With the MLB season a touch over 25% of the way complete, slow starts are no longer being looked at as nothing to worry about.
Sluggish starts are beginning to turn into season-long concerns, especially for some stellar players. The six players listed below are among the most disappointing starts to the season.
Hitters
Manny Machado, San Diego Padres
Nearly no one would’ve predicted that Machado would be nearing the month of June with a .180 average, but that’s exactly where he stands.
Entering Tuesday, Machado’s average was the eighth-worst in MLB. It is by far the worst start he’s gotten off to in his illustrious career. Most expect Machado to turn things around in the near future, but it may be time to worry about the soon-to-be 34-year-old (July 6) if he doesn’t.
Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres
Another Padres superstar makes the list with Tatis being among the league’s most disappointing players so far this season. Unlike his aforementioned teammate, Tatis’ disappointing start is not related to an under .200 average, but his lack of power.
Entering Tuesday, Tatis has yet to hit a home run in 2026. He is one of just two qualified hitters without a home run this season, with the other being Chandler Simpson of the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite the struggles mentioned from two of the San Diego stars, the Padres entered Tuesday just 0.5 games out of first place.
The 2025 American League MVP runner-up is off to a very forgettable start to his 2026 season. Through 161 at-bats, Raleigh’s .161 average is the worst among MLB hitters.
Just a week ago, Raleigh went through a 0-for-38 stretch that saw his average dip from .205 to .166. It has been an awful start to what many hoped would be close to a repeat of Raleigh’s 2025 season.
Cal Raleigh singles to snap an 0-for-38 stretch, the longest hitless streak of his career and of any player this season pic.twitter.com/g0dOpJVqgN
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 13, 2026
Pitchers
Baz was traded to Baltimore from the Tampa Bay Rays before the 2026 season, and his first season there has been a disappointment. Through nine starts, Baz is 1-5 and has posted a 5.26 ERA in 51 1/3 innings pitched.
Baz has allowed four or more earned runs in five of his nine starts this season, not ideal for someone the Orioles expected to be a frontline starter this season.
Jesus Luzardo, Philadelphia Phillies
After a stellar 2025 season with Philadelphia, Luzardo has appeared to hit a wall in 2026. Through nine starts, he has posted a 5.07 ERA in 49 2/3 innings pitched.
Luzardo was off from the jump, as he allowed six runs in his first start of the season. He did post six scoreless innings in his most recent outing, though, meaning he could be breaking out of his disappointing start.
It might seem a bit odd that Skubal and his 2.70 ERA are on this list, but the fashion in which he’s done it makes it disappointing. Skubal posted 45 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings, well below his career K/9 mark.
Skubal is currently on the injured list after undergoing elbow surgery, cutting out two months of starts from the back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner. A healthy Skubal upon his return may provide the spark that a struggling Detroit team will need to make a postseason push.
