Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sport
Tim Capurso

Contender or Pretender? Evaluating Whether Five Pleasant MLB Surprises Are for Real

AL MLB White Sox Cardinals Pirates Pittsburgh Rays Baseball American League Blue Jays

If one word could sum up the 2026 MLB season thus far, it would be surprising. There have been surprises, both pleasant and unpleasant, in terms of individual and team performances. The American League-leading Rays, gritty Cardinals, upstart Pirates, suddenly-fun White Sox and division-leading A’s have all raced out of the starting gates while far exceeding any preseason expectations.

And with Memorial Day, long seen as the first evaluation checkpoint of the MLB season, come and gone, now is a logical time to reflect on how real—or not—these hot starts are.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Check Your Pantry: These 10 Foods May Belong in the Refrigerator
A bottle of ketchup beside the stove or hot sauce tucked into a pantry cabinet might seem perfectly normal. But some everyday foods have storage instructions that change once you open them, and others benefit from refrigeration even when it isn’t strictly necessary. The confusion often comes from the difference…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Drew Barrymore: I don't know how to retire
Drew Barrymore has revealed she doesn't have strict retirement plans
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
What’s the Oldest Thing in Your House You Still Use Every Day?
The oldest thing in your house might not sit behind glass or carry a sentimental story. It could be the skillet you grab for eggs, the wooden spoon that has survived three kitchen remodels, or the desk lamp that somehow refuses to die.
Clever Dude
Clever Dude
7 Foods From Your ’80s Childhood That Aren’t Made the Same Way Anymore
If you grew up in the 1980s, you probably remember the bright orange macaroni and cheese, the sweet taste of your favorite soda, and snacks that seemed to make every afternoon better. Some of those familiar products are still available, but the versions on store shelves today may not be…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Brooklyn couple uncover 1901 coal log tied to family history while restoring an 1880s house
James and Laureta Gale found a 1901 coal delivery schedule during their renovation of a historic lodging house. Their discovery connects to James's family history with coal delivery in Brooklyn. The couple is transforming the 1880s building into an 11-room guesthouse with modern amenities. They are also preserving original features…
The Times of India
The Times of India
A couple told a North Carolina woman they were only feeding the turtles, then she turned her camera to the pond
The woman kept on throwing food into the water.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play