MLB predictions 2026: Sporting News' expert picks for division winners, awards, World Series champion
· Yahoo Sports
MLB predictions 2026: Sporting News' expert picks for division winners, awards, World Series champion originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Break out the peanuts and Cracker Jacks — baseball season is here.
Visit biznow.biz for more information.
After the World Baseball Classic gave fans a taste of America's favorite pastime, the MLB is set to take that momentum into the 2026 season.
The Dodgers enter this campaign the same as the last — defending World Series champions. Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts and the rest of the high-powered Los Angeles squad proved money does buy happiness, taking home the title after knocking off the Blue Jays in an electric seven-game series of October baseball.
Once again, it will be the Dodgers with the largest target on their back, but there are plenty of other clubs aiming to claim the title of baseball's best.
Sporting News' best experts are calling their shots and projecting the World Series champion, playoff teams, award winners and so much more in this year's SN's staff predictions for the 2026 MLB season.
SN's MLB HQ: Live MLB scores | Updated MLB standings | Full MLB schedule
MLB predictions 2026
Feb 21, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (99) hits a home run against the Detroit Tigers during the third inning in a Spring Training game at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Rob Cassidy, Senior Editor
American League
- East: Yankees
- Central: Royals
- West: Mariners
- Wild cards: Blue Jays, Tigers, Red Sox
- MVP: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
- Cy Young: Garrett Crochet, Red Sox
- Rookie of the Year: Trey Yesavage, Blue Jays
National League
- East: Phillies
- Central: Cubs
- West: Dodgers
- Wild cards: Giants, Braves, Pirates
- MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
- Cy Young: Paul Skenes, Pirates
- Rookie of the Year: Carson Benge, Mets
Postseason
AL champ: Yankees
NL champ: Phillies
World Series champ: Yankees
Thoughts: I’m going to attempt to stop and smell the pine tar as much as possible this season, reminding myself not to complain too loudly about missed calls, broadcast blackouts, or crusty old color commentators using batting average as a meaningful stat. When the impending labor negotiation forces us to miss games a year from now, I want to remember the good times, not the occasions on which I rolled my eyes.
The upcoming season is going to inject new names into the public consciousness, and that prospect excites me. Players like New York’s Nolan McLean, Pittsburgh’s Connon Griffin and Kansas City’s Carter Jensen all stand to announce themselves on a national level. Nothing marks the passage of time like baseball, and the season ahead will continue the change-of-the-guard theme that has marked the last few years. It’s bittersweet to see a new crop of stars emerge as guys like Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Mike Trout begin their trots off into the sunset.
Enjoy the season — you never know when capitalistic greed and tone-deaf owners will take the game away.
© John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Daniel Chavkin, Content Producer
American League
- East: Yankees
- Central: Royals
- West: Mariners
- Wild cards: Blue Jays, Orioles, Tigers
- MVP: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
- Cy Young: Garrett Crochet, Red Sox
- Rookie of the Year: Samuel Basallo, Orioles
National League
- East: Phillies
- Central: Cubs
- West: Dodgers
- Wild cards: Mets, Brewers, Giants
- MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
- Cy Young: Paul Skenes, Pirates
- Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean, Mets
Postseason
AL champ: Mariners
NL champ: Cubs
World Series champ: Mariners
Thoughts: The most exciting race in the 2026 season will be in the AL East, which features four legitimate World Series contenders, as someone will be disappointed at the end of the year. While these teams will likely batter each other throughout the season, the Mariners will find their way into the top seed in the AL playoffs and ride that to their first World Series appearance.
In the National League, the Dodgers are the heavy favorite, but at some point, they will be knocked off the top. In their place is the Cubs, whose depth will carry the team to a division title in the regular season and allow Chicago to break through once more by taking down Los Angeles in the postseason
A Mariners-Cubs World Series would be fun, but Seattle has the edge thanks to a strong pitching rotation that got playoff experience in 2025. The Mariners will make history, hanging their first-ever World Series banner.
Daniel Mader, Content Producer
American League
- East: Blue Jays
- Central: Royals
- West: Mariners
- Wild cards: Orioles, Yankees, Athletics
- MVP: Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Blue Jays
- Cy Young: Tarik Skubal, Tigers
- Rookie of the Year: Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays
National League
- East: Phillies
- Central: Cubs
- West: Dodgers
- Wild cards: Mets, Diamondbacks, Pirates
- MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
- Cy Young: Paul Skenes, Pirates
- Rookie of the Year: Konnor Griffin, Pirates
Postseason
AL champ: Mariners
NL champ: Dodgers
World Series champ: Dodgers
Thoughts: I’m gonna be a pessimist: prepare for a lengthy lockout after the Dodgers three-peat. Time and time again, Los Angeles has proven its talent trumps all else.
