Mets right fielder Michael Conforto, shortstop Amed Rosario and center fielder Juan Lagares celebrate after a win. Photo: jasen vinlove/ReutersEvolved fans in this age of advanced analytics and seemingly limitless amounts of data like to ignore April baseball results with an alarmingly dismissive two-word phrase: It’s early. And in a way, that’s not an unreasonable position to take. But that notwithstanding, the first couple of weeks—and this might sound crazy—count in the standings exactly as much as the games in the fall. This means that the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets, who both opened 2018 with blistering 9-1 starts, should feel optimistic about their chances.

Source: Wall Street Journal April 11, 2018 19:52 UTC