Nine MLB Stars off To Concerning Starts Heading Into Memorial Day | Deadspin.com 
Apr 11, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images Memorial Day, which is the unofficial first major mile marker of the Major League Baseball season, arrives next Monday — which is May 25, the earliest possible date for the final Monday of May.
Of course, the Major League Baseball season started earlier than ever this year, so Memorial Day remains a pivotal point for everyone — especially those who are struggling. Here’s a look at nine players for whom it’s no longer too early to get worried.
—Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres 3B & 2B/RF: A 2-for-1 deal here for the Padres, who are in the thick of the National League West race with the Los Angeles Dodgers despite their franchise players batting a combined .209 with seven homers — all by Machado — and 37 RBIs. The slow start for Machado, whose .178 average is the fifth-lowest amongst qualified batters, is a reminder he’s going on 34 and hasn’t posted an .800 OPS since 2022. And Tatis possessing a .590 OPS — the 11th-lowest in the game — is a reminder his post-PED bust OPS of .781 is nearly 200 points lower than his pre-PED bust OPS of .965. Oh and Machado is signed through 2033 and Tatis through 2034. Gulp.
—Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles SS, and Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies SS: It’s not good when the AL and NL leaders in at-bats (209 for Henderson, 201 for Turner) are both posting an on-base percentage below .300. Henderson (10 homers, 24 RBIs) is providing some pop, but he’s got 14 walks and 63 strikeouts after entering the season with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of a little more than 2:1. Plate judgment has never been a strength of Turner, who has walked more than 45 times just once in nine full seasons, but the defending NL batting champ is hitting just .236, which would be his lowest mark since a 27-game cameo as a rookie in 2015.
May 21, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) hits a two RBI single against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images
—Bo Bichette, New York Mets 3B/SS: Of course one of the game’s most consistent and clutch hitters forgets how to hit and hit in the clutch upon joining the Mets. Bichette, who took to third base pretty well before shifting back to shortstop following injuries to Francisco Lindor and Ronny Mauricio, is batting just .225 overall and .200 with runners in scoring position, well below his career marks of .290 and .322, respectively. His three homers in back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday were two more than he had in his first 46 games combined.
—Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants 3B: The Giants, whose 173 runs are the fewest in the majors, have no shortage of disappointments in their lineup. But nobody’s struggles are as jarring as those being endured by Chapman, who has one homer, 13 extra-base hits and a .312 slugging percentage in 186 at-bats after averaging 23 homers, 54 extra-base hits and a .458 slugging percentage per season over his first nine years.
May 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert (36) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images —Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners P: Gilbert entered this season with a 3.58 ERA while allowing an average of one homer every 7.5 innings over his first five seasons. But he has a 4.45 ERA in 11 starts this year while surrendering 11 roundtrippers, tied for the most in the AL. The Mariners have no shortage of quality starting pitchers, but they need something close to a peak Gilbert to make another run at that elusive first pennant.
—Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies P: Nola was one of baseball’s most reliable pitchers from 2015 through 2024, when he ranked amongst the top five in wins (fifth with 104), strikeouts (third with 1,779) and innings pitched (fourth with 1,621 1/3) while posting a 3.70 ERA. But the mileage might have caught up to Nola, who posted a 6.01 ERA while being limited to 17 starts due to ankle and rib injuries last year and has a 6.04 ERA this year, the second-worst amongst qualified starters.
—Framber Valdez, Detroit Tigers P: The Tigers thought they were getting one of baseball’s best No. 2 starters when they signed Valdez, who led baseball with 68 wins and ranked fifth with 902 1/3 innings pitched while posting a 3.20 ERA from 2021 through 2025. But Valdez is 2-3 with a 4.58 ERA for Detroit, which is without ace Tarik Skubal and tied for last place in the AL Central. Valdez also got suspended five games for throwing at Trevor Story, which raised familiar questions about his maturity level.
