One Month In and the Mariners Already Lost 11-4 to Minnesota: Here's Who's Actually Thriving in April

We're a full month into the 2026 season and baseball is already wild. The Mets lost 12 straight games. The Phillies nearly matched that with 10 losses in a row. The Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and five coaching staffers after a rough start, leaving shortstop Trevor Story asking what the franchise's actual direction even is. And those were supposed to be the good teams this year.

Meanwhile, some legitimately bonkers stuff is happening on the other end of the spectrum. A starting pitcher just posted one of the best Aprils ever recorded. There's a relief pitcher who might genuinely never give up a run again. Mike Trout looks 10 years younger than he did last season. And a Japanese slugger is on pace for 64 home runs,and it's not Shohei Ohtani.

Who's Actually Showing Up in April

Only two of those four players made the April All-Star team, but that's not the whole story. The Braves' Drake Baldwin is following up his 2025 Rookie of the Year campaign with a huge start to 2026. The left-handed-hitting catcher is looking like an elite bat who'll make multiple All-Star appearances. He can turn on fastballs like nobody's business, and yeah, he chases pitches outside the zone sometimes, but his above-average plate discipline is real.

The Seattle Reality Check

The Mariners fell hard to Minnesota, losing 11-4 in their latest matchup. That's the kind of early season gut punch that can set a tone real quick. While other teams are finding their footing and some guys are straight up mashing, Seattle's got work to do to get right.

A month is still early, but the gaps between the thriving teams and the ones struggling are already pretty obvious. The question is whether the Mariners can turn it around before April turns into May.

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