The 2025 MLB season’s been a rollercoaster already. Some of the league’s top teams and players are off to rough starts, and fans are left wondering what on earth is going on.
The All-Star break is still more than a month away. There’s time for things to change, but the early struggles of the Braves, Orioles, Rangers, and stars like Juan Soto, Sandy Alcantara, and Willy Adames stand out.
Let’s dig into these disappointing starts and see if these problems might stick around, or if there’s hope for a turnaround.
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Juan Soto’s Struggles: Real or Just Bad Luck?
Juan Soto, who was ESPN’s top free agent this past offseason, has had a rocky start with the Mets. Right now, he’s batting .233/.361/.438 with 11 home runs and 30 RBIs in 60 games—definitely not what folks expected.
But is this just a cold streak, or something to worry about? There’s actually some evidence that Soto’s just running into some bad luck.
Statcast Analysis
Statcast data paints a different picture for Soto. His expected numbers look way better than what he’s actually putting up:
- 2025 expected average: .299
- 2025 actual average: .233
- 2025 expected slugging: .590
- 2025 actual slugging: .438
Several of his hardest-hit balls have turned into outs thanks to great defense or just plain bad luck. On April 30, he hit a 112.7 mph lineout to deep right-center. Statcast gave it an expected batting average of .750, but the outfielder was right there to grab it.
Willy Adames and Anthony Santander: Early Signs of Trouble?
Willy Adames and Anthony Santander, both high-profile free agents, are struggling too. Adames, now with the Giants, is hitting .203/.293/.320 with five home runs. Santander, playing for the Blue Jays, sits at .179/.273/.304 with six home runs.
Defensive and Offensive Concerns
Adames’ defense is a problem—he’s in the 11th percentile for outs above average and dead last among shortstops with minus-7 defensive runs saved. Santander’s hard-hit rate has dropped from the 77th percentile in 2023 to just 41st in 2025, and now he’s on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.
Relief Pitcher Struggles: Tanner Scott and Sandy Alcantara
Relief pitchers Tanner Scott and Sandy Alcantara have taken a step back too. Scott, now with the Dodgers, has a 4.55 ERA and hitters are batting .260 against him, which is a big change from his past seasons.
Alcantara, coming off Tommy John surgery, has a 7.89 ERA and a minus-1.4 WAR. That’s a rough line, any way you slice it.
Scott’s Decline
Scott’s fastball is down a tick, losing 1 mph. His whiff rate has dropped from 29% last season to 20% in 2025.
Even though he’s walking fewer batters, hitters are squaring him up more often. That doesn’t bode well for his future as a dominant reliever.
Alcantara’s Command Issues
Alcantara’s still got good stuff and velocity, but his command just isn’t there, especially against lefties. The Marlins hoped to trade him for prospects, but with a 7.89 ERA and trouble getting left-handers out, that’s not happening right now.
Team Struggles: Braves, Orioles, and Rangers
The Braves, Orioles, and Rangers all look shaky so far in 2025. Offenses are sputtering, and the Orioles in particular can’t catch a break with their rotation injuries.
Braves’ Offensive Woes
The Braves are averaging just 4.05 runs per game. That’s a big drop from their 5.85 runs per game in 2023.
Ronald Acuña Jr. is supposed to help when he returns, but the lineup just doesn’t have the same spark as before.
Rangers’ Offensive Collapse
The Rangers’ offense has been rough to watch, putting up just 3.36 runs per game. Their pitching—led by Nathan Eovaldi, Tyler Mahle, and Jacob deGrom—has been solid, but the bats aren’t holding up their end.
They’re sitting below .500, and unless something changes, it’s hard to see that improving.
Orioles’ Downfall
The Orioles have been hit hard by rotation injuries. Key hitters like Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman aren’t living up to expectations either.
The team fired manager Brandon Hyde in mid-May, but honestly, their problems go way deeper than just who’s filling out the lineup card.
Verdict: Real
The Orioles have playoff odds under 2%. At this point, it’s probably too late for them to turn things around.
They just don’t have enough pitching depth. The offense keeps struggling, and honestly, this season looks like it’s headed toward 100 losses.
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