As the 2026 MLB season approaches, fans are once again gearing up for another marathon of drama, breakout performances, and October heroics. In this preview, we’ll evaluate some of the most likely World Series contenders by breaking things down team by team. So, without further ado:
Who are the Contenders?
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers once again entered 2025 with sky-high expectations—and once again delivered. Clutch home runs by Miguel Rojas and Will Smith ensured LA would repeat as champions last year and, as the biggest preseason World Series favorite since the 2003 Yankees, they would surely like their odds of becoming just the third team in MLB history to 3-peat.
Their core remains stacked with MVP-caliber talent and frontline pitching: Yoshinobu Yamamoto put in an all time performance on his way to World Series MVP last year; Will Smith has developed into the best offensive catcher in baseball; Freddie Freeman shows no sign of slowing down and, despite his down year in 2025, you can never count out future hall of famer Mookie Betts.
They also have a little known 2-way player called Shohei Ohtani, maybe you’ve heard of him.
Not content with already having the best roster in baseball, the Dodgers were active in free agency once again. While they didn’t make as many free agent signings as they had in years past, the signings they did make were significant, targeting the few areas of weakness that got exposed in last year’s playoffs. In Game 7 last year, Dave Roberts played only starting pitchers, because their bullpen unit was significantly weaker, so they tied down arguably the best closer in the MLB, Edwin Diaz, to a three year deal. Batting from outfielders was also incredibly inconsistent for anyone in Dodger blue not named Teoscar Hernandez in 2025, so they tied down 2025 MVP candidate RF Kyle Tucker to add even more power to their slugger-filled lineup.
As the reigning World Series champs who have seemingly patched up all of their former weaknesses, once again, the 2026 World Series title is the Dodgers’ to lose.
2026 Prediction: 105–57
Toronto Blue Jays
Two outs. Two measly outs was what separated the Toronto Blue Jays from winning their first championship since 1993 last year. Canada’s team will look to go just that little bit further this year.
Having led the Major Leagues in hits and batting average last year, the Jays will look to lean on their bats once again this season. Vladimir Guerrero Jr headlines the group, combining Gold Glove caliber defense with an elite bat, hitting for a .292 AVG with 23 HR and 84 RBI in 2025. George Springer will be looking to continue his renaissance, last year having had his best OPS since his 2019 Astros season. Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger and Daulton Varsho look to add some much needed depth to the lineup.
However, the Jays must learn to cope without superstar power hitting shortstop Bo Bichette, the man whose bat gave them the lead in that WS game 7, after he left for the New York Mets, but Jays fans can take solace in the fact that they got through most of their 2025 postseason run without him. To make up for that, Toronto inked SP Dylan Cease to a 7 year deal and KBO star Cody Ponce to a 3 year deal, adding them to an already impressive rotation consisting of Kevin Gausman, Jose Berrios and 2025 breakout star Trey Yesavage. While the latter two are scheduled to begin the season on the IR, once healthy, there’s a possibility that they could coalesce into the best rotation in the MLB.
With a balanced mix of bats and arms, Toronto will be looking to go one better in 2026.
2026 Prediction: 90–72
New York Yankees
The addition of beards to some of their players didn’t seem to make much of a difference for the Yankees in 2025: seven game winning streaks followed by six game losing streaks; Ben Rice’s breakout balanced out with Anthony Volpe’s slump; Max Fried dominating at the start of games, only for Devin Williams to blow the save later. Inconsistency was really the story for the Yankees in 2025, and it all resulted in yet another playoff exit.
However, with three of their core hitters hitting the open market in the 2026 offseason, the Yankees had to forego their usual FA acquisitions and focus on player retention. Key hitters Cody Bellinger, Paul Goldschmidt and Trent Grisham return to the Bronx, while the relinquishment of the aforementioned Williams may end up as addition-by-subtraction. Of course, they only compliment the true superstar of this lineup, Aaron Judge, who slashed .331/.457.668 with 53 HR and 114 RBI on his way to his third AL MVP in 2025. If the Yankees are to get past the Dodgers in October, they’ll need Judge to be firing on all cylinders.
However, because of their need to focus on player retention over addition, the Yankees roster does not seem too different from the inconsistent unit we saw last year. Their only true Major League addition was Ryan Weathers, acquired via a trade from Miami. Therefore, it’s hard to forecast this Yankees team for anything other than more of the same.
2026 Prediction: 95–67
Seattle Mariners
Another team whose season ended in heartbreaking fashion in 2025, the Mariners nevertheless continued their steady ascent to the top of the MLB standings, reaching their first Championship series since the 116-win team all the way back in 2001.
Last year, a couple of breakout stars fueled their success: from the mound there was Bryan Woo, a dominant RHP who posted a 2.94 ERA, 198 SO and a miniscule 0.927 WHIP last year, third only to AL Cy-Young winner Tarik Skubal and future Hall of Famer Jacob DeGrom. What’s more, he may not even be the best SP in Seattle’s rotation: Logan Gilbert (3.44 ERA in 2025), George Kirby (4.21 ERA) and Luis Castillo (3.54 ERA) join Woo in what’s possibly the best pitching rotation in baseball.
But Woo’s breakout season was thoroughly overshadowed by his teammate, catcher Cal Raleigh, as the aptly nicknamed ‘Big Dumper’ hit for 60 HR in 2025, the third most in AL history. They’ll need him to continue his historic production in 2026, or at least come close to it, as this Mariners lineup as a whole lacks power when compared to the other teams listed here. Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena are liable to go for 25-30 HR a season, and the M’s locked down Josh Naylor to a 5-year deal following his trade last season, but outside of those four there really isn’t much slugging potential.
Typically, when it comes to the postseason though, pitching strength becomes more important. Seattle will hope its elite core will be enough to finally end their decades-long curse.
2026 Prediction: 92–70
Philadelphia Phillies
When the Philadelphia Phillies made the World Series in 2022, many thought that it would herald a half-decade of dominance, filled with MVPs for Bryce Harper, Cy-Youngs for Aaron Nola and many banners lifted at Citizens Bank Park. Fast-forward 4 years later and Bryce Harper is showing signs of decline, Aaron Nola performed worse than a replacement player the previous year and the Phillies, having just suffered one of the most embarrassing playoff exits ever, are currently staring down the barrel of Father Time’s shotgun at the Last Chance Saloon.
While their lineup is undoubtedly talented, representing possibly the greatest selection of power bats in the major leagues, it is also undoubtedly old: their four best hitters, Bryce Harper (35), Kyle Schwarber (33), Trea Turner (32) and JT Realmuto (35), are all over 30. Their best pitcher, Zack Wheeler, is as well (35). For a team with a bottom-ten farm system, it really is a World Series or bust for them this year.
That’s not to say they don’t have a shot of winning it all this year, they wouldn’t have made this list otherwise. As mentioned previously, their lineup is loaded: Schwarber continues as one of the best pure sluggers in baseball, mashing 56 HR and 132 RBI last year; Turner won the NL Batting Title with a .304 AVG; while it was a down year by his standards, Harper still hit 27 HR and added 3.1 WAR.
They have a strong pitching rotation too. While the loss of Ranger Suarez to the Red Sox will sting, Wheeler (2.71 ERA in 2025), Christopher Sanchez (2.50 ERA) and the newly re-signed Jesus Luzardo (3.92 ERA) are more than talented enough to plug the gap. Their bullpen was their biggest weakness in 2025, blowing 27 save opportunities out of a possible 74. The signings of Brad Keller and Zach Pop should help rectify that.
At least, the Phillies will hope so, because it is their last real chance of getting over the hump.
2026 Prediction: 93–69