The 2015 MLB season is underway, and with it has come many early season surprises. Many teams and players are performing better than most fans expected them to, while others are not living up to the expectations set for them by fans and the media. While teams like the Atlanta Braves are exceeding expectations, others such as the Washington Nationals and Cleveland Indians are not performing as well as they were expected to. Players such as Adrian Gonzalez of the Dodgers and Nelson Cruz of the Mariners are off to incredible starts, while players such as Stephen Strasburg of the Nationals and Albert Pujols of the Angels have gotten off to slow starts early in this season.

After trading away star players such as Justin Upton and Jason Heyward, many writers and fans predicted that the Atlanta Braves would go on to have a poor 2015 season. However, the Braves are staying afloat in the National League East division, with a current record of 10-9. Players such as right fielder Nick Markakis (.333 batting average, 5 RBIs), and closer Jason Grilli (1.29 ERA, 7 saves), have gone a long way in getting the Braves off to a good start. However, in a notably tough National League East, many think that it will be tough for the Braves to keep up their current pace.

Teams such as the Washington Nationals (7-13 record), and the Cleveland Indians (6-12 record) have struggled early in this season, and will look to get on track before it becomes too late for them to do so. Both teams have been talked about as not only serious playoff contenders, but as serious World Series contenders as well.

In addition to teams, certain players have started their 2015 season on a good note. Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez (.382 batting average, 7 home runs), and Mariners left fielder Nelson Cruz (.307 batting average, 5 home runs), have kept their respective teams afloat early in the season. Earlier this month, Gonzalez became the first MLB player to hit 5 home runs in his team’s first 3 games of the season, while Cruz has homered in 4 straight games as of April 15. Both will look to keep their amazing starts going throughout the season, potentially carrying their respective teams into the postseason.

On the other hand, a few notable players have gotten off to slow starts to the 2015 season. Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (1-2, 4.88 ERA), and Angels first baseman Albert Pujols (.200 batting average) have not lived up to expectations that have been set for them. If their play continues, it could become very troublesome for both teams; as both the Nationals and the Angels are viewed by many as playoff contenders.

Ultimately, it is very early in the MLB season, and many things can and will change between now and September. But the beginning of the MLB season has certainly brought along no shortage of surprises. Fans will be eagerly watching to see if these surprises will last.