{"id":18145,"date":"2026-03-06T12:49:49","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T20:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/?p=18145"},"modified":"2026-03-06T12:49:49","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T20:49:49","slug":"bold-predictions-for-the-2026-mlb-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/2026\/03\/06\/bold-predictions-for-the-2026-mlb-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Bold Predictions for the 2026 MLB Season"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As the 2026 MLB season rapidly approaches, we have some bold predictions for the upcoming 162-game regular season.<\/p>\n<h2>#1 \u2013 Konnor Griffin Makes the All-Star Team as a Starter<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"0GzTQZhMRptQYMy36Cp8rw\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2261456717\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'0GzTQZhMRptQYMy36Cp8rw',sig:'VwruisxHjsR-WNadAch2FdY1_Y7TBLfbAMA5KKDTygs=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2261456717',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nTwo years ago, <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/pirates\">Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> ace <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/skenepa01.shtml\">Paul Skenes<\/a> was named the All-Star Game starter for the National League. Now, it\u2019s time for baseball\u2019s top prospect to follow suit at shortstop.<\/p>\n<p>In 2025,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/register\/player.fcgi?id=griffi000kon\">Konnor Griffin<\/a> dominated the minor leagues. At three levels, the 19-year-old hit .333 with 21 home runs, 94 RBI, and a .942 OPS. In spring training, Griffin has already clubbed three home runs, highlighting his raw power and strengthening his case to be the Pirates\u2019 starting shortstop in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The largest obstacle is the sheer level of competition at the position. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lindofr01.shtml\">Francisco Lindor<\/a> posted another 30-30 season last year.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/turnetr01.shtml\">Trea Turner<\/a> led the National League in batting average. Even <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/perdoge01.shtml\">Geraldo Perdomo<\/a>, a player few fans knew before last season, broke out with a 7.0 WAR season.<\/p>\n<p>If Griffin comes out of the gates hot, like how Skenes did in 2024, he would have to at least get consideration to start in the All-Star game.<\/p>\n<h2>#2 \u2013 Los Angeles Dodgers Break the MLB Wins Record<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"U71nPp2SQpNpoZUqUoUj4g\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2222909454\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'U71nPp2SQpNpoZUqUoUj4g',sig:'60UbAxhPLMTkuhseUZLCVWAeyX-d7dcTgiq3_lZw3nM=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2222909454',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nSince the <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/mariners\">Seattle Mariners<\/a> tied the all-time single-season wins record in 2001 with 116, only one team has sniffed that number. That team, of course, was the <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/dodgers\">Los Angeles Dodgers<\/a> in 2022 with 111. However, it\u2019s reasonable to think the Dodgers surpass that mark, as well as the all-time mark in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>The first four batters in the Dodgers&#8217; projected batting order are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/o\/ohtansh01.shtml\">Shohei Ohtani<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/t\/tuckeky01.shtml\">Kyle Tucker<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bettsmo01.shtml\">Mookie Betts<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/f\/freemfr01.shtml\">Freddie Freeman<\/a>. Those four players combined for 20.7 WAR and 347 RBI in 2025, but the production doesn&#8217;t stop there. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/smithwi05.shtml\">Will Smith<\/a> provides consistency in the middle of the order, while\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/h\/hernate01.shtml\">Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/p\/pagesan01.shtml\">Andy Pages<\/a> provide power at the end.<\/p>\n<p>While the Dodgers should have no problem scoring runs, their pitching staff is shaping up to be the game\u2019s best. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/y\/yamamyo01.shtml\">Yoshinobu Yamamoto<\/a> is fresh off a postseason in which he posted a 1.49 ERA and won the World Series MVP Award. Multiple-time Cy Young Award winner <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/snellbl01.shtml\">Blake Snell<\/a> and strikeout machine <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/glasnty01.shtml\">Tyler Glasnow<\/a> also make for a dangerous duo behind Yamamoto.<\/p>\n<p>Records are meant to be broken, so if any team can eclipse the elusive 116 mark, it\u2019s the 2026 Dodgers.<\/p>\n<h2>#3 \u2013 The Athletics Win the American League West<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"nvekqNOiTEdB74Kdywjwkg\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2237037586\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'nvekqNOiTEdB74Kdywjwkg',sig:'XxKaygkIUtsdfd4jOw1au6_R209vv7OZoi7UyEh_e4o=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2237037586',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nFew teams have a stronger batting order on paper than the <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/athletics\">Athletics<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The group scored more runs than the <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/guardians\">Cleveland Guardians<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/reds\">Cincinnati Reds<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/padres\">San Diego Padres<\/a> last season&#8211; all teams that made the playoffs. Four players hit 25 or more home runs, while three players collected 85 or more RBI. In short, their offense produces.