Instead of doing a weekly recap on the last week of each month, I will be talking about players who did great in the month of April. I will also add in historic achievements that were accomplished this month.
Winners:
Starting Pitchers
Jacob deGrom- Mets
April Stats: 5 GS, 2-2, 35 IP, 0.51 ERA, 59 SO, 4 BB.
Who better to leadoff this post than Jacob deGrom! I have a feeling deGrom will be in every one of these monthly recaps. He should have easily gone 5-0 in the month, but instead went 2-2 because of lack of run support and bullpen blowups. I feel like I am beating a dead horse every time I bring up deGrom. He is must-see TV every time he pitches and is the best pitcher in the league without a doubt. Enough said.
Corbin Burnes- Brewers
April Stats: 5 GS, 2-2, 29.2 IP, 1.53 ERA, 0.545 WHIP, 49 SO, 0 BB.
What a strong start for Burnes this season. Whether it was being in a historic pitching duel with Jose Berrios through six plus innings or setting the record for most strikeouts without allowing a walk, Burnes is ascending the starting pitcher ranks very quickly.
Gerrit Cole- Yankees
April Stats: 6 GS, 4-1, 37.2 IP, 1.42 ERA, 0.717 WHIP, 62 SO, 3 BB.
The Cole Train was a Freight Train in the month of April. Cole was striking out batters left and right, being on the Yankees does not hurt either resulting in getting lots of run support. His high success rate should remain steady as we go throughout the season.
Tyler Glasnow- Rays
April Stats: 6 GS, 3-1, 37.2 IP, 1.67 ERA, 0.796 WHIP, 56 SO, 11 BB.
Glasnow had one bad start against Toronto at the end of the month where he gave up five runs over six innings. The other five starts were fantastic with Glasnow only giving up two runs in those other five starts combined. A true strikeout artist, Glasnow is a safe bet every time out to total strikeout numbers in the double-digits. I could see some regression as we go through the season, but Glasnow is a dark horse to win the AL Cy Young.
Carlos Rodon-White Sox
April Stats: GS 4, 4-0, 25 IP, 0.72 ERA, 0.640 WHIP, 36 SO, 9 BB.
I never thought in a million years I would be writing about Carlos Rodon. What a month for Rodon including a no-hitter against Cleveland. Rodon was basically untouchable in the month of April. Personally Rodon has impressed me, but given the small sample size he could blow up in the coming weeks.
Others to Consider:
Shane Bieber- Cleveland
April Stats: GS 6, 3-2, 42.1 IP, 2.76 ERA, 0.992 WHIP, 68 SO, 14 BB.
Joe Musgrove- Padres
April Stats: GS 5, 2-2, 29 IP, 1.24 ERA, 0.655 WHIP, 41 SO, 5 BB.
Cristian Javier- Astros
April Stats: GS 4, 3-0, 20.2 IP, 0.87 ERA, 0.823 WHIP, 26 SO, 6 BB.
Trevor Rogers- Marlins
April Stats: GS 5, 3-1, 28 IP, 1.29 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 38 SO, 10 BB.
Trevor Bauer- Dodgers
April Stats: GS 6, 3-1, 40 IP, 2.48 ERA, 0.675 WHIP, 51 SO, 8 BB.
Relievers
Matt Barnes- Red Sox
April Stats: G 13, 1-0, 2.57 ERA, 0.571 WHIP, 6 SV, 25 SO, 3 BB.
Barnes was the AL reliever of the month according to MLB. Personally, I would have to disagree and would say Aroldis Chapman won that honor. None the less, Barnes has a sensational SO:BB ratio and his WHIP is also very good up to this point in the season.
Emmanuel Clase- Cleveland
April Stats: G 14, 2-1, 0.00 ERA, 0.971 WHIP, 5 SV, 12 SO, 3 BB. Clase only allowed three unearned runs the whole month of April. He has become quite effective, taking the closer's role from James Karinchak in the process. Clase should remain an elite closer going forward.
Mark Melancon- Padres
April Stats: G 12, 13 IP, 0.69 ERA, 0.385 WHIP, 9 SV, 14 SO, 1 BB.
Melancon was a beast in the month of April leading to NL Reliever of the month honors. There was question of who was going to be the closer in the Padres bullpen at the beginning of the season, but that question is no more. Closing for the Padres, Melancon will get plenty of save chances as we get deeper into the season.
