With the 2026 coming up on us quickly, let’s have our prediction thread.

1. Give us your guess for the winners in each division.

2. Wild Card teams?

3. Who makes it to the World Series, and who wins?

4. Who gets the major awards in each league? MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year?

5. Pick a breakout Blue Jays player of the year.

6. Who is the biggest disappointment (can be a team or player)?

7. How many Blue Jays wins?

8. Who will be the Jays MVP and Best Pitcher?

And if you want to make any other predictions.

Over a career spanning 12 seasons, Miguel Rojas has gone from an overlooked bench player in 2014 to hitting one of, if not, the most important home runs in Dodgers history.

Rojas’ legacy as a Dodger icon is now cemented, his ninth inning home run against Jeff Hoffman in Game 7 will be remembered for generations, and he can end his career knowing that his name will be attached to a pair of the most triumphant plays in baseball history. As Rojas enters the 13th and final season of his playing career, he has a lot to be grateful for.

Rojas spoke with Jack Oliver of Jomboy Media, known on social media as Jolly Olive, during the early parts of spring training as to how the veteran infielder feels about his final season. Rojas noted that he is eager to get every opportunity to play, not wanting to have his playing time reduced solely because of his age.

“This year, I have a different perspective, because I’m not afraid to empty the tank anymore. I’m going to have a conversation with Doc, and I’m going to tell him not to be afraid to put me in spots that he always kind of took care for me in the past… I’m going to tell him, ‘Hey, use me as much as you can. Don’t feel bad because I’m one of the veterans…’ I want to take every single opportunity, every single at-bat that I can, and help the team in any capacity.”

Rojas is coming off a remarkable spring where he slashed .362/.380/.532 with two home runs and eight RBI over 48 plate appearances, and with the recent demotion of Hyeseong Kim to Triple-A, he is the most likely candidate to get the starting nod at second base on Thursday.

Links

From one Japanese right-hander on the mound on Monday to another on Tuesday, Shohei Ohtani was masterful against his old team, pitching into the fifth inning while striking out 11 hitters in the Dodgers’ 3-0 loss to the Angels.

After his first full offseason to recover on both sides with the Dodgers, the benchmark for a healthy season is 25 starts for the two-way superstar, notes Courtney Hollman of MLB.com. Should he stay healthy as a part of a six-man rotation, he’s on pace to make 27 starts.

“I do see that as an important benchmark as a starting pitcher,” Ohtani said following his Arizona debut. “Ideally in a situation where everybody makes 25 starts. That’s the ideal situation.”

To little surprise, Ohtani was named as the early season favorite to win his third consecutive NL MVP award by Theo DeRosa of MLB.com.

Max Ralph of MLB.com writes about Kyle Tucker getting used to how the Dodgers celebrate hits, needing a quick 101 lesson from Miguel Rojas on the “hip-lock” celebration.

The Detroit Tigers have generally maintained a policy of not playing any of their prep draft picks until the following year, and so the Spring Breakout games each spring have become a sort of coming out party for the next wave of prospects each March. This year we saw Jordan Yost, Michael Oliveto, and Cris Rodriguez in the teenagers’ first televised showcase. Of course, Yost had already announced himself by popping over to Tampa to join the Tigers for a game and crunching a grand slam in his first at-bat. 2024 first rounder Bryce Rainer set a bit of a precedent with a jaw dropping pro debut in the 2025 Spring Breakout game. An injury spoiled much of his pro debut campaign at Single-A Lakeland, but Rainer is healthy and ready to take over as the Tigers’ top prospect by season’s end.

Rainer starred in high school for Harvard-Westlake HS in North Hollywood. He was actually tracking more like a good pitching prospect who was also a solid shortstop with a cannon hanging from his right shoulder until his junior year when the bat perked up. By his senior year, Rainer was showing off big-time power and much improved contact ability through some swing changes and additional muscle. The Tigers were suitably impressed and happy to sign Rainer for $5,797,500, just slightly overslot as the 11th overall pick in the draft. That was two spots after the Pirates took Konnor Griffin, indicating that often it’s top the top five spots that end up with the most talented player in a draft.

