My guess is that most of you read and subscribe to FaithEdTech to engage in conversations about faith and technology. But those of you who know me also know that I am a huge baseball fan, and that no matter how lousy I am at predictions (I picked the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series last year — YIKES!), I cannot help but preview the new season and engage in conversations with others. So to that end, here are my 2026 major league baseball predictions and some brief commentary.

NL EAST

1. 1. New York Mets
2. 2. Philadelphia
3. 3. Florida
4. 4. Atlanta
5. 5. Washington

The Mets had a very odd 2024, and their offseason seemed disjonted as well be adding pieces that may not seem to always fit, but they did add a number one starter in Freddy Peralta and their team is solid in most positions. As for the Phillies, they remain a threat, but they are aging and have not had a lot of fresh blood appearing on the scene, so a decline seems reasonable. Miami went 79-83, but they have a new regime and system in place, one that seems to be bearing some fruit for their franchise. The Braves have already been decimated by pitching injuries once again, as well as facing the year-long PED suspension of Jurickson Profar, so the vibes there are already not good. Washington is renewing their rebuild, heading a different direction with a new GM and manager. It will take some time for this to lead to on-field success.

NL CENTRAL

1. Chicago Cubs
2. Pittsburgh
3. Milwaukee
4. Cincinnati
5. St. Louis

My Cubs appear to be the class of the division this year, but I thought that last year as well. Still, this team seems to have a lot more depth than last year, particularly with starting pitching and also with position players. They have a lot of versatility and flexibility, and have shown a renewed interest in spending money in the offseason. The Pirates may have one of the best starting pitching staffs in all of baseball this year, led by Paul Skenes. Their offense was anemic in 2025, but they made several key acquisitions over the winter to raise their floor. Every year the Brewers are underestimated, and then they proceed to exceed expectations. Can that happen again after giving up Peralta as their number one starter? They also cannot count on a run of 27 out of 31 games won to propel them to the division title. Perhaps this is the year that their overachieving runs out. The Reds already have significant pitching injuries to navigate, and St. Louis has finally picked a lane for their progression, pretty much opting for a full rebuild. That might serve them well in the long run, but not this season.

NL WEST

1. Los Angeles Dodgers
2. San Francisco
3. Arizona
4. San Diego
5. Colorado

The Dodgers remain the class of this division. They have a depth in their organization that no other team can match. But they are aging and a three-peat is by no means assured, especially after the stress of playing late into the fall the past two years. For the next three teams, I have no idea to rank them. I chose the Giants, Diamondbakcs, and Padres in order, but I am less certain about this than many other projects. The Giants have a full year of Rafael Devers this year and a stable, if unspectacular team. With their new manager trying to make the leap from the college ranks, his acclimation might be the most interesting element to watch for this team. Arizona and San Diego similarly have strengths and significant holes, with the Padres navigating an ownership change right now. I appreciate the new direction of the Rockies under Paul DePodesta, but after a historically awful 2025 season, it would take them winning 20 more games in 2026 to avoid another 100-loss season. That does not look likely.

AL EAST

1. New York Yankees
2. Toronto
3. Boston
4. Tampa Bay
5. Baltimore

All of these teams could finish above .500 in 2026, and several of the wild card berths might come from this division. I believe the Yankees are primed to regain the top spot. This is a solid roster with the resources to improve during the season. There is often a hangover for teams that make unexpected runs the previous season, so even though Toronto seems to have improved on paper, they may take a step back in 2026. I would not be surprised to see Boston move to second place over Toronto, but their roster is a little more mismatched, especially in the outfied and corner infield positions. Also, how long can Aroldis Chapman continue as the bullpen closer at such a high level. Tampa Bay always does Tampa Bay things, turning over its roster from year to year. Their hopes hinge on top-level starters returning strong from injuries. I am not entirely certain the Orioles are a last place team in this division, but several of their top prospects, such as Jackson Holliday, have stalled in their development, and they need them to take the next step to contend in 2026.

AL CENTRAL

1. Kansas City
2. Detroit
3. Cleveland
4. Chicago White Sox
5. Minnesota

The Royals are solid all-around with a superstar, Bobby Witt, Jr., as a part of its core, and respected veteran leadership in Salvador Perez. Detroit has been a team of two halves the past few years. In 2024 they were great down the stretch and in 2025 they started great and then faded. Will they put it all together in 2026, and how much of a distraction will the contract situation superstar pitcher Tarik Skubel be during the season? Cleveland has a solid organization, but they don’t spend money, so mid-season upgrades are unlikely. The White Sox have significantly improved their floor with several offseason additions, so they might be ready to leave the division’s cellar, especially if the Twins move to a full rebuild, which might be likely with a poor start, something that seems more possible now with key injuries to their starting pitching staff.

AL WEST

1. Seattle
2. Texas
3. Athletics
4. Houston
5. Los Angeles Angels

Seattle finally broke through with a playoff run last year. They figure to be back, having upgraded their team during the winter. Texas could finish second or even fourth. Much depends on their pitching staying healthy and the resurgence of their offense. I love the daily position lineup of the Athletics. But do they have enough pitching to truly contend in 2026? I am not sure what to make of the Astros. They could be very good again in 2026, but they have a long list of things that have to go right. The Angels will be one of the worst teams in baseball in 2026 (sorry Mike Trout), and the vibes around this franchise are now worse than those of the Rockies or White Sox.

NL WILD CARD TEAMS: Philadelphia, San Francisco, Arizona

AL WILD CARD TEAMS: Toronto, Boston, Texas

NL CHAMPION: Los Angeles Dodgers

AL CHAMPION: New York Yankees

WORLD SERIES CHAMPION: Los Angeles Dodgers

Why pick against the Dodgers? Well, they do have two things working against them going into the 2026 season. First, they are an aging team. Second, they have the “burden” have having gone deep into the playoffs the past two years, leading to significantly less off-season rest. However, they still have the most depth throughout their organization, the resources to upgrade in-season, and the mindset and approach of monitoring work loads during the season. It is difficult to pick against them for these reasons, but they are not a shoo-in by any means. I do expect the Cubs to meet the Dodgers in the NLCS but fall short. Similarly, I am picking Seattle to do the same in the AL.

Feel free to share comments and your own predictions for 2026. Let’s see what you’ve got!