It’s May 1 and that means it’s time for Baseball Roundtable’s traditional previous month wrap up – statistics, standings and stories that caught BBRT’s eye over the previous month as well as the BBRT Players and Pitches of the Month and the BBRT Trot index. This post will cover March and April. Here’s the kind of thing you’ll read about – if you last to the end of the post.
- Kind of a surprise. When you look at stolen base total through April 30, only seven teams had at least 20 thefts – and six of them were in the American League.
- The Dodgers’s Cody Bellinger led all of MLB in on-base percentage through April – just north of .500 (.508). He, in fact, led in almost every offensive category.
- Diamondbacks’ right-hander Zack Greinke not only won five games om March/April, he went .375 at the plate (six-for-sixteen, with two doubles, a triple and two home runs – scoring five times and driving in four). Just more #WhyIHateTheDH.
- 2018 was the first season in which we saw more strikeouts than base hits in major league baseball. In March/April, there were 7,748 strikeouts and 7,221 base hits.
- We saw three different MLB players commit three errors in an inning.
- We saw a player, appropriately named KieBOOM, homer in his first MLB at bat.
- C.C. Sabathia became just the third southpaw to reach 3,000 strikeouts and Albert Pujols passed Lou Gehrig and Barry Bonds on the all-time RBI list.
Life Just Ain’t Fair
The Blue Jays’ Marcus Stroman pit up a 1.43 ERA in six March/April starts and won one, while losing three. The Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff put up a 5.17 ERA in six starts and won three, while losing one.
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BBRT NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE MONTH – Cody Bellinger, Dodgers, 1B/RF
Photo by DandreaPhotography 
No contest here, the Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger has had a monster start to his season. As of April 30, the 23-year-old, left-handed hitter led the major leagues in batting average (.431), hits (47) home runs (14); RBI (37); run scored (32) on-base percentage (.508); slugging percentage (.890) and total bases (97). In addition, he’d walked more times (19) than he had struck out (15). The 6’4”, 203-pounder has already had 15 multi-hit games this season – in which he has played in all 31 Dodger games (starting 30). In addition, his 14 home runs ties the MLB record for home runs before May 1; his 37 RBI are the most-ever before May 1.
Contenders: That Bellinger is BBRT’s NL Player of the month is no surprise. What is surprising is that he had competition. Last year’s NL MVP Christian Yelich also came out of the gate swinging – putting up a March/April line of .353-14-34 in 29 games. In addition, Yelich swiped six bases in six tries, to Bellinger’s five in eight attempts.
Side note: Four of Bellinger’s home runs and eight of his RBI came in March – so Alex Rodriguez and Albert Pujols continue to share the record for April home runs at 14. Similarly, Juan Gonzalez’ April RBI mark of 35 still stands. Bellinger and the Brewers’ Christian Yelich share the NL March RBI record (8), with the Mariners’ Domingo Santana holding the AL and overall MLB March RBI record at 10. All three totals were achieved this March. Bellinger also holds a share of the March home run record at four. Others with four March homers include the A’s Khris Davis, Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt and Brewers’ Christian Yelich. Again all four four-homer March outbursts came this season.
BBRT NATIONAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH – Luis Castillo, RHP, Reds
The 6’2”, 190-pound righty started seven games in March/April, going 3-1 for the last-place Reds and chalking up MLB’s third-lowest qualifying earned run average at 1.45. He also was one of just six pitchers to fan 50 batters (50 exactly) by April 30; and his 43 1/3 innings pitched were MLB’s sixth most.
Castillo never gave up more than two runs in any of his starts – and his lone loss was a 1-0 defeat (versus the Brewers), when he went seven innings and gave up just one run on one hit, while walking four and fanning nine.
Contenders: It was a close call between Luis Castillo and Padres’ closer Kirby Yates and the Diamondbacks’ Zack Greinke. Yates, who led all of MLB with 14 March/April saves (in 14 opportunities), fanned 25 batters in 16 innings and put up a 0.56 ERA. Zach Greinke of the Diamondbacks (5-1, 3.27 with 46 strikeouts in 44 innings) was also in the running. Castillo’s overall body of work – six starts of two runs or less gave him the edge.
