Five Slow-Starters, One Slim Comeback Path

Verducci ranks five struggling MLB teams—Mets, Phillies, Royals, Astros, and Red Sox—by their odds of a late-season turnaround after an ugly opening month, noting that only a handful of clubs with sub-.400 starts have recovered since 1995. The Mets are listed as the best chance among them, with the Phillies and Royals offering limited upside and the Astros and Red Sox facing steeper odds. The piece also spotlights Jordan Walker’s encouraging swing adjustments as a bright spot in the season.