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Apr 11, 2026; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado (13) celebrates after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images Memorial Day, which is the unofficial first major mile marker of the Major League Baseball season, arrives next Monday — which is May 25, the earliest possible date for the final Monday of May.
Of course, the Major League Baseball season started earlier than ever this year, so Memorial Day remains a pivotal point for everyone — especially those who are struggling. Here’s a look at nine players for whom it’s no longer too early to get worried.
—Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., Padres 3B & 2B/RF: A 2-for-1 deal here for the Padres, who are in the thick of the National League West race with the Los Angeles Dodgers despite their franchise players batting a combined .209 with seven homers — all by Machado — and 37 RBIs. The slow start for Machado, whose .178 average is the fifth-lowest amongst qualified batters, is a reminder he’s going on 34 and hasn’t posted an .800 OPS since 2022. And Tatis possessing a .590 OPS — the 11th-lowest in the game — is a reminder his post-PED bust OPS of .781 is nearly 200 points lower than his pre-PED bust OPS of .965. Oh and Machado is signed through 2033 and Tatis through 2034. Gulp.
—Gunnar Henderson, Baltimore Orioles SS, and Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies SS: It’s not good when the AL and NL leaders in at-bats (209 for Henderson, 201 for Turner) are both posting an on-base percentage below .300. Henderson (10 homers, 24 RBIs) is providing some pop, but he’s got 14 walks and 63 strikeouts after entering the season with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of a little more than 2:1. Plate judgment has never been a strength of Turner, who has walked more than 45 times just once in nine full seasons, but the defending NL batting champ is hitting just .236, which would be his lowest mark since a 27-game cameo as a rookie in 2015.
May 21, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; New York Mets shortstop Bo Bichette (19) hits a two RBI single against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-Imagn Images —Bo Bichette, New York Mets 3B/SS: Of course one of the game’s most consistent and clutch hitters forgets how to hit and hit in the clutch upon joining the Mets. Bichette, who took to third base pretty well before shifting back to shortstop following injuries to Francisco Lindor and Ronny Mauricio, is batting just .225 overall and .200 with runners in scoring position, well below his career marks of .290 and .322, respectively. His three homers in back-to-back games Monday and Tuesday were two more than he had in his first 46 games combined.
—Matt Chapman, San Francisco Giants 3B: The Giants, whose 173 runs are the fewest in the majors, have no shortage of disappointments in their lineup. But nobody’s struggles are as jarring as those being endured by Chapman, who has one homer, 13 extra-base hits and a .312 slugging percentage in 186 at-bats after averaging 23 homers, 54 extra-base hits and a .458 slugging percentage per season over his first nine years.
May 22, 2026; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert (36) pitches during the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images —Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners P: Gilbert entered this season with a 3.58 ERA while allowing an average of one homer every 7.5 innings over his first five seasons. But he has a 4.45 ERA in 11 starts this year while surrendering 11 roundtrippers, tied for the most in the AL. The Mariners have no shortage of quality starting pitchers, but they need something close to a peak Gilbert to make another run at that elusive first pennant.
—Aaron Nola, Philadelphia Phillies P: Nola was one of baseball’s most reliable pitchers from 2015 through 2024, when he ranked amongst the top five in wins (fifth with 104), strikeouts (third with 1,779) and innings pitched (fourth with 1,621 1/3) while posting a 3.70 ERA. But the mileage might have caught up to Nola, who posted a 6.01 ERA while being limited to 17 starts due to ankle and rib injuries last year and has a 6.04 ERA this year, the second-worst amongst qualified starters.
—Framber Valdez, Detroit Tigers P: The Tigers thought they were getting one of baseball’s best No. 2 starters when they signed Valdez, who led baseball with 68 wins and ranked fifth with 902 1/3 innings pitched while posting a 3.20 ERA from 2021 through 2025. But Valdez is 2-3 with a 4.58 ERA for Detroit, which is without ace Tarik Skubal and tied for last place in the AL Central. Valdez also got suspended five games for throwing at Trevor Story, which raised familiar questions about his maturity level.
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