BBRT AMERICAN LEAGUE PLAYER OF THE MONTH – Tim Anderson, SS, White Sox
Photo by Keith Allison
Anderson put it all together this March/April. His .375 average led the AL, his 21 runs scored and 36 hits were each sixth and his ten stolen bases in ten tries led the league – and he added six home runs and 18 RBI.
Contenders: Seattle’S Domingo Santana – .292, with six homers and a AL-best 30 RBI – deserved a look; as did the Rangers’ Elvis Andrus (.361-5-20, with five steals and an AL-leading 39 hits through April) and the Orioles’ Trey Mancini (.355-6-14, with 39 hits and 23 runs). It was close, but Anderson’s 10-for-10 on the base paths swayed me.
BBRT AMERICAN LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH – Tyler Glasnow, RHP, Rays
Glasnow was one of just four MLB pitchers to win five games in March/April – going 5-0 in six starts. In addition, the 6’8” power pitcher put up a 1.75 earned run average (second-best among AL qualifiers) and fanned 38 batters in 36 innings – while walking just seven. Glasnow is a bit of a surprise (he came into the 2019 season with an MLB career record of 4-16, 5.35). It now appears a change in his windup has helped Glasnow harness his high-90s fastball
Contenders: BBRT looked at the Yankees’ Domingo German, who stepped into a depleted NY rotation and went 5-1, 2.56 in six March/April appearances (5 starts). German walked nine and fanned 32 in 31 2/3 innings. Coming into the season, German was 2-7 5.22 in 28 MLB appearances (14 starts). Still, he had shown promise with 120 strikeouts in 100 MLB innings – and a 2.64 ERA in eight minor league seasons. Then, there was the Mariners’ Marco Gonzalez, who went 5-1, 2.80 in seven March/April starts – fanning 34 in 45 innings. Among these three five-game winners, Glasnow had the best overall numbers.
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TROT INDEX … A REGULAR BBRT FEATURE
Through April, 37.0 percent of all MLB’s 33,296 2019 plate appearances ended in a trot (back to the dugout, around the bases, to first base). We’re talking about strikeouts, home runs, walks, hit by pitch and catcher’s interference – all outcomes that are, basically, devoid of action on the base paths or in the field. Here’s the breakout: strikeouts (23.3%); Walks (9.2%); home runs (3.4%); HBP (1.1%); Catcher’s Interference (less than .001%). Personally, I’d like more action in the field of play.
For the 2018 season, 34.8 percent of all MLB’s 185,139 plate appearances ended in a trot.
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If the season ended April 30, Your playoff teams would be …
NL: Phillies; Cardinals; Dodgers. Wild Cards: Diamondbacks & Padres.
AL: Twins; Rays; Astros. Wild Cards: Yankees & Indians.
The Best and Worst of Teams
Only five teams played .600 or better ball in March/April: Rays (.679); Cardinals (.655); Twins (.630); Dodgers (.633); Astros (.600).
The biggest surprise here is probably the Rays, who have leveraged their pitching into MLB’s best 2019 winning percentage. The Rays put up MLB’s best ERA over the period at 2.95, while scoring the 17th most runs. The Rays’ staff was led by starters Tyler Glasnow (5-0, 1.75); Charlie Morton (3-0, 2.76); and Blake Snell (2-2, 2.54). Their unique approach to pitching (openers versus starters on some bullpen days) also enabled Ryne Stanek (1.20 ERA in 15 innings, 12 games, seven starts) and Yonny Chironos (3.48 ERA, four wins/no losses, in six game, three starts and 31 innings) to contribute.
Three teams played under .400 ball through April: Marlins (.276); Royals (.310); and Orioles (.333). No surprises here. The Orioles had MLB’s worst ERA through April at 6.05, with the Royals third-worst at 5.39. The Marlins are a bit better on the mound (10th-worst at 4.70), but you’ll find them at the bottom of baseball in runs scored with 82. By comparison, the Mariners scored 189 runs through April 30. 
—–LEAGUE LEADERS – TEAMS —–
(as of May 1, 2019)
RUNS SCORED … MLB Team Average – 135
AL: Mariners (189); Rangers (166); Yankees (156)
NL: Dodgers (174); Cardinals (158); D-backs (158)
The Marlins scored an MLB-low 82 runs in March/April. The Tigers were at the bottom of the AL with 94. Other teams scoring fewer than 100 runs through April were the Giants (96) and the Pirates (90).
