One A+, Four Big-Market F's: April's Verdict on 2026 Contenders
ESPN grades reveal which April contenders are real threats and which big-market favorites are already fading.
ESPN's April report card for the 2026 MLB season is out, and it's a mixed bag of elite marks and big-market embarrassments. One team earned an A+ for a dominant first month, while four high-payroll contenders—including the Dodgers, Mets, Yankees, and Phillies—flunked with F's. The grades reflect early-season performance, not potential, but for fans of those big spenders, the panic button is getting a workout.
Are these slow starts a sign of fatal flaws or just April noise? The data says some of these clubs have real problems with pitching depth and lineup consistency. Read at ESPN
