2026 MLB preview: Division breakdowns, World Series predictions, more

Mar 23, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani (17) hits a double during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

Well, it’s Groundhog Day, and the rest of MLB is once again chasing the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, who have somehow gotten even better over the winter. 

But can the National League powerhouse’s reign of terror end in 2026?

Out in the Pacific Northwest, the Seattle Mariners are angling to take over the American League, though clubs in Toronto and the Bronx will have plenty to say about that. 

Across the Big Apple in Queens, the Mets are looking to put last year’s horrendous collapse further in the rear-view mirror and take their first legitimate steps toward contention with Juan Soto in their ranks.

How will it all play out? Let’s take a look at our divisional and postseason predictions:

American League East

1. New York Yankees 
2. Toronto Blue Jays (AL Wild Card 1)
3. Boston Red Sox (AL Wild Card 2)
4. Baltimore Orioles
5. Tampa Bay Rays

The American League East is going to come down to the wire once again, and the Blue Jays were plenty busy this offseason in hopes of keeping the dream of repeating as division champs and pennant winners. They added Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce to the rotation, and what sort of encore does Trey Yesavage have in store once he gets healthy? Kazuma Okamoto should hit the ground running as their starting third baseman, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. should have MVP aspirations.

Yet this still might be the Yankees’ division to win. Toronto’s rotation is ravaged by injuries, with Bowden Francis gone for the year because of Tommy John surgery, Jose Berrios dealing with a stress fracture in his elbow, and Shane Bieber contending with forearm fatigue. 

Meanwhile, the Yankees are returning every piece of an offense that led the AL last season and should have a full-strength rotation featuring Max Fried, Carlos Rodon, Gerrit Cole, and Cam Schlittler by early June.

 

American League Central

1. Detroit Tigers
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Cleveland Guardians
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Chicago White Sox

The Tigers are going to ride the same formula that brought them to the ALDS last season, and that is on the pitching brilliance of two-time defending Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, who remains the class of the junior circuit. They need the bats to keep up, but are getting promising reinforcements in the form of top prospect Kevin McGonigle, who will make his MLB debut on Opening Day.

Thankfully, they play in a weak division that sees the Royals as their biggest threat. Bobby Witt Jr. is a superstar, and Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino are coming off brilliant showings at the World Baseball Classic. 

 

American League West

1. Seattle Mariners
2. Texas Rangers (AL Wild Card 3)
3. Houston Astros
4. Athletics
5. Los Angeles Angels

Will this finally be the year for the Mariners? They were one win away from their first-ever AL pennant last year and appear to have all the pieces necessary to legitimately push for a title in 2026. They signed All-Star utility man Brendan Donovan and retained first baseman Josh Naylor. Even after some regression in 2025, the rotation enters this season amongst the very best units in baseball, headlined by Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, and George Kirby. 

American League Postseason

Wild Card

• No. 3 Tigers def. No. 6 Rangers
• No. 4 Blue Jays def. No. 5 Red Sox

ALDS

• No. 1 Mariners def. No. 4 Blue Jays
• No. 2 Yankees def. No. 3 Tigers

ALCS

• No. 1 Mariners def. No. 2 Yankees

 

National League East

1. New York Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies (NL Wild Card 1)
3. Atlanta Braves (NL Wild Card 2)
4. Miami Marlins
5. Washington Nationals

This feels like it is going to be a coin toss between the Mets and the Phillies until the Braves prove they can stay healthy. 

The Phillies didn’t make many changes this offseason, as Dave Dombrowski is giving this core one more opportunity to prove it can contend. Kyle Schwarber, the NL’s home run king last year, is back with Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and JT Realmuto. Christopher Sanchez could be an ace like Zack Wheeler, and a return to form from Aaron Nola would make the rotation one of the best in the NL.

Yet, there is something about the Mets that lends the idea that they can win their first division crown since 2015. The starting rotation should be much better with Freddy Peralta joining Nolan McLean. If Kodai Senga can revert to his 2023 ways, New York’s Achilles heel from last year is all but solved, especially with the reliability Clay Holmes showed. 

Juan Soto is gunning for an MVP this season, Francisco Lindor is amongst the best shortstops in the National League, and newcomer Bo Bichette is one of the top natural hitters in the game. Can a healthy Luis Roebrt Jr. be a 30-home-run threat? Will Carson Benge be a spark plug in right field? Will Francisco Alvarez become the NL’s best catcher? Can Devin Williams figure it out as the closer?

All are possible, and if even some of those boxes are ticked, the Mets stand to surprise some people. 

 

National League Central

1. Chicago Cubs
2. Milwaukee Brewers (NL Wild Card 3)
3. Pittsburgh Pirates
4. Cincinnati Reds
5. St. Louis Cardinals

If former Mets prospect Pete Crow-Armstrong can put together a full season of star-caliber play, the Cubs can slide past the Brewers for the NL Central title. 

Milwaukee will always be a threat in a winnable division, but more parity should exist here. The Pirates are better after making some signings and also have two stud youngsters in pitcher Bubba Chandler and shortstop Konnor Griffin on the cusp of the big leagues. The Reds can also never be written off as long as Tito Francona is leading things. 

 

National League West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Francisco Giants
3. Arizona Diamondbacks
4. San Diego Padres
5. Colorado Rockies

The chase for Major League Baseball’s first 3-peat since the Yankees (1998-2000) is on, with no signs of the Dodgers slowing down. The two-time defending champs somehow got even better, signing the best free-agent bat (Kyle Tucker) and closer (Edwin Diaz) available. 

That is being added to an unstoppable force headlined by four-time MVP Shohei Ohtani, who leads one of the best offenses in baseball and the best rotation on paper — an embarrassment of riches that also includes Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, and Rokie Sasaki. 

National League Postseason

Wild Card

• No. 6 Brewers def. No. 3 Cubs
• No. 4 Phillies def. No. 5 Braves

NLDS

• No. 1 Dodgers def. No. 4 Phillies
• No. 2 Mets def. No. 6 Brewers

NLCS

• No. 1 Dodgers def. No. 2 Mets

 

World Series

• Mariners defeat Dodgers

Maybe this is just a plea for some semblance of parity. Perhaps this is finally the year the stars align for a starving franchise. But for a franchise that has been on the cusp and will be far hungrier than most, the Mariners will win their first-ever World Series.

 

Awards

• AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet, Red Sox
• NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes, Pirates
• AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
• NL MVP: Juan Soto, Mets
• AL Rookie of the Year: Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays
• NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean, Mets

For more MLB news and predictions, visit AMNY.com