BATTING AVERAGE … MLB Team Average – .245
AL: Astros (.271); White Sox (.263); Rangers (.260)
NL: Cardinals (.267); Braves (.266); D-backs (.265)
Only three teams were hitting below .220 through April: Reds (.212); Giants (.214); and Indians (.215)
HOME RUNS … MLB Team Average – 38
AL: Mariners (60); Twins (50); Astros (48)
NL: Brewers (57); Dodgers (52); Nationals & Padres (43)
If you want to see long balls, avoid the Tigers, Pirates and Marlins, with league-low home run totals of 21, 23 and 23, respectively.
STOLEN BASES … MLB Team Average – 14
AL: Royals (29); Mariners (25); Rangers (25)
NL: Nationals (20); Brewers (16); Cardinals (16)
BATTERS’ STRIKEOUTS … MLB Team Average – 258
AL: Mariners (317); Blue Jays (284); Rays (276)
NL: Brewers (293); Padres (287); Rockies (287)
Angels’ hitter fanned an MLB-fewest 177 times through April. No other team fanned fewer than 200 times. The Pirates were the lowest in the NL at 238.
WALKS DRAWN … MLB Average – 99
AL: Mariners (136); Yankees (115); Astros (115)
NL: Dodgers (139); Phillies (128); Braves (126)
Who crowds the plate? The Cubs led MLB in hit-by-pitch through April at 21 (the MLB team average was 12).
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EARNED RUN AVERAGE … MLB Average – 4.36
AL: Rays (2.95); Blue Jays (3.36); Astros (3.37)
NL: Reds (3.39); Padres (3.47); Pirates (3.55)
One team finished April with an ERA over 6.00 – the Orioles at 6.05.
STRIKEOUTS … MLB Average – 258
AL: Red Sox (284); Astros (284); Rays (.280)
NL: Mets (281); Dodgers (270); Nationals (278)
It’s a New ERA.
Tampa Bay, with it’s combination of traditional starters, openers and bullpen days had the lowest starter’s earned run average at 2.04 – more than a run better than the second-best Blue Jays (3.16). The White Sox were at the other end of the spectrum with an MLB-high 6.18 starters’ ERA through April.
The Astros boasted the lowest bullpen earned run average at 2.91 (the only bullpen under 3.00). Meanwhile, the Orioles’ pen lit more fires than they put out; with an ERA though April of 6.59. Side note: The Rays bullpen had the ninth-best ERA through April at 3.86.
SAVES … MLB Average – 8
AL: Mariners (12); Rays (12); Tigers (12)
NL: Padres (15); Cardinals (13); Dodgers & D-backs (10)
The Twins had the highest March/April save conversion rate (90.9 percent – 10 saves in 11 opportunities). The Brewers led the NL at 81.8 percent (9-for-11). The Royals are at the bottom of this list, with just four saves in 12 opportunities (33.3 percent conversion).
FEWEST WALKS SURRENDERED … MLB Average – 102
AL: Astros (74); Rays (81); Twins (89)
NL: Pirates (75); Giants (84); Padres (84)
The Indians were the only team to average at least 10 strikeouts per nine innings through April – at 10.18. The Astros were at the top of the heap in strikeouts-to-walks ratio at 3.84.
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Now let’s look at some of the highlights of the month – and then the individual statistics.
OPENER IN JAPAN
The first game of the 2019 MLB season took place on March 20 – in Tokyo, Japan. MLB tried to fool us all by calling it the first game of the “Opening Series,” but it was – in fact – the Opening Day of the new season. (Note: It was the earliest regular-season MLB game ever.) The two-game Opening Series was, of course, a tribute to sure Hall of Famer Ichiro Suzuki – who hadn’t played in an MLB game since last May and announced his retirement after the two-game match up was completed. (For BBRT’s thought on the turn of events, click here.)
Game One of 2019 was slug fest, won by the Mariners 9-7. It featured home runs by Mariners’ SS Tim Beckham and LF Domingo Santana; and long balls by A’s DH Khris Davis, 1B Matt Chapman and RF Steve Piscotty. True to last season’s first (the first MLB season with more strikeouts than base hits), there were 18 whiffs and 16 hits. Seattle, by the way, also won Game Two – by a 5-4 score.
