Scorching-hot and ice-cold starts to the 2018 season

It's been exactly one month since the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins jump-started the 2018 campaign, and some shocking results - of both the good and bad variety - are already popping into box scores.

While reigning NL MVP Giancarlo Stanton spent nearly a month getting booed by fans in New York and Clayton Kershaw was outpitched by a former substitute teacher, other big-leaguers are taking their place among MLB's best a month into the season.

Here are 10 players who've either shivered their way through cold starts or raised the temperature in MLB with a scorching-hot first month.

Didi Gregorius - Hot

In a lineup featuring Stanton, Aaron Judge, and Gary Sanchez, it's "Sir Didi" Gregorius who's gotten off to the hottest start for the Yankees. The 28-year-old leads MLB in RBIs and OPS and made history by becoming the first-ever Yankees shortstop to homer in four straight games. How do you like them apples, Derek Jeter?

Logan Morrison - Cold

When the Minnesota Twins signed first baseman Logan Morrison to a contract that guaranteed him $6.5 million, they were adding a player who hit 38 homers last season to a roster that finished middle of the AL pack in 2017 long balls. So far, Morrison isn't paying off. His .483 OPS is one of the lowest in baseball among qualified hitters and his paltry .243 SLG is lower than Billy Hamilton's and Jon Jay's.

Johnny Cueto - Hot

The shimmy is back and it's shaking up a storm. San Francisco Giants right-hander Johnny Cueto has arguably pitched better than anyone else since Opening Day, allowing three earned runs and 16 hits in 32 innings. His increased use of his changeup and cutter has his opponents' hard contact rate at its lowest (25.6 percent) since 2014, when he finished second in NL Cy Young voting.

Sonny Gray - Cold

A lot of walks, home runs, hits, and runs allowed, and an inability to pitch deep into ballgames. This is the pitcher's formula for a bad season, and it's what Sonny Gray's line looks like so far. The 28-year-old has only pitched past the fifth inning once, is having trouble locating his pitches - missing down in the zone most often - and is allowing a career-high 12.4 hits per nine. Gray's last poor start came in the fog at Yankee Stadium. Talk about symbolism.

Ozzie Albies - Hot

The talk of the town in Hotlanta may be Ronald Acuna Jr., but what Ozzie Albies is doing for the Braves shouldn't be overlooked. The 21-year-old second baseman is off to an incredible star, leading his club in homers, runs scored, and slugging percentage despite playing on the same team as Freddie Freeman, one of MLB's most consistent hitters. A future with both Albies and Acuna is drool-worthy for Atlanta.

Yasiel Puig - Cold

There's been a serious dip in the number of bat licks in L.A. to begin the year thanks to Puig's frosty start. The enigmatic "Wild Horse" has had the power zapped from his bat (0.57 ISO and zero HRs), but his struggles are just part of the story in L.A., as the Dodgers still sit below .500.

Justin Verlander - Hot

Justin Verlander may never lose a regular-season game in a Houston Astros uniform. Since arriving in the Lone Star State last August, the reinvigorated right-hander is 9-0 during regular-season starts and has allowed a total of 10 earned runs. He's still striking out hitters at a high rate (10.9 SO9) and his 0.73 WHIP is among the league's best.

Matt Harvey - Cold

How the mighty have fallen. After two lackluster seasons and a horrible start to this campaign, the bat signal will now be used to call Matt Harvey in from the bullpen. The 29-year-old, who was once top of the class among big-league starters, lost his job in the New York Mets' rotation last weekend and is going to have to improve upon his bullpen appearances so far (3IP, 3H, 2ER, 1HR, 2BB) to earn back his starting job.

Mookie Betts - Hot

The Boston Red Sox are tied for the best record in baseball, and a lot of it has to do with Mookie Betts' fine start. In 24 games, the 25-year-old has eight home runs (three of the leadoff variety), 29 runs scored, and a 1.173 OPS. His swagger and energy have been contagious among the Red Sox, too, who look better in all aspects than the team that won the division - but was eliminated in the ALDS - last season.

Yoenis Cespedes - Cold

The power is still there, but yikes, has Yoenis Cespedes been striking out a lot. He leads the NL with 43 and has accumulated that total in 108 plate appearances - that's 40 percent of the time! To put that into context, Cespedes struck out 61 times in 81 games last season and was K'd 108 times in 132 games in 2016. Something has got to change. Maybe a few rounds of golf will help.

(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)