Some scouts may have had the wrong report on Munetaka Murakami. The strikeout rate (33.8%) is still a work in progress, but it's safe to say the Chicago White Sox struck gold with the Japanese slugger's two-year, $34 million contract ... MORE ... .
Then, the losing started, including four of six before a 10-game losing streak that left them duking it out for last place in the NL East with the similarly struggling Mets.
No team endured a worse spring training than the Braves... Then Joey Wentz was lost for the year, and Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider and Hursten Waldrep for an extended period ... The Mets aren’t the only team facing a crisis ... ....
The Phillies and Mets are typically competing for control of the NL East, but at the moment, both are fighting to avoid being among the worst teams in baseball ...Dodgers' Dave Roberts fires shot at NL West rival Padres after blowing division lead.
They were one of baseball's worst teams last season, finishing in last place in the NL East by a long shot with their 66-96 record ... Nationals show surprising resilience in competitive NL East.
LOS ANGELES -- The New York Mets' bats have all but gone silent during a seven-game losing streak. With their best hitter Juan Soto sidelined, the rest of the lineup is pressing to generate offense ... .
The Atlanta Braves likely should have anticipated trouble when Spencer Schwellenbach was injured on the first day of Spring Training. That moment marked the beginning of a wave of issues that has since impacted the starting rotation ... .