Aroldis Chapman- Yankees
April Stats: G 8, 8 IP, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.625 WHIP, 6 SV, 20 SO, 3 BB.
Chapman was Chapman in the month of April. Throwing his usual 100 MPH stuff and striking people out. His high level of success should very much continue.
Josh Hader- Brewers
April Stats: G 10, 9.2 IP, 2-0, 0.93 ERA, 0.724 WHIP, 19 SO, 4 BB.
Hader was nearly unhittable in April. When he comes in the game it is probably game over for the opposing team. Hader has been consistent over the past few years and is performing great in the early stages of the season.
Others to Consider:
Brad Hand- Nationals
April Stats: G 8, 9 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.889 WHIP, 7 SO, 4 BB.
Kenley Jansen- Dodgers
April Stats: G 9, 10.1 IP, 2.61 ERA, 1.065 WHIP, 13 SO, 8 BB.
Position Players:
Byron Buxton: OF- Twins
April Stats: .426 BA, 8 HR, 14 RBI, 29 H, 1.363 OPS
Buxton won the player of the month in April for the American League. His high level of play will surely slow down, but the Twins will ride his hot start as long as possible.
Ronald Acuna Jr. :OF- Braves
April Stats: .341 BA, 8 HR, 18 RBI, 30 H, 1.148 OPS
Acuna got off to a blistering start at the plate in April. At one point he was hitting over .400 in the month. One of four big offensive bats in the Atlanta lineup, Acuna is the best leadoff hitter in the game and projects to continue his great start.
J.D. Martinez: DH- Red Sox
April Stats: .351 BA, 9 HR, 25 RBI, 35 H, 1.144 OPS
Martinez has gotten off to a great start. After having a down 2020, Martinez is primed to be a big bounce back candidate this season. At one point he was leading the Majors in home runs.
Yermin Mercedes: OF/Utility- White Sox
April Stats: .415 BA, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 34 H, 1.051 OPS
The Yerminator is the front runner to win the AL Rookie of the Year so far this season as he smashed baseballs all month. I predict Mercedes production will slow down soon like it is with any other rookie in their first season. Once pitcher's figure out how to pitch to him, Mercedes will fall back down to Earth. I always think back to Aaron Judge or Pete Alonso's rookie seasons and how they were just hitting bombs it seemed like every other game. Now after a few seasons are under their belt, they are still productive but have fallen off to more normal numbers. Expect that to happen to Mercedes at some point this season.
Mike Trout: OF-Angels
April Stats: .425 BA, 6 HR, 14 RBI, 31 H, 1.304 OPS
Where do I even start with Trout? People say Fernando Tatis Jr. is the new face of baseball, I would disagree and say that this guy is still the face of baseball. Off to one of his best starts in his career, Trout is doing Trout things. I hate going up against him in fantasy baseball because I know my offense is going to have to kill it that week, granted Trout is only one player but it is Mike Trout. Trout is the only player left in the league hitting over .400 through May 4th games. Expect Trout to continue smashing baseballs all season long, like usual.
Others to Consider:
Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: 1B- Blue Jays
April Stats: .350 BA, 7 HR, 20 RBI, 28 H, 1.153 OPS
Nick Castellanos: OF- Reds
April Stats: .306 BA, 7 HR, 16 RBI, 29 H, .957 OPS.
Bryce Harper: OF- Phillies
April Stats: .321 BA, 6, HR, 10 RBI, 25 H, 1.063 OPS
Justin Turner: 3B-Dodgers
April Stats: .330 BA, 6 HR, 20 RBI, 31 H, 1.005 OPS
Kris Bryant: 3B- Cubs
April Stats: .322 BA, 7 HR, 19 RBI, 28 H, 1.078 OPS.
Accomplishments of the Month:
Joe Musgrove threw the first no-hitter of the season.
Carlos Rodon threw the second no-hitter of the season.
Max Scherzer moved into 21st all-time on the career strikeout list.
Corbin Burnes set the record for most strikeouts without allowing one walk.
Jacob deGrom threw a shutout against the Nationals.
Shane Bieber had 68 strikeouts in the month.
Gerrit Cole had the second most strikeouts in a month in Yankees history, only behind Ron Guidry in 1972.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit three home runs in a game against the Nationals, including two off of Max Scherzer.
Final Thoughts: I really enjoyed writing my first monthly recap of the season! The season is just getting started and I cannot wait to see what is in store.
See you at the Ballpark!
Adam
Comments