul Skepses … and then does absolutely nothing to take advantage of the short window where he will turn up for a small market team for a bargain. Bob Nutting, everyone! But at least the pirates are not the most hopeless team in baseball.
Colorado Rockies (3-15, 11 1/2 GB)
April 6, 2025; Denver, Colorado, USA; Colorado Rockies appointed Hitter Kris Bryant (23) hits a double in the third round against athletics at Coors Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn images The honor, as it is, belongs to rockies, which is on their way to their worst 18-game start ever when they play in a division that can send four teams to the playoffs. Rockies is ranked last in Majors with a 5.29 era, while their .526 Road Ops would be the worst ever-with almost 100 points-for a team that is notorious for its light ways outside Coo’s Field. Oh, and Kris Bryant-that has generated -1.6 wars per baseball reference since signing a seven-year agreement 13 months after Rockies ran from Future Hall of Famer Nolan Arenado-only hit IL with degenerative disk disease in the back. Other than that …