<\/p>\n<p>The rotation, of course, is the obvious question mark, especially considering the Athletics currently play in a minor league ballpark until the new stadium in Las Vegas is ready. However, if <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/severlu01.shtml\">Luis Severino<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/s\/sprinje01.shtml\">Jeffrey Springs<\/a>, and others can limit the damage on the mound, the Athletics have the potential to make noise in the AL West this season.<\/p>\n<h2>#4 \u2013 Four American League East Teams Make the Playoffs<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"gTQMEFaVR-ZZJln63J1eVA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2234907690\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'gTQMEFaVR-ZZJln63J1eVA',sig:'flZZB6A7jbnwpUWdhT7JUG0BMAlP86oef2N8nRRUIAg=',w:'594px',h:'393px',items:'2234907690',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nNo division has ever sent four teams to the playoffs, but there\u2019s a real chance that happens in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Last season, the AL East sent the <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/bluejays\">Toronto Blue Jays<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/yankees\">New York Yankees<\/a>, and <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/redsox\">Boston Red Sox<\/a> to the playoffs. The Blue Jays and Red Sox both improved this offseason, while the Yankees retained nearly their entire team from 2025&#8217;s 94-win campaign.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/orioles\">Baltimore Orioles<\/a>, in this case, would be the fourth team to make the playoffs. After back-to-back 90-plus win seasons in 2023 and 2024, the team disappointed in all facets last season. However, by adding <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/a\/alonspe01.shtml\">Pete Alonso<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bazsh01.shtml\">Shane Baz<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/b\/bassich01.shtml\">Chris Bassitt<\/a>, among others, they seem primed to return to the postseason.<\/p>\n<h2>#5 \u2013 Two Teams Win Fewer Than 50 Games<\/h2>\n<p><a id=\"DiUja2RcRXBm87e-6_Pr1A\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2224711519\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'DiUja2RcRXBm87e-6_Pr1A',sig:'6s1697nTVs9L_Qvo_nXbfOo2K3LrcB5izTDAAgYXMTM=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'2224711519',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><br \/>\nSimilarly, two teams have never won fewer than 50 games in a 162-game season.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/rockies\">Colorado Rockies<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/sportrelay.com\/mlb\/category\/nationals\">Washington Nationals<\/a> are shaping up to have the two worst rotations in the league again, especially now that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/g\/gorema01.shtml\">MacKenzie Gore<\/a> is gone in the nation\u2019s capital. Last season, the Nationals and Rockies allowed 899 and 1,021 runs, respectively. Unsurprisingly, those were the two worst marks in baseball.<\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, they may have two of the worst offenses as well. This means another sub-50-win season could be in the cards for 2026 in Colorado, but also in the nation&#8217;s capital. Yes, the Nationals won 66 games last season, but with Gore gone and shortstop <a href=\"https:\/\/www.baseball-reference.com\/players\/a\/abramcj01.shtml\">CJ Abrams<\/a> circling in trade rumors, fewer than 50 wins certainly seems possible.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo:<br \/>\n<a id=\"3Q_ugo1YR0ldxuCq5olRBA\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/2234748891\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'3Q_ugo1YR0ldxuCq5olRBA',sig:'wyAa-BAyv2qW7TjFIGjHFuot8NTEdEuHABEQ2FKMP1s=',w:'594px',h:'401px',items:'2234748891',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the 2026 MLB season rapidly approaches, we have some bold predictions for the upcoming 162-game regular season. #1 \u2013 Konnor Griffin Makes the All-Star Team as a Starter Embed from Getty Images Two years ago, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes was named the All-Star Game starter for the National League. Now, it\u2019s time for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":18160,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2],"tags":[2240,2299,1092,699,176,584,1627,640,195,129,353,1403],"class_list":["post-18145","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general","category-mlb","tag-2026-mlb-season","tag-2026-mlb-spring-training","tag-blake-snell","tag-cj-abrams","tag-francisco-lindor","tag-geraldo-perdomo","tag-konnor-griffin","tag-kyle-tucker","tag-pete-alonso","tag-shohei-ohtani","tag-tyler-glasnow","tag-yoshinobu-yamamoto","pmpro-has-access","eq-blocks"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Bold Predictions for the 2026 MLB Season<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Anything can happen in 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