2026 MLB Predictions

Happy Opening Day! (Sorta.)

If you’re a regular here, you know this space has been fairly quiet since the tail end of last season. I haven’t had a lot of time to write about baseball for the last six months, and while there is a very good reason for that— I hope to have an announcement on that soon!— I want to make sure I get in my predictions before I attend my very first Opening Day in person. After all, I might as well fully discredit myself before I return to regularly writing about baseball in the near future. That said, this year’s predictions will be mercifully short*. Whether that lack of detail will make me look better or worse in the long run, remains to be seen.

*Short for me, at least.

AL EAST Champion: Boston Red Sox

The toughest division to pick. I could see anyone but the Rays winning it. The Blue Jays are the fashionable pick and hard to go against, but coming so close to winning the whole thing and coming up short is hard to bounce back from. It can be done, however, just look at the 2015 Royals. I like Baltimore to return to respectability, the Yankees will be good, but Boston feels like it has something special with its young talent coming out of the World Baseball Classic. I’m riding with the Sox.

AL CENTRAL Champion: Detroit Tigers

Speaking of the WBC, no team’s players performed better than my Royals. I’m very excited about this year’s team, though the corner outfield still concerns me. Last year, I was a homer and picked KC coming off their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade, despite my fears of regression. Turned out, I should have listened to my gut. All season long, it felt like the Royals were pressing too hard and it never really came together like I hoped.

This season, the Tigers probably have the advantage on paper, basically because they have fewer what-ifs than KC, but after their epic collapse that cost them the division title last September, I don’t expect Detroit to be complacent. They’re the favorite, which can be a blessing and a curse, but I’m picking them to win it. I am predicting the Royals get back to the postseason, however, and if their rotation stays healthy, they can be really dangerous in October. And it goes without saying that if the lineup isn’t deeper this year, they won’t get to October in the first place.

I’ll also point out that I think the Central will be more of a two-team race than in year’s past. That’s right, I know they’ll probably make me look foolish, but this is the year the clock finally strikes midnight on the Guardians. Jose Ramirez will be great, as usual, but the lack of talent around him has to catch up to Cleveland eventually. Right?

AL WEST Champion: Seattle Mariners

The Mariners were a great story last October. They got further than the franchise has ever been before, but they still fell short of the big prize. Can they finally get there this year? They have a real chance, and the West is theirs to lose. As much as I hate the owner of the A’s and everything going on around that franchise, I like what they’re building on the field. But they’re not ready to win the division yet, and both teams in Texas seem to be going downhill. The less said about the Angels, the better.

AL Wild Cards: Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees, Kansas City Royals

I’d love to see Baltimore replace the Yankees, and it could definitely happen, but something tells me New York has too much to fall short. That said, I don’t think they’re good enough to win it all, which is what matters to Yankees fans. The Blue Jays, on the other hand, are a very real threat to hoist the trophy, regardless of whether they win the division or not. And I’ve already shared my thoughts on the Royals. I may be wearing blue-and-white glasses, but I don’t think I’m too far off base.

NL EAST Champion: Philadelphia Phillies

The Braves feel like a cursed franchise at this point, which leaves the Mets and Phillies. And every time I’ve ever picked the Mets, they’ve face-planted, so I’m not doing it again. So while I have some doubts about Philly, that’s who I’m stuck with.

NL CENTRAL Champion: Chicago Cubs

I don’t like the cheap spending habits of the Brewers, but picking against them feels stupid. It’s burned me in the past, but I like what the Cubs are doing, and I think they get it done this year. The Brewers will still be good and will make the playoffs as a Wild Card, and it wouldn’t surprise me if we saw a rematch between the two division rivals in October.

NL WEST Champion: Los Angeles Dodgers

Do we really need to waste much time on this one? C’mon, easiest pick on the board.

NL Wild Cards: Milwaukee Brewers, New York Mets, San Diego Padres

The NL feels surprisingly top-heavy this year. Outside of Milwaukee, I don’t feel strongly about any of the wild card teams, but these two are the likeliest in my opinion. The Padres may be nearing the end of their contention window though, so they look especially susceptible to a dark horse. Maybe the D-Backs bounce back after a down year, the Braves sign a priest to exorcise the demons luring players into their trainer’s room, or the young Marlins overachieve way ahead of schedule. But for now, I’ll stick with San Diego.

ALCS: Mariners vs. Blue Jays

Don’t take this as a lack of faith in the Royals. More like superstition. I don’t want to curse them. I also don’t want to be a total homer, and while I sincerely believe they have a shot to be here in October, they definitely aren’t the favorite. I’ll predict a second go-around for last year’s best AL teams, but this time I’ll go with the M’s to get it done.

NLCS: Dodgers vs. Cubs

I’d love to pick the Cubs here, but we all know who the odds favor.

World Series: Dodgers vs. Mariners

I’d love to pick the Mariners here, but we all know who the odds favor. It’s never a sure thing, and crazy things happen in baseball, but it’s hard to pick against the Dodgers these days.

Okay, that’s it. I realize most of these will be wrong, but that’s the fun of baseball. If you think you can do better, and even if you don’t, I’d love to hear your picks in the comments!

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Thanks for reading Powder Blue Nostalgia. Let’s see those predictions in the comments!