DODGERS SET NEW OPENING DAY DINGER MARK
The Dodgers topped the Diamondbacks (in LA) on Opening Day (March 28) by a 12-5 score. In the process, the Dodgers smacked an Opening Day single-team home run record with eight long balls. Joc Pederson and Enrique Hernandez each went deep twice, while Corey Seager, Max Muncy, Cody Bellinger and Austin Barnes added one apiece.
BELLINGER TIES ONE OF THOSE OBSCURE MARKS
The Dodgers’ Cody Bellinger had six home runs and 16 RBI through the first eight games of the season, which (according to STATS) has only been accomplished twice before: by Eddie Mathews (Braves) in 1953 and Alex Rodriguez (team) in 2007. After the contest, Bellinger noted “That’s cool to be with A-Rod.” His did not mention my favorite all-time player – Eddie Mathews. So, I decided to give Eddie a shout out in this post.
THE BASEBALL VERSION OF THE DOUBLE-DOUBLE
On March 28, for just the second time in MLB history, both starting pitchers in an Opening Day game notched double-digit strike outs. Of course, it should be no surprise, they were the 2018 National League Cy Young Award Winner (Jacob deGrom) and a three-time CYA winner and 2018 runner-up Max Scherzer.
As the Mets topped the Nationals 2-0, deGrom got the win – going six scoreless innings, with five hits, on walk and ten whiffs. Scherzer took the loss, despite giving up just two hits (and two earned runs) in 7 2/3 frames, with three walks and 12 strikeouts.
The only other time two hurlers notched double-digit whiffs on Opening Day was April 7, 1970, when the Orioles topped the Indians 8-2 in Cleveland. Orioles’ starter Dave McNally went the distance, giving up two runs on four hits, with three walks and 13 strikeouts. Cleveland starter Sam McDowell went 6 1/3 innings before walking the bases loaded with one out in the seventh. In his 6 1/3 frames, McDowell (who took the loss) was credited with giving up three earned runs on three hits, with five walks and eleven strikeouts.
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
On Saturday March 30, the Dodgers made short work of the Diamondbacks, leading 5-1 by the third inning, 11-2 by the end of the sixth and 11-3 going into the bottom of the seventh. That’s when D-backs’ manager Torey Lovullo went, not to his bullpen, but to his bench – bringing backup catcher John Ryan Murphy to the mound. Murphy did pretty well in the bottom of the seventh. Despite giving up a walk and two singles, he held the Dodgers scoreless. The eighth was a little more difficult, as Murphy gave up seven runs on six hits and two walks. Not be outdone, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts also brought a catcher off the bench and to the mound – calling on veteran backstop Russell Martin to protect an 18-3 lead. Martin got out of the inning (ground out, ground out, fly out) on ten pitches (eight strikes).
Notably, neither Murphy nor Martin had ever pitched in an MLB game before.
THREE FOR THE ROAD
Yipes! Between 2013 and 2018, only one player was guilty of committing three errors in an inning. Already this season, that has happened, appropriately, three times.
March 30 – Mariners’ 3B Dylan Moore
April 5 – Mariners’ SS Tim Beckham
April 8 – Pirates’ SS Kevin Newman
FOUR IN THE FOURTH
On September 13/14, 1986, , Giants’ catcher Bob Brenly found himself playing third base (due to an injury). In the fourth inning of that game (against the Braves) Brenly tied an MLB record by making four errors in one inning. Others “accomplishing” this feat include: Milwaukee’s James T. Burke – May 27, 1901; Cubs’ SS Leonard Meruello – September 13, 1942; and Indians’ SS Ray Chapman – June 20, 1914.
Brenly, by the way, did hit a pair of homers (four RBI) in the Giants 7-6 win.
MORE #WhyIHateTheDH
Photo by jnashboulden
On April 2, Diamondback starting pitcher Zack Grienke went six innings, giving up three runs on six hits and striking out ten, as the D-backs topped the Padres 8-5 in San Diego. Oh yes, and Greinke also hit two home runs and drove home four tallies.
BETTER BRING A CROWBAR IF JACK MORRIS IS ON THE MOUND
On April 4, Cleveland’s Trevor Bauer had a no-hitter going after seven innings – with the Indians leading 4-0. After seven, he had tossed 117 pitches and Indians’ skipper Terry Francona pulled him from the game. (The no-hitter was broken up in the top of the ninth.)
Not saying if it was right or wrong, but try to imagine what it would have taken to get the horsehide out of Jack Morris’ hand after seven no-hit frames.
