The Early MLB Shocker No One Expected After One Week

We're just about one week into the 2026 Major League Baseball season and there has been one team that has surprised more than anyone else: the Miami Marlins.

Miami went 79-83 in 2025 and finished in third place in the National League East. While it's a small sample size, Miami has been much better so far this season. The Marlins are 5-1 on the season so far. While it has just been one week, if you had guessed that the Marlins would be tied for the best record in baseball at any point in the season, there are few who would've believed you.

Miami is tied with the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the game at 5-1. Right now, the Marlins are one game ahead of the Atlanta Braves — who have been surprising themselves — in second place in the NL East.

Miami won its first three games of the season before suffering its first loss of the season on March 30 against the Chicago White Sox. The Marlins bounced back with a 9-2 win on Tuesday and a 10-0 win on Wednesday, both over the White Sox.

The Marlins are MLB's biggest shocker

Apr 1, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara (22) walks off the mound in the middle of the first inning against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images | Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

The Marlins' pitching has been its biggest strength and right now the club is tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers with the fourth-best team ERA in baseball at 2.83 through six games. Miami has also scored the fourth-most runs in the league this season with 33 while boasting the No. 1 team batting average in the league at .290. So, the Marlins have put the bat on the ball and scored runs and have been among the very best in the game at preventing opposing teams from scoring. You can't really ask for much more than that.

Again, who would've predicted that the Marlins would be tied for the best record in baseball at any point in 2026? Not many people. It has been a fun season so far across Major League Baseball and the Marlins have been the biggest surprise. Now, of course things can change. A week from now, the Marlins could be struggling. But right now, the Marlins are playing very good and clean baseball and have been much better than expected.

It would be a good story for the league if a team like Miami could actually be good over the course of the season. It hasn't been the case in recent memory. But maybe they have turned a corner.