The 2026 season is about to begin and it’s time to make some predictions!

AL

AL EAST

1. NEW YORK YANKEES

The 2024 AL Champions had the best record in the AL last season, but a head to head record against Toronto, led to a Wild Card berth instead, despite the Bronx Bombers being the best in the division based on run differential. The rotation when healthy is the best in the division, the lineup is the best as well. A division title should be expected here, and if the younger guys step up, the best record in the AL is certainly possible.

2. TORONTO BLUE JAYS

The defending AL champs lost a key bat in SS Bo Bichette, and will be counting on George Springer repeating the sudden halting of his decline. Their lineup overachieved in the playoffs last season, doing significantly better than during the regular season. Keep in mind that according to run differential, they were the third best team in the division last season. I’m not sure about putting them second, but I see them as a safer pick over Boston.

3. BOSTON RED SOX

Boston still lacks a middle of the order bat, barring any break-outs. Their bullpen overachieved last season, with closer Aroldis Chapman having a career year. The rotation doesn’t look better either, with Brayan Bello outperforming his FIP in 2025 by a significant margin. I don’t really see Boston as a division contending team at this point, but depending on how Toronto does they can finish second in the division.

4. BALTIMORE ORIOLES

There’s just no way to look at their pitching and expect them to win the division. The lineup improved, but still looks worse than New York’s. Honestly, I could see Baltimore outperforming Boston or Toronto, as it’s very close with these three teams. I just look at Baltimore’s pitching, and it just doesn’t look as good as the other two teams to me.

5. TAMPA BAY RAYS

Tampa is always in this bizarre state of somewhere between a rebuild and contention. I can’t look at this team and predict a playoff berth. The bullpen and lineup are both major question marks, while the lineup looks top heavy. They can always surprise and do better than expected, but it’s not something that I can honestly predict.

AL CENTRAL

1. DETROIT TIGERS

Detroit almost won the division last season, but collapsed down the stretch. They have since improved their bullpen, and added Framber Valdez to the rotation. With Cleveland getting worse, it seems to me that this is Detroit’s year to finally retake the division.

2. KANSAS CITY ROYALS

In every area, they look worse than Detroit, but there’s potential if the rotation takes a step forward. There’s also a chance for the lineup to be better if the younger guys step up. A bunch of things have to go right for them however.

3. CLEVELAND GUARDIANS

The lineup looks legitimately bad, completely depending on 3B Jose Ramirez. A lot has to go right, for that lineup to improve. The bullpen looks good, but the rotation seems to lack an ace or even a legitimate #2 starter. I just have a hard time picking them to return to the playoffs at this point.

4. MINNESOTA TWINS

Where do I begin? The bullpen is a mess, the lineup is completely unproven and injury-prone, the rotation lacks an ace in my view. This is easily a bottom of the division team.

5. CHICAGO WHITE SOX

Another obvious bottom of the division team. The question is whether their core hitters are enough to elevate them over Minnesota. The rotation looks a lot worse than Minnesota’s, and the bullpen just looks slightly better, so they have a chance to finish fourth. I just can’t predict that based on Minnesota looking slightly better.

AL WEST

1. SEATTLE MARINERS

One of the best pitching staffs in the game with a top-heavy lineup. They look like the clear favorites to win the division, and the only real question is if they’re good enough to make another deep playoff run, because a lot has to go wrong for them to fail at that.

2. HOUSTON ASTROS

The Texas teams are similar. Houston has the better bullpen and a better lineup, but everything is top-heavy and an injury or decline can tank their season. They don’t look like a division winning team anymore, and it looks more and more as if a rebuild is on the way.

3. TEXAS RANGERS

Another top-heavy team. The bullpen is a mess and the rotation heavily relies on injury-prone starters Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi staying healthy. They also are relying on their lineup taking steps forward and staying healthy. Houston has less questions, so I’m picking them ahead.

4. ATHLETICS

The best lineup in the division, combined with the worst pitching staff in the division. If any of their young starting pitchers break out, they have a shot at finishing higher, but the Texas teams have more certainty.

5. LOS ANGELES ANGELS

They’re easily the worst team in the division with little to no redeeming traits. A weak pitching staff and lineup along with a weak farm. One of the worst franchises in the Majors.

