Opening Day of the 2026 MLB season isn’t far away. It’s the perfect time to make some bold predictions, from teams hitting win-total landmarks to surprise award candidates.
Mariners Win 100+ Games
The Mariners won 90 games in 2025, so adding 10-plus wins might seem like a stretch. Seattle didn’t make any splashy moves this offseason, but re-signing Josh Naylor was key, and José A. Ferrer helps fortify the bullpen.
This is a vote of confidence in the formula that worked last year. Their rotation could be the best in baseball, the bullpen projects as a top-10 unit at worst, and there are no glaring holes in the lineup.
Add in the soon-to-arrive Colt Emerson and a solid bench, and there’s a path for the Mariners to reach 100 wins for just the second time in franchise history.
Rafael Devers Finishes Top Five in NL MVP
Amid a blockbuster trade and questions about his position, Rafael Devers’ impressive 2025 went somewhat overlooked. He hit 35 home runs, the second-most of his career, and ranked in the 90th percentile in xwOBA.
His 15.2% walk rate placed him in the top 2% of baseball, and he was also in the 97th percentile in hard-hit rate. His defense at first base remains a work in progress, but it’s within reason that he develops into a plus defender at the position.
Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto are locks for top-five MVP finishes, leaving three spots up for grabs.
Edward Cabrera Receives Cy Young Votes
With an elite curveball and a solid slider, Edward Cabrera has significant upside after appearing to get his command issues under control in 2025.
The right-hander posted a 3.42 ERA after the break last season, with 64 strikeouts in 55.1 innings. Ranking in the 74th percentile in both ground-ball rate and strikeout rate, Cabrera has a clear blueprint for success.
He’s never been an All-Star and has yet to receive Cy Young votes, so this qualifies as a bold pick as he enters his sixth big-league season.
Cardinals Lose 100+ Games
Just two teams are projected to have a worse pitching staff than the St. Louis Cardinals in 2026. The offense leans heavily on Ivan Herrera and JJ Wetherholt, with several below-average hitters throughout the lineup.
The Cardinals haven’t lost 100-plus games since 1907, and their winning percentage hasn’t fallen below .400 since 1919.
This team, however, has a real chance to break both streaks. There’s a clear lack of talent on both sides of the ball.
Four AL East Teams Make Postseason
It’s become much easier for four teams from one division to reach the playoffs with the balanced schedule. The Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Orioles all profile as top-six teams in the American League.
The Mariners appear to be well ahead of the pack in the AL West. The Astros may hover around .500, the Rangers have a low floor due to their reliance on injury-prone pitching, and in the AL Central, the Royals look like an 85-win team at best.
That sets up a legitimate four-way race in the AL East. The Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Orioles all project in the 85 to 95 win range.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. Receives AL MVP Votes
Is it bold to say a player with 55 home runs and 71 stolen bases over the last two seasons will receive MVP votes? Jazz Chisholm Jr. is only a two-time All-Star and has yet to receive an MVP vote in his six-year career, so it still qualifies as a bold call.
A 15% barrel rate should translate to plenty of power again. Chisholm was elite defensively in 2025 and brings highlight-level plays, which only strengthens his case playing in New York.
He has the tools to put together a 40-40 season, which would almost certainly vault him into the MVP conversation.
AL East Team Trades for CJ Abrams
The Yankees, Blue Jays, or Red Sox could all talk themselves into targeting CJ Abrams. The middle infield projects as Toronto’s biggest weakness, the Yankees’ two weakest bats are on the left side of the infield, and Boston still has some uncertainty.
It’s also possible the Rays get involved if they view Abrams as a buy-low opportunity. Tampa Bay has its corner infield spots locked down, but there could be room at second or shortstop.
In what looks like MLB’s most competitive division, front offices will need to be aggressive in the trade market.
Athletics Finish Second in AL West
It looks like the Mariners are well ahead of the rest of the AL West. Framber Valdez’s departure only adds to the Astros’ prolonged talent drain. Texas has a strong position player core, but how much can you trust a roster relying on the health of Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, and Nathan Eovaldi?
The Angels are the Angels. Even mediocrity would represent progress.
Quietly, the Athletics have a talented lineup led by Nick Kurtz. Their rotation should be solid, if unspectacular, and Leo De Vries could make his big-league debut in 2026.
Pirates Compete for Playoffs
Paul Skenes and Bubba Chandler could form one of the best one-two punches in the majors. The rest of the rotation largely flew under the radar in 2025, but there are several serviceable to solid arms behind Skenes.
Pittsburgh also added to its lineup with Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna. Brandon Lowe provides a high-floor bat, giving Skenes and company a better chance at consistent run support.
FanGraphs gives the Pirates a 44.8% chance of making the playoffs. Could this be the year Pittsburgh returns to the postseason for the first time since 2015?
Logan Gilbert Finishes Top Three for AL Cy Young
After leading the majors in innings and WHIP and finishing sixth in Cy Young voting in 2024, Logan Gilbert didn’t receive any votes in 2025. He still posted a 3.44 ERA and, despite poor Stuff+ numbers, recorded a career-best 32.3% strikeout rate.
Entering 2026, Gilbert is working on a splinker and has reintroduced a harder version of his cutter.
He’s been on the cusp of Cy Young contention in recent years. The Mariners’ towering right-hander has everything needed to finish in the top three in 2026, provided he stays healthy for 30-plus starts.
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