Over the past several seasons, I have made predictions for the Philadelphia Phillies on Metro Philadelphia.
In this piece, I will be predicting all of Major League Baseball in what is shaping up to be a tremendous 2026 season.
Will the Seattle Mariners finally reach the mountaintop? Which teams will miss the postseason? Who wins AL Manager of the Year? I have all of that and more.
*Arrows indicate movement in the standings from 2025. y= won division. x= makes playoffs.
AL East
- y-Boston Red Sox (95-67) ↑
- x-Toronto Blue Jays (93-69) ↓
- Baltimore Orioles (88-74) ↑
- New York Yankees (86-76) ↓
- Tampa Bay Rays (76-86) ↓
I have the Boston Red Sox winning the AL East this upcoming season.
Boston features one of the best starting rotations in the game today, paired with young phenom Roman Anthony. They will have to fend off the reigning American League champions, the Toronto Blue Jays, who I also expect to make the postseason.
The Orioles will bounce back after a collapse a year ago. The Pete Alonso signing was big for the O’s, and a healthy Gunnar Henderson is going to turn their offense around in a big way.
The New York Yankees will finish with another winning record but miss out on the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.
New York has talent but cannot rely on just Aaron Judge to carry their offseason this season. Their pitching rotation has questions outside of Max Fried, and while their bullpen is strong, it likely will not overcome the injuries suffered by Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt.
Down in Tampa, the Rays will field a competitive team again this season. However, in the juggernaut that is the AL East, they will have to wait their turn in 2027 for a realistic playoff opportunity. But hey, at least the Trop is back!
AL Central
- y-Detroit Tigers (93-69) ↑
- Kansas City Royals (86-76) ↑
- Cleveland Guardians (81-81) ↓
- Chicago White Sox (74-88) ↑
- Minnesota Twins (69-93) ↓
Led by Tarik Skubal, I believe the Detroit Tigers will complete the job of winning the AL Central this season.
In a weaker division, I feel there will be many close battles between these clubs as the season rages on. The Royals will be a contender yet again this season for the AL Central crown, but a lack of offseason moves will keep them behind the Tigers in the battle for first.
The Cleveland Guardians will likely take a step back due to not having Emmanuel Clase on the roster from the beginning of the season. Their team has a top-five player in José Ramírez, but I do not expect him to carry them again in 2026.
I believe in progress for the club in the South Side of Chicago, but they will likely not be a real threat.
The Minnesota Twins and their fans might just be happy when this season is over, as they have a bleak outlook for 2026.
AL West
- y-Seattle Mariners (94-68)
- x-Houston Astros (89-73)
- x-Athletics (88-74) ↑
- Texas Rangers (82-80) ↓
- Los Angeles Angels (73-89) ↓
In what might be the best division in baseball, the AL West will be a slugfest.
The Seattle Mariners were on the doorstep of their first World Series appearance last season. That hunger, paired with a returning roster of stars, should carry them to first place in the West.
However, you cannot count out the Houston Astros. Houston will be looking to get back into October baseball again this season. Health will hold its future in its hands.
I expect a big season out of the team in Sacramento, which will include a postseason berth. The A’s have some of the best young talent in baseball today. Nick Kurtz and Jacob Wilson set the baseball world on fire in 2025, and I expect an even better year in their sophomore seasons.
The Texas Rangers retooled their team in the offseason, but have to contend with more dynamic rosters in their division. I believe they can find themselves pushing towards a winning record, but I do not see the playoffs in their immediate future.
Mike Trout will be the only reason to watch Angels games this upcoming season. The cellar awaits Los Angeles, a team that has no real direction. They hope that some of their youth can pop, setting the stage for a big offseason next year.
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