From injury woes in Houston to performance regression in Cleveland, these three players are currently at the center of the league’s biggest concerns.
While some big leaguers are thriving, others have raised serious concerns early in the 2026 season.
Astros’ rookie Tatsuya Imai has struggled to find his footing. He had a rough debut allowing 4 earned runs in 2 and two-thirds innings. Even worse, in Imai’s third appearance he allowed 3 earned runs in just one-third of an inning before landing on the 15-day injured list for right arm fatigue and a lack of grip strength. The poor showing has contributed to the Astros’ league-worst 5.93 team ERA.
Left fielder Steven Kwan has got off to a slow start at the plate for the Guardians batting just .220 with one home run. The sluggish outset of the four-time Gold Glover and two-time All-Star has led some fans to question whether the team missed an opportunity to trade him at peak value.
Perhaps most alarming has been Kodai Senga’s regression. The Mets’ 2023 All-Star has stumbled to an 0–3 start with a bloated 8.83 ERA. Earning $15 million this season, his struggles have become a focal point of the New York media, with the team’s manager fielding questions about whether he should remain in the starting rotation.
If these trends continue, each of these players risks defining their season for the wrong reasons.
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