Five Teams Are Imploding Right Now and the Angels Might Lose 100 Games

We're barely a month into the season, but some franchises are already looking at disaster. While the Mariners are hanging tough against teams like Atlanta, there are genuinely concerning situations unfolding across baseball that go way beyond a slow start.

The Mets Made a Mess and It's Showing

David Stearns' offseason overhaul was supposed to fix the Mets' defense. Instead, it left them vulnerable despite a $352 million payroll. Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor have barely played together, managing just seven full games due to calf injuries, and the roster construction feels all wrong. The Mets finally escaped the basement after winning three of four against the Angels and Rockies, but needing to pick off those two teams just to avoid the worst record in baseball? That's the definition of a problem.

Boston and Philly Took Opposite Roads and It Shows

Both teams fired their managers early, but the Phillies looked smart while Boston looks lost. The Red Sox didn't re-sign veteran leader Alex Bregman, then apparently decided Triple-A manager Chad Tracy was ready for a major league clubhouse full of angry players. The Phillies, meanwhile, re-signed their aging veterans and started 4-0 under interim manager Don Mattingly, proving they have the postseason-tested depth and competent front office to navigate early struggles. Boston's "chief baseball officer" Craig Breslow is taking heat for decisions that have crippled the team out of the gate.

The Angels Are Headed Toward History, and Not the Good Kind

Los Angeles has the longest playoff drought in baseball and the longest streak of consecutive losing seasons despite having both Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout from 2018 through 2023. This season, Trout is actually having a renaissance year, which should be enough for the Angels to at least stay competitive in a mediocre AL. Instead, they've lost 13 of their last 15 games and sit at 13-23, the worst record in the majors. They're on pace to lose 100 games for the first time ever.

Individual Star Players Are Struggling Hard

Willy Adames and Rafael Devers were supposed to provide power for the Giants around Buster Posey's lineup of singles hitters. Instead, they've combined for just five homers and rank 161st and 163rd in OPS at .579 and .572 respectively. Adames struck out 45 times while drawing just six walks, a troubling sign after he'd increased his walk total each of the previous three seasons. Meanwhile, Cincinnati's Andrew Abbott made the All-Star team last season but his ERA has ballooned to 5.97, seventh-worst in the NL among pitchers with 30 innings thrown. He's also striking out just 6.2 batters per nine innings, the lowest mark of his career.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.