TEE (off) FOR TWO
On April 8, Mariners Edwin Encarnacion hit his third and fourth home runs of the 2019 season. For the day, Encarnacion was two-for-four with two runs scored and four RBI. Of importance is the fact that they both came in the sixth inning of Seattle’s 13-5 win over the Royals. Of, perhaps, even more importance is that it was the second time in his career that Encarnacion has one deep twice in tone inning. And, that ties an MLB record. 
SPEED KILLS
On April 9, Royals’ CF Billy Hamilton found a somewhat unique way to “take that extra base.” In a game against Seattle, Hamilton, one of MLB’s fastest players, was on second, via an error, in the bottom of the third inning, when Aldaberto Mondesi sent a drive to the warning track in center field. Mariners’ center fielder Mallex Smith made a tumbling catch and Hamilton – off with the catch – rounded third and never broke stride; scoring from second base on a sacrifice fly.
13 LUCKY FOR CHRIS DAVIS
On April 13, the Orioles’ Chris Davis ended an MLB-record 54-at bat hitless streak that stretched all the way back to September 14 of 2018. Davis’ hit (off Red Sox’ starter Rick Porcello) came in the top of the first inning – a single to short right-center that plated two Orioles’ runs. Davis ended the game (a 9-6 Orioles win) with three hits (two double and a single), four RBI and, very likely, a sigh of relief.
YIPES! IN BASEBALL WE DO COUNT EVERYTHING
Photo by haydenschiff
On April 17, MLB.com reported that – in the eighth inning of a 3-2 loss to the Dodgers in LA – Reds’ 1B Joey Votto popped up to first base. According to MLB.com, it was the first time Votto had popped up to first base in his career 6,829 plate appearances. For trivia buffs, the pitcher was Pedro Baez, the pitch a change up and the pop up was caught by Cody Bellinger. Stop the insanity!
GOING OUT IN STYLE
From March 20 through April 16, the Mariners went deep in every game they played – an MLB-record 20 straight games (to start a season) with at least one home run. During those 20 games, the Mariners went 13-7, putting up a .270 average, with 42 home runs and 132 runs scored. When the streak ended, it ended in style – with the Cleveland Indians’ Carlos Carrasco (eight innings) and Nick Wittgren (one inning) shutting out the Mariners on just three hits (two walks and 14 strikeouts).
During the streak, a dozen different players went deep for Seattle. Here are their streak totals.
Jay Bruce 8 home runs
Dan Vogelbach 6
Edwin Encarnacion 5
Mitch Haniger 5
Tim Beckham 4
Domingo Santana 4
Ryon Healy 3
Omar Narvaez 3
Dee Gordon 1
Dylan Moore 1
Tom Murphy 1
Mallex Smith 1
SOMEBODY HAS TO BE FIRST
On April 14, the Rockies’ German Marquez threw the first complete game of the 2019 MLB season, a sparking one-hitter (nine strikeouts) – as the Rox topped the Giants 4-0 in San Francisco. By the end of April, MLB had seen only five 2019 complete games.
ONLY ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION – UPON REVIEW
On April 19, Cardinals’ rookie Lane Thomas was called on to pinch hit with two outs and one Redbird on base and the Cardinals trailing the Mets 5-1 in the sixth inning. It was the rookie prospect’s first MLB at bat. He made his appearances at the plate count, smacking an 0-1 slider form Seth Lugo that just cleared the RF wall. (It actually took an umpires’ review to confirm that home run.) Thomas became the 121st MLB player and just the tenth Cardinal to homer on his first at bat. For more on first-at bat homers, click here.
FREDDY GALVIS CATCH – A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS
PUTTING UP A BIG NUMBER
Photo by apardavila
On April 26, the Nationals’ Max Scherzer entered the sixth inning of his game against the Padres with 2,499 strikeouts. He went to work and whiffed the first Padres’ batter of the frame (Manuel Margot) on three pitches , then followed up by fanning Matt Strahm and Fernando Tatis, Jr. on a total of eight more pitches. He ended the night with ten strikeouts in seven innings and 2,503 for his career. In the process, he became the 35th pitcher to reach 2,500 whiffs in MLB history and he did it in 344 games – faster than any pitches except Randy Johnson (313 appearances) and Nolan Ryan (338). That’s pretty good company. (Side note: Scherzer has led the N L in strikeouts in each of the past three seasons and has seven consecutive seasons of 230+ whiffs, with a high of 300 in 2018.)