AL POSTSEASON SEEDS

1. NEW YORK YANKEES

2. SEATTLE MARINERS

3. DETROIT TIGERS

4. TORONTO BLUE JAYS (WC)

5. KANSAS CITY ROYALS (WC)

6. HOUSTON ASTROS (WC)

AL WC PLAYOFFS: DET over HOU; KC over TOR.

ALDS: NYY over KC; SEA over DET.

ALCS: NYY over SEA.

NL

NL EAST

1. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

A lot has been said about their age, but their pitching staff is still the best in the division. They still have a good lineup and their defense has improved. I really don’t see how it’s possible not to pick them to win the division for the third straight season. The only question is if 1B Bryce Harper can bounce back, to really put them over the top.

2. ATLANTA BRAVES

When healthy, Atlanta’s rotation can give Philly’s a run for their money, but it isn’t. It’s already injury-prone and now half of it is on the injured list. The bullpen and lineup are right there on the same level with Philly:

3. NEW YORK METS

They got worse this off-season. I think both the rotation and bullpen have question marks that Philly and Atlanta don’t have. Their ace is Freddy Peralta, but based on his advanced metrics he overachieved in 2025. He’s more of a mid-rotation arm. The lineup is top-heavy and the defense is suspect. They’re clearly not as good as Philly and Atlanta, so third place makes sense.

4. MIAMI MARLINS

I’d love to predict a higher finish, but realistically it’s hard to do. The lineup just doesn’t look good right now and the rotation is top heavy. If Sandy Alcantara pitches like an ace and Eury Perez takes a step forward, there’s a shot for a third place finish. Any injuries to the teams ahead, and a higher place is possible too.

5. WASHINGTON NATIONALS

The obviously worst team in the division by far. I really have nothing else to say, it’s just a really bad team in every category.

NL CENTRAL

1. CHICAGO CUBS

The most complete team in the division. They don’t really have an ace, but the bullpen is solid and the lineup has good defense and is overall above average hitting-wise. They don’t impress me much, but they’re clearly the best in the division.

2. MILWAUKEE BREWERS

The lineup is average, the bullpen is elite, the rotation looks average but somehow ends up good. It’s hard for me to pick them over Milwaukee, so maybe this season Chicago will win the division. They have a tendency to surprise however.

3. PITTSBURGH PIRATES

They have arguably the best starting pitcher in the game in Paul Skenes. After him, it’s a pretty mediocre team with a lot needing to go right for them.

4. CINCINNATI REDS

The rotation looks solid, but the rest does not. It’s very close between them and Pittsburgh, and it could really go either way. It just looks as if Pittsburgh is a bit better.

5. ST. LOUIS CARDINALS

Again just really nothing to say other than that they’re the worst team in the division. The rotation is thr worst by far. The bullpen is promising and the lineup is average at best. They might surprise and finish higher, but that means one of the other teams in the division had things go wrong.

NL WEST

1. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Where do I start? The defending World Champions of the last two years, they have a rotation full of aces, arguably the best closer in the Majors and arguably the best lineup. Winning the division for the fifth straight season should be a beeeze.

2. SAN DIEGO PADRES

There’s a lot of questions with the team now, but they’re bullpen is elite and there’s promise in their top-heavy lineup. The rotation is questionable and what will decide their finish in the division.

3. SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

A top-heavy rotation, a weak bullpen and a top-heavy lineup. They can do better than San Diego if they have rotation issues, otherwise this is middle-of-the pack team.

4. ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

It’s really close between them, San Francisco and San Diego. The pitching staff looks weak and the lineup is especially top-heavy. I have them fourth, but they can finish in third.

5. COLORADO ROCKIES

They’re in contention for the worst in the Majors in every category. That’s all I have to say about this mess of a team.

NL POSTSEASON SEEDS

1. LOS ANGELES DODGERS

2. PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES

3. CHICAGO CUBS

4. ATLANTA BRAVES (WC)

5. MILWAUKEE BREWERS (WC)

6. SAN DIEGO PADRES (WC)

NL WC PLAYOFFS: CHC over SD; ATL over MIL.

NLDS: LAD over ATL; PHI over CHC.

NLCS: LAD over PHI.

WORLD SERIES: LAD over NYY.