The first few weeks of any MLB season are usually some of the most exciting. Players are healthy, energized, and game 162 is months and months away. Through about two weeks of action, this 2018 season is shaping up to be fantastic and there are a few storylines that have emerged that you’ll want to keep your eye on all season.

What’s Wrong with Giancarlo Stanton

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Giancarlo Stanton is off to an awful start in the Yankee pinstripes. Through 10 games, he’s batting .167 and has 20 strikeouts, including two games where he’s struck out five times. Both of those games, the first coming in the Yankees’ home opener, Stanton was deservedly, booed. He has three homers and seven RBIs on the season, but two of those HRs and four of the RBIs came on Opening Day.

According to the ESPN Stats and Info Twitter account, Stanton is officially the first live-ball-era hitter to have two games with zero hits and five strikeouts. Again, we’re only TEN GAMES INTO THE SEASON. Something has to change, because a $25 million player needs to contribute more than that.

Shohei Ohtani’s Tremendous Start

After a rough Spring Training, many MLB pundits were wondering if Shohei Ohtani had the goods to be in the Angels starting rotation and many more others weren’t convinced that he could hit at the Major League level either. Through 11 games, he’s proving everyone wrong about both his pitching and hitting.

On the mound, Ohtani has blown batters away. He’s 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA along with 18 strikeouts. His second start was brilliant, as he took a 12-strikeout no-hitter into the seventh inning. As a hitter, he’s been equally impressive. In 19 plate appearances, he has seven hits, three homers, and seven RBIs. He currently sits at a .389 batting average. He’s a big reason why the Angels are off to an 8-3 start in the AL West.

Mets Off to Hot Start

Sitting atop the NL East – with just one loss on the season thus far – the New York Mets are playing some wonderful team baseball. Currently at 8-1, the Mets have matched the franchise record for best start to an MLB season. It has a lot to do with the stellar play both at the plate and on the mound.

The pitching has been fantastic, especially the bullpen. Closer Jeurys Familia is already up to five saves and hasn’t surrendered a single run. As a whole, the Mets bullpen has just a 1.21 ERA. The starters have been solid, as well. Noah Syndergaard is 2-0 with a 3.94 ERA but has a 5.50 strikeout-to-walk ratio (22 SOs, 4 BBs). Jacob deGrom is also 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA and 12 strikeouts.

Let’s not forget about the bats, though. The Mets are averaging nearly 4.8 runs per game thanks to the solid hitting of Asdrubal Cabrera (.324 batting average), Amed Rosario (.296 BA, 6 RBIs), and Jay Bruce (.278 BA, 6 RBIs). The entire roster has stepped up, fighting through the struggles of stars Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto.

No World Series Hangover for Houston

If you were hoping that this young Houston Astros team to suffer from a World Series hangover, you’re probably pretty disappointing right now. Atop the AL West, the Astros have gotten off to a hot start, winning nine of the first 11 games. Carlos Correa has looked fantastic at the plate, batting .333 with two homers and nine RBIs. Right fielder Josh Reddick has picked up the slack of the middle of the order – Alex Bregman, Fisher, and Marisnick all have sub-.200 BAs – batting .346 with three home runs and seven RBIs.

Pitching has been extremely good, as well. In Justin Verlander’s first full season with Houston, he hasn’t missed a step. Verlander is 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA and 23 strikeouts. He has a 5.75 strikout-to-walk ratio. Gerrit Cole (0.64 ERA) and Charlie Morton (0.00 ERA) both have proved extremely hard to hit and, once Dallas Keuchel can get going, the Astros will have arguably the best rotation in baseball.

If everyone stays healthy, Houston has a legitimate shot to get back to the World Series.

It’s early days for this MLB season but there’s certainly a lot to watch for through the next several months. As always, check back to TBA for more MLB content and find tickets to your favorite team’s games on the SeatGeek app.