MLB week 1 - winners and wipeouts
Well, it’s been about a full week of MLB action and it’s been nothing short of electric. I don’t know about you guys, but we’ve already hit FIVE 4+ leg parlays to start the season and have been cashing out daily. But money aside, the real story is how wild this first week has been. There have been plenty of surprises — some good, some bad — but let’s be honest… no one cares about just “good.”
That’s where this comes in.
We’re introducing a new segment: Wins and Wipeouts — where we highlight the absolute best and absolute worst across the sports world. Whether it’s opening week, playoff season, or the dead of the offseason, there will always be wins… and there will always be wipeouts.
WINS
Cam Schlittler
As a Red Sox fan, it pains me to say this… but this kid has been untouchable. The Yankees have come out of the gate playing elite baseball, allowing just one run per game across their first six, and Schlittler has been a massive reason why.
11.2 IP, 3 H, 0.00 ERA, 15 K, 0 BB
That’s not just good — that’s absurd. Two shutout appearances, averaging over a strikeout per inning, and not a single walk. The command has been flawless, the composure elite. If this keeps up, the Yankees might have a real conversation on their hands — because Max Fried may not be alone at the top of that rotation for long.
The ABS System
The newly implemented Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system has wasted no time making an impact — and honestly, it’s been awesome. Reviews take about 13 seconds, it adds drama, and it’s already changing games in real time.
On April 1, the Baltimore Orioles used an ABS challenge to end a game — catcher Samuel Basallo overturned a borderline pitch in the 9th inning against the Rangers, locking in an 8–3 win.
That’s the first game-ending ABS challenge in MLB history.
Love it or hate it, the system is here — and so far, it’s delivering. The only real losers? Umpires… who are getting exposed early and often.
Rookies Showing Out
This rookie class didn’t ease into the league — they kicked the door down.
Chase DeLauter (Guardians) – My personal favorite so far. He’s been electric out of the gate, launching multiple home runs in his first few games (including a walk-off) and leading the league in total bases early. Legit star potential.
Sal Stewart (Reds) – Came out swinging and hasn’t slowed down. Big hits, extra-base power, and already took home a Player of the Week award as a rookie.
Kevin McGonigle (Tigers) – Pure hitter. Multi-hit games right away and looks way too comfortable for someone in their first week.
Munetaka Murakami (White Sox) – Not a traditional rookie, but technically eligible — and he’s been mashing. Power has translated immediately from Japan, and pitchers are already adjusting.
WIPEOUTS
Boston Red Sox
Yeah… this one hurts.
Coming into the season, there was real optimism. Keeping Garrett Crochet and adding Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez felt like a huge boost to the rotation. Instead? It’s been rough.
Gray and Suárez have combined for a 7.56 ERA and have played a major role in Boston’s early losses. The offense hasn’t helped either — Durbin and Contreras are a brutal 3-for-38 to start the year.
And for the record… I already dropped $220 on tickets to see them in a couple weeks. So, they might want to figure it out soon, because I’m not trying to sit through nine innings of a beatdown.
The League’s “Best” Players
This one’s weird — but fair.
Some of the biggest stars from last season have come out ice cold:
Aaron Judge: 1-for-22
Shohei Ohtani: 3-for-18, no RBIs, no extra-base hits
Paul Skenes: ERA north of 9.00
Nick Kurtz: 1-for-17
It’s early — no one’s panicking yet — but this is not exactly the encore fans were expecting. Someone might want to hide Skenes’ stat page for a few weeks.
C.B. Bucknor
I never thought I’d be putting an umpire here… but here we are.
On March 28, during Red Sox vs. Reds, Bucknor had a brutal showing under the new ABS system. Eight of his ball/strike calls were challenged — and six were overturned, including back-to-back called third strikes on Eugenio Suárez that were ruled balls.
The crowd was all over it, tensions boiled over, and Red Sox manager Alex Cora even got ejected after a non-reviewable check swing added fuel to the fire.
To top it off, the game ended in a 6–5 Reds walk-off win in 11 innings.
Early in the ABS era, this was about as rough a day as it gets — and a perfect example of how quickly the system can flip the spotlight onto umpires.
Week one is in the books, and if this is any indication of what’s coming, we’re in for a ridiculous season. More chaos, more breakout stars, more collapses — and plenty more Wins and Wipeouts to come.