MLB season early MVP performers

The 2007 MLB season is less then a week old, but already there are a few players putting up some solid numbers. Here are three pitchers and three hitters that have started off the year in midseason form.

Ben Sheets - The Brewers’ ace showed what’s ahead for Milwaukee baseball fans as long as he can finally avoid injury this season. Sheets pitched a complete-game two-hitter in the Brewers’ opening-day win over the Dodgers. If Sheets can hit his spots as effectively as he did in that win the rest of the season, then 20 wins could be in his future.

Felix Hernandez - Hernandez showed why he was the youngest opening-day starter since Dwight Gooden, after pitching eight shutout innings. Dropping a few pounds during the offseason seems to have paid off for the young phenom, as he held Oakland to only three hits with 12 strikeouts. The Mariners may not be talented enough to go anywhere this season, but they have a bright future with Hernandez leading their rotation.

Cole Hamels - Hamels entered the Phillies’ rotation last season as a highly touted arm. That flamethrower arm proved its worth earlier this week, shutting out the Braves for seven innings while collecting eight strikeouts before the bullpen blew the lead. Hamels has the stuff to pile up the wins if the Phillies’ bullpen works itself out.

Grady Sizemore - Sizemore has been tearing the cover off the ball in Cleveland with three home runs and seven runs scored in only three games. Sizemore’s power numbers should drop back to normal pretty soon, but he’ll continue to get on base and set the table for the Indians from the leadoff spot in the batting order.

Carlos Beltran - Beltran may only be hitting .333 so far, but he’s delivered when it counts with two home runs and six RBI in the Mets’ first three games. If anyone wants to beat the Mets this season the key may be to keep Beltran from coming to the plate with men on base.

Miguel Cabrera - It hasn’t mattered what pitcher Cabrera has faced so far this MLB season, he’s hit them all. Cabrera is hitting .700 for the Marlins after three games, while collecting two home runs, six RBI and scoring five runs. There may not be a better pure hitter than Cabrera in the game today, and his added power makes him even better.

MLB Baseball Futures Betting, 2006 World Series Odds at Bodog Sportsbook

2007 World Series Odds: Again, this isn’t to say that any of this holds any kind of predictive value (it certainly does not), but considering how horrible the Cubs were last season, it’s shocking to see the Cubs at 8/1 odds this high up on the list.