PUTTING UP A BIGGER NUMBER
Photo by Keith Allison
On the last day in April, the Yankees’ C.C. Sabathia became just the 17th MLB pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts – and only the third left hander. He started the game – against the D-backs – with 2,997 career whiffs. He did not notch a strikeout in the first two innings, but fanned the side in the third (David Peralta, Christian Walker and John Ryan Murphy) – around a home run and a single – to reach 3,000. (Like Max Scherzer, see above tidbit, Sabathia fanned the side in the landmark inning.) Sabathia gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings, ultimately fanning five. He took the loss in a 3-1 D-backs’ victory. The only other southpaws to fan 3,000 hitters are Steve Carlton and Randy Johnson.
WELL, SHUT ME OUT
C.C. Sabathia is the only pitcher ever to lead both the National and American Leagues in complete-game shutouts in the same season. In 2008. he started the season with the Cleveland Indians and was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on July 7. He went 6-8, 3.83 with Cleveland and tossed two shutouts (good enough to tie for the American League lead). He then went 11-2, 1.65 with the Brewers and tossed three more shutouts (good enough to tie for the NL lead.)
Kie-BOOM
On April 26, the Nationals’ 21-year-old rookie shortstop Carter Kieboom made his first MLB start – batting, by the way, in the number-nine hole behind pitcher Max Scherzer. Leading off the bottom of the eighth (against the padres’ Craig Stammen) Carter went kieBOOM – hitting a home run to deep CF for his first MLB hit. Side note: Carter is not the first Kieboom to play for the Nationals. His brother Spencer (a catcher) spent time with the Washington club in 2016 and 2018.
ONE FOR THE BOOKS
On April 28, When Zack Eflin tossed a complete game 5-1 win over the Marlins, it was the first Phillies’ complete game since September 10, 2017. In fact, Eflin now has as many complete games this season as the Phillies had in 2017 and 2018 combined. That, of course, would be one. Eflin gave up seven hits and one earned run over the nine innings – throwing 77 strikes in 107 pitches.
YOUTH WILL BE SERVED
On April 28, the Nationals’ Juan Soto, Victor Robles and Carter Kieboom each homered for Washington, who topped the Padres 7-6. It was the first time that three players 21-years-old or younger homered in the same MLB games (according to Elias). The three youngsters (Soto – 20; Robles – 21 and Kieboom – 21) drove in five of the National seven tallies. More of #InBaseballWeCountEverything.
ANOTHER BIG NUMBER
Albert Pujols began the 2019 season with 1,982 RBI – good for eighth place on the all-time RBI list. He drove in 15 runners in March April, bringing his career total to 1,997 – and moving him past Lou Gehrig (1,995) and Barry Bonds (1,996) into fifth place. Next up, Cap Anson at 2, 075. Pujols has had 14 100+ RBI season in his 19-season MLB career – tying Alex Rodriguez for the most 100 RBI seasons all-time.
NOW FOR THE INDIVIDUAL MARCH/APRIL LEADERS
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—INDIVIDUAL LEADERS FOR MARCH/APRIL 2019—
BATTING AVERAGE (qualifying hitters)
AL: Tim Anderson, White Sox (.375); Elvis Andrus, Rangers (.361); Trey Mancini, Orioles (.355)
NL: Cody Bellinger (.431); Jeff McNeil, Mets (.370): Christian Yelich, Brewers (.353)
The lowest average among qualifying players belongs to the Red Sox’ Jackie Bradley, Jr. at .148 (13-for-88). In the NL, that dubious distinction goes to the Pirates’ Francisco Cervelli at .175 (14-for-80).
HOME RUNS
AL: Eddie Rosario, Twins (11); Khris Davis, A’s (10); Joey Gallo, Rangers (10)
NL: Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (14); Christian Yelich, Brewers (14); Marcell Ozuna, Cardinals (10); Joc Pederson, Dodgers (10)
The Red Sox Rafael Devers had the most most March/April at bats without a home run (102).
