The opening weekend of MLB is over, which means March has ended and April baseball gets underway. Here are some early-season storylines that fans should think twice about believing in.

Atlanta’s revenge on Philadelphia with an opening series win

The Braves won two out of three games in Philadelphia over the weekend. The last time Atlanta played at Citizens Bank Park, they were eliminated from the 2023 NLDS by the Phillies for a second consecutive season. Some Braves fans might feel their squad exacted some revenge with the opening series win against their playoff nemesis. 

However, despite Atlanta’s 21-14 regular season record against Philadelphia since 2022, the reigning NL East champs are 2-6 as the favorites over that period when games have mattered the most in October. 

The on-pace numbers for Mookie Betts

It’s a small sample size, but after six contests, Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts has 11 hits in 22 at-bats. He’s collected four home runs, 10 RBI and a .621 on-base percentage. Betts has also crossed home plate nine times in that span and is on pace for 243 runs scored. 

Some have wondered if the leadoff hitter can average one run per contest and become the first player to tally 150 runs in a season since Jeff Bagwell’s 152 in 2000.  

With a revamped Dodgers lineup hitting behind Betts, it’s certainly a possibility to average one run per game but beware of early-season expectations. Not only does a player have to be productive to reach such levels, but he must stay healthy as well. 

It’s too early in the campaign to believe in individual statistics, especially in an era of high injury risk and scheduled maintenance days.  

The Yankees great start after sweeping the Astros

New York’s four-game sweep in Houston against the franchise that has knocked them out of the postseason four times since 2015 was the perfect start to the new campaign for The Pinstripes. 

Newly acquired outfielder Juan Soto had a great series, which included a clutch game-saving throw from right field in the ninth inning of Thursday’s season opener as well as back-to-back go-ahead hits on Saturday and Sunday.