RHP Jordany Ventura (No. 19)
Why it could work: Even after landing Hill, the Mets still need pitching, and here they bolster their rotation and bullpen all at once, with a pair of rentals. It’s tempting to dream big on any pitcher getting out of Coors Field, but it’s important to note that Gray has roughly even home-road splits for his career while performing better in Colorado this year. Still, it’s hard not to wonder if a change of scenery could bring about a Kevin Gausman-like mid-career breakout for Gray, who like Gausman was a top-five Draft pick (third in 2013). But even if that doesn’t happen, Gray would help the Mets now. The righty has been an above-average big league starter (109 career ERA+, 126 this year) and would provide a level of security given the team’s other question marks. (Gray has gone at least 5 2/3 innings 12 times this year). Meanwhile, a team can never have too many solid relief options, and Givens would provide another proven arm for the late inn
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With a little more than a month of the season in the books, several teams have defied expectations, finishing April with above-.500 records.
A group of MLB.com experts gathered for a roundtable to analyze three teams the Giants, Mariners and Royals all of whom were not contenders in 2020 but are playing at a better-than-expected clip this year, and, in some cases, are tops in their divisions. The big question: Will it last?
Alyson Footer, moderator: Are you surprised at how well these teams have performed so far? After watching them through Spring Training, what were your thoughts on how they’d do this year, and have they exceeded expectations? Or are they playing at the level you expected?