Call to the pen
Fansided

Top 5 MLB teams outperforming preseason projections

By Jonathan Northall

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 24: Wander Franco #5 and Manuel Margot #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros 8-3 at Tropicana Field on April 24, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - APRIL 24: Wander Franco #5 and Manuel Margot #13 of the Tampa Bay Rays celebrate after defeating the Houston Astros 8-3 at Tropicana Field on April 24, 2023 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TEXAS – APRIL 23: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the fourth inning at Globe Life Field on April 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TEXAS – APRIL 23: Jacob deGrom #48 of the Texas Rangers pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the fourth inning at Globe Life Field on April 23, 2023 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

Texas Rangers (14-8) .636 vs .488 +.148

Winning a series against the Astros in Houston speaks loudly about the 2023 Texas Rangers. Adolis García leads the MLB in RBI with 28, while Marcus Semien is joint run leader (21). The Rangers are offensively producing, and it’s getting them up with no less than six double-digit scores so far.

The addition of Jacob deGrom has been predictably effective, with a 2-0 record in his five starts while posting a 3.04 ERA. It’s not just about deGrom, as the pitchers have allowed 166 hits so far and rank fourth in the AL. First place in the AL West with the Astros 2.5 games back is an excellent start to a projected sub-.500 season.

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