As May arrives in the 2026 MLB season, several players and teams are showing clear patterns in performance. Kazuma Okamoto has improved after an early slump with the Blue Jays. Jesús Luzardo faces ongoing challenges with runners on base for the Phillies, while the Mariners deal with defensive issues.
Kazuma Okamoto has shown signs of adjustment at the plate for the Blue Jays. After hitting .188 with two home runs in his first 18 games, he improved to .307 with eight home runs over his next 17 contests. Okamoto moved six inches further back in the batter's box last weekend in Arizona, which has helped reduce his whiff rate against breaking balls to 28 percent from 37 percent earlier in the year.
