BY MIKE RIFKIN
The weather is nicer and snow is gone, which means spring is upon us. Which means the 2026 Baseball season is here. Here are my predictions for the upcoming season.
AL DIVISION WINNERS
EAST : RED SOX : The additions of Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez give the Red Sox a great top three in the rotation after Garrett Crochet. With Alex Cora at the helm I like the Red Sox.
CENTRAL : TIGERS : Detroit might possess the best pitching staff in the game anchored by Tarik Skubal. They added Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander to a solid rotation. If Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson repeat what they did last season look out.
WEST : MARINERS : Did I say best rotation in baseball, well the Mariners might have something to say about that. Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo, George Kirby and Bryan Woo are an electric factory of arms. They brought back Josh Naylor to help the offense. And while Cal Raleigh may not dump 60 homers, there’s no reason why he can’t hit 30. Julio Rodriguez will also have a major season.
WILD CARD 1 : BLUE JAYS : This team is going to be good again. We’ll have to see how Okamoto translates to the big leagues, but they have elite pitching with the addition of Dylan Cease. But Vladdy got a taste of winning last year, and he’s coming back for more.
WILD CARD 2 : YANKEES : Yeah, they’re running it back with the same team with some reinforcements. Gerritt Cole and Carlos Rodon will be back on the bump. Aaron Judge will do his thing, but will anyone else on this offense step up? That’s a major factor for the Pinstripes.
WILD CARD 3 : ATHLETICS : Call me dumb, or nieve but the Athletics have one of the best nucleus’s in baseball. Nick Kurtz, Shane Langeliers, Jacob Wilson, etc… The Athletics played really good baseball in the second half, if the starting pitching holds up I think they can surprise the world.
AL AWARDS
MVP (NOT AARON JUDGE) : JULIO RODRIGUEZ : I’m not going to take the easy way and take Judge (same with Ohtani in NL). If the Mariners are going to do what they almost did last year Julio will be a big reason for it. And he’s motivated after Cal’s season last season.
CY YOUNG ( NOT TARIK SKUBAL) : GARRETT CROCHET – He finished second last year behind Skubal. Crochet was top 10 in ERA, Strikeouts and WHIP, the only thing that could hold him back is injury.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR : MARK KOTSAY : How can I put the A’s in the playoffs and not have their manager as the manager of the year? Kotsay has done a good and patient job with the Athletics.
ALCS : MARINERS OVER BLUE JAYS IN 7 – Yeah I flipped on this and have talked myself into the Mariners going to their first Fall classic.
NL DIVISION WINNERS
EAST : PHILLIES : I’m going with this as simple this is a last dance situation in Philly. They have an elite lineup, good rotation and one of the best closers in the game, if they fail there are no more excuses.
CENTRAL : CUBS : The Northsiders had a fantastic offseason. Alex Bregman to the lineup, retained Shota Imanaga and added Edward Cabrera to the rotation and eventually will add Justin Steele. The Cubs will end the Brewers three year run as division champs.
WEST : DODGERS : Yeah this one was hard, the Dodgers are the best team in baseball and had another terrific offseason. Adding Kyle Tucker to their outfield and Edwin Diaz to the bullpen, they are once again the team to beat. Once again Dave Roberts has the easiest job in the world.
WILD CARD 1 : METS : The way the offseason started there was no way you’d put the Mets on this list. But adding Bo Bichette and Marcus Siemien to the lineup and Freddy Peralta to anchor the rotation will help in Queens.
WILD CARD 2 : PADRES : We know that if they need something near the trade deadline they’ll get it. But the backend of their bullpen is filled with gas and the offense led by Tatis and Machado will do their thing.
WILD CARD 3 : BRAVES – Ok hand up I am concerned about this because of the injuries that are already piling up. But the every day guys are back and Chris Sale at the top of the rotation. I think the Braves bounce back this season.
NL AWARDS
MVP (NOT OHTANI) RONALD ACUNA JR. – If the Braves are going to bounce back, they’ll be led by their leader in Acuna. Now with Marcell Ozuna gone, that opens up that DH spot for Acuna some days to keep him healthy and we all know what he can do when healthy.
CY YOUNG : YOSHINOBU YAMAMOTO – Yamamoto’s performance in the World Series was stuff of legend. And now he slots into a rotation behind Ohtani, Glasnow and potentially Blake Snell. Yamamoto will be the guy the Dodgers rely on this season.
MANAGER OF THE YEAR : CRAIG COUNSELL : The Cubs manager has never won this award somehow, so 2026 will be his first. Counsell always does well with what hes given, and this year he takes the Cubs back to the Playoffs.
NLCS : DODGERS DEF CUBS – 6 GAMES
WORLD SERIES DODGERS DEF MARINERS 6 GAMES
WS MVP MOOKIE BETTS
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