Derek Lee and Charlie Galanti
Baseball season is upon us. The Super Bowl is over, the NBA is having one of it’s most boring seasons in recent memory. The only thing between us and the fresh smell of a ballpark on a spring day is March Madness. It is impossible to predict what will happen over 162 games. There are expectations, surprises, injuries, rookies who shine and slumps to be had. The only way for sure to know how it will play out is with a time machine. However, Charlie and I have decided to put together our preseason predictions for the final standings at the end of the season.
Charlie's predictions:
AL EAST
1. Yankees
2. blue Jays
3. Orioles
4. Red Sox
5. Rays
AL Central
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Cleveland Guardians
3. Chicago White Sox
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Kansas City Royals
AL West
1. Seattle Mariners
2. Texas Rangers
3. Athletics Baseball Team
4. Houston Astros
5. Texas Rangers
NL East
1. New York Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Washington Nationals
5. Miami Marlins
NL Central
1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. Chicago Cubs
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. St. Louis Cardinals
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
NL West
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Francisco Giants
3. San Diego Padres
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. Colorado Rockies
Derek's Predictions:
AL East:
1. New York Yankees
2. Toronto Blue Jays
3. Baltimore Orioles
4. Boston Red Sox
5. Tampa Bay Rays
AL Central:
1. Detroit Tigers
2. Kansas City Royals
3. Cleveland Guardians
4. Minnesota Twins
5. Chicago White Sox
AL West:
1. Seattle Mariners
2. Houston Astros
3. Texas Rangers
4. Los Angeles Angels
5. Oakland A’s
NL East:
1. New York Mets
2. Philadelphia Phillies
3. Atlanta Braves
4. Washington Nationals
5. Miami Marlins
NL Central:
1. Milwaukee Brewers
2. Chicago Cubs
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. St. Louis Cardinals
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
NL West:
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Francisco Giants
3. San Diego Padres
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. Colorado Rockies
For us, there will not be many surprises at the top of each division this year. Many of last year’s division winners should repeat again this year. No one can argue that the Dodgers are the favorite in the NL West this year. Signing Kyle Tucker to a whopping four year $240 million deal. This brings the Dodgers payroll to over $400 million for 2026 alone. cough cough baseball needs a salary cap because this is ridiculous and private equity is ruining the sport cough cough. We also think that the Yankees have what it takes to run it back in the AL East. Resigning Cody Bellinger was incredibly important for their chances and the likely return of Garrett Cole gives them possibly the best rotation in baseball.
Rounding out the American League, we predict the Tigers and Mariners to secure the AL Central and the AL East respectively. The Tigers signed Framber Valdez gives them on of the best 1-2 punches in all of baseball alongside Tarik Skubal. The Mariners let Eugenio Suarez sign with the Reds, however their lineup should not miss a bit and returns plenty of powerful bats. If their rotation can stay healthy, they have another great opportunity to make a run.
We predict that the Cubs and Mets will take the NL Central and the NL East. Juan Soto was not himself last season both physically and mentally. Another off-season in Queens, getting acclimated to his new team should help. Their signing of Luke Weaver bolsters their bullpen and gives them another closer option, if not, a premiere set up man for Edwin Diaz. Despite losing Kyle Tucker, the Cubs saw the emergence of Pete Crow-Armstrong last year. Expect him to have a stellar season and lead the Cubs to a division title.
There are many contenders that are in the league just below the predicted divisional winners. These teams could easily clinch a wild card sport and even make a run in the postseason. Of all of these teams, the Blue Jays seem the obvious choice. They are coming off a World Series appearance and despite the losses of Bo Bichette, Seranthony Dominguez and Isiah Kiner-Falefa they should be poised to make another run by adding RHP Dylan Cease. They could contend with the Yankees for the AL East, however the experience of the Bombers and the return of Garrett Cole could make life difficult for Toronto. Another contender out of the AL East, look for the Baltimore Orioles to have a bounce back year. They struggled mightily last year during an injury ridden season. If their young stars can put it together offensively and they get B+ pitching out of a C+ rotation, they could surprise some people down the stretch.
The NL East has two teams who could contend for the division as well as postseason appearances this year as well. The Philadelphia Phillies should be a very good baseball team again this year. They were able to retain cornerstone pieces in JT Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber and added powerful outfielder Adolis Garcia. Look for a plethora of long balls in Citizen’s Bank Park this season. The Braves are another team that if they get hot, could really make a run. They were about as aggressive as can be this off-season by re-signing closer Raisel Iglesias and Ha-Seong Kim. They added reliever Robert Suarez, Maricio Duban and Jorge Mateo to bolster their roster. Despite a poor season last year, if the other four starters behind Spencer Strider can hold their own, expect an exciting season in Atlanta.
Although the Dodgers are heavy favorites in the NL West, the Giants and the Padres can both be pesky outs this season. The Giants signed one of the best true hitters in the game in Luis Arraez and added solid outfield depth with Harrison Bader. Bader’s lefty power is sure to play in the Bay and expect a few splash home runs this season. The Padres have the tools, but the question remains as it has in previous seasons, how will they gel? If their young core can continue to build in both consistency and maturity they could be a tough team to eliminate when we arrive to September or October.
No one knows what will truly happen this baseball season. People may get hurt in Spring Training or the WBC. Slumps can occur and hot streaks can strike as quick as lightning. The MLB season is a long and grueling stretch that requires grit, determination, consistency and a fair bit of luck. It is sure to be another exciting season filled with ups, downs and upside downs. Stay with Nexus Sports for all of your MLB news, coverage and excitement throughout the 2026 season.