In most areas, including the World Series winner, I think the 2025 season will repeat itself. For the Cy Young Awards winners, how could you not take Skubal and Skenes? In the NL, how could you not pick the Dodgers to at least play in the Fall Classic? And among the division champions, the Mariners, Cubs, Yankees, Blue Jays and Phillies all have straightforward paths to the postseason again.
But for more fun measures, I have some fresher predictions. One: Shohei Ohtani finishes top-3 in NL Cy Young Award voting, then of course, takes home another MVP. He seems pretty committed to being on the mound consistently in 2026, and at this point, why not try to add something new to the trophy case? Additionally, if things break the right way for the Pirates and Athletics, I can see a path for each to return to the postseason — and they’d make for great storylines along the way if they do.
There will be surprises, as there is every baseball season. But right now, MLB is in a consequential era thanks to one dominant franchise that will soon be forcing difficult decisions onto every owner: the Dodgers. Los Angeles might be tired of partying by November. But at this time next year, I just hope there’s baseball being played.
Teddy Ricketson, Content Producer
American League
- East: Red Sox
- Central: Tigers
- West: Mariners
- Wild cards: Yankees, Blue Jays, Astros
- MVP: Aaron Judge, Yankees
- Cy Young: Garrett Crochet, Red Sox
- Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle, Tigers
National League
- East: Mets
- Central: Cubs
- West: Dodgers
- Wild cards: Phillies, Brewers, Pirates
- MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers
- Cy Young: Yoshinobu, Yamamoto, Dodgers
- Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean, Mets
Postseason
AL champ: Red Sox
NL champ: Dodgers
World Series champ: Dodgers
Thoughts: Major League Baseball is barreling toward a lockout in 2027, so enjoy baseball while you can. It may seem fitting, but unfortunately, forecasting the 2026 season, it is hard not to pick the Dodgers to win their third consecutive World Series. Los Angeles had the same opportunities to improve as other teams and arguably added the biggest free agent on the market in Kyle Tucker. Looking around the National League, there isn't a team you can confidently trust in a seven-game series to keep them out of the World Series, barring high-profile injuries to the Dodgers.
It feels like we are entering a weird period in MLB history. Aaron Judge and Shohei Ohtani are both expected to win MVP awards for a third consecutive year; Ohtani is looking to win his fourth MVP in a row. Paul Skenes and Tarik Skubal have the best arms to repeat as Cy Young winners, and baseball feels predictable. Arguably, the most exciting races are the Cy Young races. Each league has a young pitcher (Trey Yesavage, Nolan McLean) who is the favorite to win, but both leagues also feature a young hitter (Kevin McGonigle, Konnor Griffin) who is garnering rave reviews and could become a high-impact player depending on when they are called up.
Dan Treacy, Senior Content Producer
American League
- East: Yankees
- Central: Royals
- West: Mariners
- Wild cards: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Rangers
- MVP: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
- Cy Young: Tarik Skubal, Tigers
- Rookie of the Year: Trey Yesavage, Blue Jays
National League
- East: Philies
- Central: Cubs
- West: Dodgers
- Wild cards: Braves, Mets, Brewers
- MVP: Juan Soto, Mets
- Cy Young: Eury Perez, Marlins
- Rookie of the Year: JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals
Postseason
AL champ: Mariners
NL champ: Dodgers
World Series champ: Dodgers
Thoughts: There might come a day when it’s once again wise to pick a team other than the Dodgers, but today is not that day.
The Dodgers have imperfections with Blake Snell starting the season on the IL and Roki Sasaki looking lost in spring, but they proved in October that they are deep enough to survive their imperfections, and they are only deeper after adding Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz. With the Phillies stuck in neutral, the Cubs might be the NL team best suited to threaten L.A.’s reign.
The AL is again more wide open. The Yankees will be in position again, and the Blue Jays believe they will be, too, but need to avoid a hangover from their heartbreaking World Series defeat. The Royals look like a potential breakthrough team after taking a step back in 2025, while the Mariners have every reason to believe they can win at least one more game and get to the World Series for the first time.