MLB

If your stat line reads four home runs in four games to start the season, that’s good, right? Well, it doesn’t if that stat line is pitcher John Axford’s stats after his first four appearances in the 2013 season.

Join in at 1 p.m. ET for coverage of the NL East battle between the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals.

April is a tricky month to figure out the game of baseball. Usually, fields are thawing from the absurd amount of snow they've received while the players have the same time trying to live up to their offseason hype.

In the American League Central, that comparison is accurate to what's going on in the division.

Behind the Detroit Tigers, who are the heavy favorite to win the division, the other teams in the central have spent time trying to figure out who they are.

The current MLB economic system rewards declining players for their past production, while elite individuals like Andrew McCutchen and Bryce Harper earn under $10 million per year. In this article, we'll recognize and rank the difference-makers who make only six or seven figures.

Let's be clear about which veterans were not considered.

The 2013 season is now in full swing.

After 10 games, the St. Louis Cardinals are in sole possession of first atop the NL Central with a 6-4 record. But how have they gotten there?

By comparing each major player's current statistics to their 2012 numbers, I've attempted to measure their success against what is expected of them. 

We don't know what the future has in store for the Cardinals, but if these grades have set a precedent, we may be seeing great things.

Another week filled with injuries to key players gives us the opportunity to speculate away at how the affected teams will fill the new holes on their roster. 

The 9-1 Atlanta Braves are without doubt the hottest team in Major League Baseball right now.

Not only are their bats on fire, but their pitching staff has been firing on all cylinders. 

Just take a look at their standout offensive players:

Freddie Freeman - .412/.474/.647, 7-for-17, 1 home run, 1 double, 7 RBI, 3 runs scored.

Joe Garagiola Jr., senior vice president of standards and on-field operations for Major League Baseball, announced the punishments for both Carlos Quentin and Jerry Hairston Jr. today for their participation in Thursday night's bench-clearing brawl in San Diego that left Dodger co-ace Zack Greinke with a broken collarbone. 

A number of MLB teams are not at full strength at this point in the year because some of their players are still recovering from offseason surgeries and spring injuries.

These players can provide a big boost once they return, and they can help change a team from one that is struggling to one that is fighting for a playoff spot.

Sometimes, the impact is more than what the player does on the field. In certain cases, their leadership ability is invaluable.

Jose Reyes slid awkwardly into second base, and the result has the Toronto Blue Jays questioning if their season is sliding away.