RUNS BATTED IN
AL: Domingo Santana, Mariners (30); Luke Voit, Yankees (25); Joey Gallo, Rangers (25)
NL: Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (37); Christian Yelich, Brewers (34); Marcell Ozuna, Cardinals (28)
The Dodgers’s Cody Bellinger (who else) led all of MLB with a .508 on-base percentage through April. Mike Trout led the AL at .481.
RUNS SCORED
AL: Mitch Haniger, Mariners (28); Trey Mancini, Orioles (23); three with 22
NL: Cody Bellinger, Dodgers (32); Christian Yelich, Brewers (26); Paul DeJong, Cardinals (26)
STOLEN BASES
AL: Tim Anderson, White Sox (10); Jose Ramirez, Indians (9); four with 8
NL: Victor Robles, Nationals (7); Trevor Story, Rockies (6); Fernando Tatis, Jr., Padres (6); Christian Yelich, Brewers (6)
BATTER’S STRIKEOUTS
AL: Jorge Soler, Royals (45); Domingo Santana, Mariners (38); Joey Gallo, Rangers (38)
NL: Wil Meyers, Padres (39); Bryce Harper, Phillies (38); Travis Shaw, Brewers (38)
Mike Trout of the Angels had the best ratio of walks-to-strikeouts at 2.07 (the only player with twice as many walks as whiffs) – 29 walks/14 strikeouts.
WALKS DRAWN
AL: Mike Trout, Angels (29); Alex Bregman, Astros (22); Tommy Pham, Rays & Joey Gallo, Rangers (21)
NL: Bryce Harper, Phillies (23); Andrew McCutchen, Phillies (23); Michael Conforto, Mets (22)
In March/April, no one wore a bigger target than the Phillies Maikel Franco, hit by a pitch an MLB-high eight times. Next, at six, were the Angels’ Mike Trout and the Brewers’ Christian Yelich. Pretty good company.
PITCHING VICTORIES
AL: Tyler Glasnow, Rays (5-0); Marco Gonzalez, Mariners (5-0); Domingo German, Yankees (5-1)
NL: Zack Greinke, D-backs (5-1); Jake Arrieta, Phillies (4-2); many with three
No one lost more games in March/April than the Red Sox Chris Sale, who went 0-5, 6.30. Ouch!
EARNED RUN AVERAGE (qualifying)
AL: Marc Stroman, Blue Jays (1.43); Tyler Glasnow, Rays (1.75); Aaron Sanchez, Blue Jays (2.32)
NL: Zach Davies, Brewers (1.38); Luis Castillo, Reds (1.45); Chris Paddock, Padres (1.91)
STRIKEOUTS
AL: Gerrit Cole, Astros (65 – 43 1/3 innings pitched); Trevor Bauer, Indians (55 – in 47 2/3 IP); Justin Verlander, Astros (53 – 44 IP)
NL: Max Scherzer, Nationals (54 – 39 1/3 IP); Luis Castillo, Reds (50 – in 43 1/3 IP); Stephen Strasburg, Nationals (48 – 37 2/3 IP)
Among pitchers with at least 20 innings pitched in March/April, Mets’ starter Jacob deGrom had the highest rate of strikeouts per nine innings at 14.48 (43 strikeouts in 26 innings). The high K-rate translated to a 2-3 record and 4.85 ERA.
Others meeting the 20-inning threshold and fanning 13 or more batters per nine inning were the Astros’ Gerrit Cole (13.38); Indians’ Carlos Carrasco (13.34); and Yankees’ James Paxton (13.24). Cole was 1-4, 4.71; Carrasco was 2-3, 5.86. Paxton was 3-2, 3.38.
SAVES
AL: Shane Greene, Tigers (12); Brad Hand, Indians (9); Robert Osuna, Astros & Ken Giles, Blue Jays (7)
NL: Kevin Yates, Padres (14); Kenley Jansen, Dodgers (10); Jordan Hicks, Dodgers (9)
INNINGS PITCHED
AL: Trevor Bauer (47.2); Marco Gonzalez, Mariners (44); Justin Verlander, Astros (44)
NL: German Marquez, Rockies (45); Zack Greinke, D-backs (44); Luis Castillo, Reds (43 1/3)
GAMES PITCHED
AL: Joakim Soria, A’s (16); Hansel Robles, Angels (16); many with 15
NL: Alex Claudio, Brewers (17); six with 16
Primary Resources: Baseball-Reference.com; Baseball-Almanac.com; MLB.com
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