As the grass is getting cut, dirt is getting raked, seeds are getting spit, and my mood is depended on 9 guys playing on a diamond for 8 months. BASEBALL is back. As we kick off the 2026 MLB season and hopefully not last (pending a lockout) let’s get into some predictions as I try to not be biased.
The Contenders
These are the teams that make everyone else in baseball cry—or at least throw things at their TV.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The kings of the hill. Back-to-back champs and possibly going for a three-peat. They reloaded again (because of course they did), signing Kyle Tucker to go with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. Oh yeah, they also added closer Edwin Díaz just for laughs. Do they ever get tired of winning?
Lost: Michael Kopech (who cant stay healthy but was nails in 2024)
New York Yankees
Brian Cashman literally said “we’re running it back,” which in Yankee terms means “we spent just enough money to barely avoid riots.” The Bombers are betting on Aaron Judge, Juan Soto, and Gerrit Cole being healthy all year. No big flashy new star, but rumors are they called everyone with a pulse.
Added: Mostly depth some bullpen help and a torn-up “Plan B.”
Lost: Half the fanbase’s sanity. Devin Williams and Luke Weaver
Philadelphia Phillies
These dudes are like a rock band that just refuses to quit touring, think Nickelback. Bryce Harper and Trea Turner still lead the charge.The vibes? Still very “we’ll fight you in the parking lot after the game.” Added: Adolis Garcia Lost: Aaron Nola, their homegrown ace, hurts. But the bats will bring fireworks.
New York Mets
New owner energy + New York expectations = chaos waiting to happen. They lost Edwin Díaz (play the trumpets: Taps edition) to the Dodgers, but added some veteran pitching (they’re always adding old pitchers, aren’t they?).
Added: Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Devin Williams, Luke Weaver, Freddy Peralta
Lost: Edwin Díaz, Pete Alonso, Tyler Rodgers, Starling Marte
Seattle Mariners
The Mariners are that team no one wants to face in October—if they, you know, actually get to October. The pitching staff is fantastic, with a great bullpen. Julio Rodríguez is still that dude, and the MVP runner up in Cal Raleigh. They’re sneaky dangerous.
Added: Nobody to really talk about.
Lost: Eugenio Suarez, Jorge Polanco
San Diego Padres
Every year we say “this is their year,” and then it’s… not. Still, the talent is there: Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts make for a lineup that could demolish a small country. The rotation lost Dylan Cease, which hurts, but the Padres are still loud, flashy, and totally watchable.
Added: Walker Buehler, Ty France
Lost: Dylan Cease, Robert Suarez, Luis Arraez
The “Maybe So’s”
AKA the teams that have “potential,” which usually means they’ll break your heart by August.
Detroit Tigers
If they’re going to win a world series anytime soon, this has to be the year. But, with a distraction of the Skubal contract/ free agency, uncertainty in the back end of the rotation, (Mize, Verlander) but they have a top 10 starting line-up and bullpen.
Added: Justin Verlander, Framber Valdez
Lost: Tommy Kahnle
Chicago Cubs
The Cubs have an upcoming super star in Pete Crow-Armstrong but lost a major one in Kyle Tucker. But maybe this finally the breakthrough season for Seiya Suzuki? A big free agency signing of Alex Bregman. Outside of a stellar closer in Daniel Valencia, I don’t know whose arm I could trust, starting or reliever.
Added: Alex Bregman, Phil Maton, Edward Cabrera
Lost: Kyle Tucker
Atlanta Braves
Per usual, the Braves are stacked even when they barely do anything. Ronald Acuña Jr. is still terrorizing pitchers, and literally everyone in their lineup hits 30 homers but sadly can’t stay healthy, an emerging star in Drake Baldwin, and added all-star closer Robert Suarez. If Spencer Strider will start eating meat, maybe this team can return to the glory days.
Added: Robert Suarez, Mauricio Dubon, Ha-Seong Kim
Lost: Marcel Ozuna
Boston Red Sox
One step forward, two steps into Fenway’s left-field wall. A young exciting team with rising superstar Roman Anthony, two dominant lefties in Garrett Crochet and Alrodis Chapman, but still so much uncertainty around the bullpen with how well they performed last year. I do love all of their offseason additions.
Added: Ranger Suarez, Caleb Durbin, and Wilson Contreras
Lost: Alex Bregman
Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers are that team that randomly wins 90 games but no one remembers them doing it. They traded Corbin Burnes last year, but they’re still hanging around—barely.
Added: Kyle Harrison
Lost: Freddy Peralta, Caleb Durbin
Toronto Blue Jays
They spent a ton this offseason adding Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, and Tyler Rogers—trying to catch the Dodgers’ vibe. But will it actually work? Maybe.
Added: Cease, Okamoto, Rogers
Lost: Bo Bichette, Seranthony Dominguez, Chris Bassitt
The Maybe Not’s
These teams might make it interesting for a minute… and then fade faster than a TikTok trend.
Oakland A’s “Maybe the rebuild accidentally works… a little” They will be a fun team to watch with emerging stars in Nick Kurtz, Max Muncy, Tyler Soderstrom, but with not enough arms I trust and how young they are… not shot they do much.
Houston Astros They’re in such a weird spot, they have great pieces everywhere that include Jeremy Pena, Hunter Brown, and Josh Hader. But is that enough to contend for a World Series? I doubt it. Added: Nick Allen Lost: Mauricio Dubón
St. Louis Cardinals Trading Arenado is the headline move, it’s symbolic as much as it is baseball. Be on the lookout for top Prospect JJ Wetherholt to make noise early. The rotation outlook already looks bottom-tier entering 2026. Added: Richard Fitts, Hunter Dobbins Lost: Nolan Arenado, Wilson Contreras, Sonny Gray, Brendan Donavon
Baltimore Orioles I love all of their moves in the offseason. If only they focused on the starting rotation… a top 5 line up in baseball with great names in the pen, but yet again, I cannot trust them. Added: SP Shane Baz, Pete Alonso, Ryan Helsley, Taylor Ward Lost: Grayson Rodriguez
Conclusion
As the 2026 MLB season gets underway, every team technically starts in first place—which is the only time you’ll see fans of the Oakland Athletics, Houston Astros, St. Louis Cardinals, Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, and Boston Red Sox all equally convinced this is their year. When we all know deep down its the Los Angeles Dodgers year.
Some teams are rolling out superstar lineups, some are rolling out prospects, and some are just rolling with whatever the payroll spreadsheet allows. The Dodgers look loaded (as usual), the Yankees expect October, the Padres expect everything, and the Red Sox expect… discourse.
By May, one of these teams will be a wagon, one will be confusing, and one will already have fans refreshing mock drafts. But for now, every rotation looks deep, every bullpen is “fixed,” and every offseason move was genius.
For a few glorious weeks, the standings are perfect and so is the optimism.
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