What we knew about Rainer at the time was that he had some developing plate discipline, and potentially plus raw power. He could run, and while not the most athletic shortstop around, his 80 grade arm helped him play a step further back than most to give himself an extra beat on balls in play, and easily make up for it by throwing lasers across the diamond to first base. There were some questions about his contact ability, and some wondered if he’d really add that much raw power to his profile in his late teens and early 20’s, but overall the pick was well regarded. The Tigers strategy of taking athletic, up the middle prep hitters in the first round continues to pay dividends, as Rainer immediately silenced one of those questions.

The first plate appearance we ever saw from Rainer ended with a 113 mph line drive rocket the opposite way for a single. That was his first at-bat in a “real” game since high school. And that at-bat was a sign of things to come as Rainer destroyed fastballs and showed off near 70 grade raw power at times. Combined with his long levers and opposite field tendencies, Corey Seager comparisons became very popular, very quickly in prospect circles.

Even better, Rainer’s agility and footwork were rapidly improved from his high school days. He stalked the left side of the infield making all the plays and showing good reactions and softer hands than expected around second base. And as always, he could fire 90+ mph seeds to first base to record outs even when ranging far in the hole.

It only took a few weeks until Single-A hitters stopped throwing him fastballs over the plate and began dumping heavy amounts of breaking and offspeed in for strikes and then trying to get him to expand the zone when he saw a heater. This is a strategy MLB pitchers are built to execute, but at the Single-A level they weren’t qualified. Of course, Rainer wasn’t yet qualified either. For a week or two, he just started walking a lot more. Eventually, the 19-year-old ultimately couldn’t resist chasing more close pitches as he saw less and less fastballs to hit.

The cat and mouse game didn’t get time to play out. On June 3, Rainer separated his right shoulder diving back to first base on a pickoff play. Technique there might be something the Tigers want to emphasize to prep rookies a little more as both Colt Keith and Carson Rucker suffered similar injuries early in their pro careers. In both cases, throwing velocity took years to return after they rehabbed the shoulder. Rainer and the Tigers probably wisely elected for a surgical repair, and while Rainer has been limited to a DH role in minor league camp, reports that his arm strength has returned have been positive so far.

Rainer is a pretty good sized shortstop, standing 6’3” and probably weighing in a good 15 pounds of muscle more than his listed 195 pounds. He hits from a modest crouch with a high left elbow, and he maintains that elbow as he drops his hands and stretches back to load up before the pitch is released. It’s a bit exaggerated and he probably needs to trim that down to remain quick to high fastballs, but he’s made it work so far, having no issues with velocity in Lakeland. Even with that move, he doesn’t get too steep to the ball and generally has nice natural loft to his swing. The prospect of a plus defensive shortstop with plate discipline, who has posted numerous 113-114 mph balls in play is really tantalizing. He’s still only 20 years old after all and looks even a bit more built this spring in our few looks at him.

The question is the most elemental one of all. Can he translate his good eye for the strike zone into a good eye from breaking and offspeed stuff? He’s had so few at-bats that everyone is just guessing right now, and we’ll just have to see how that plays out over the next few seasons. Based on his batspeed and command of the strike zone, his chances seem pretty good, but that has to be proven. Still, this is an extremely exciting player, and once McGonigle and Clark graduate, Rainer is going to do just fine as the Tigers’ top prospect. Hopefully he has a healthy season and the arm strength is all the way back. If so, we’ll have a better idea of his full potential as a hitter by season’s end.

Look for Rainer to start the season in West Michigan. Jordan Yost will take the shortstop reps in Lakeland, and Rainer showed enough already to promote him to High-A despite not getting nearly as many reps as hoped in his pro debut. Facing a better brand of college pitchers, there may be some struggles early on, but as long as he’s mashing again in the second half, everything will be on track for him to push to Double-A in 2027, and perhaps debut late that year or more likely in 2028 when he’ll be closing in on his 23rd birthday.

It’s here, it’s here! Opening Day is upon us, and excluding the All-Star Break pause, we won’t have to deal with another baseball-free day until November. It may just be spring, but the Boys of Summer are back, and it’s time to get excited because starting today, all the stats matter. It’s the best day of the year!

Before we get into all the excitement of the regular season, we also wanted to touch on one of the sweetest stories from the World Baseball Classic. Ondrej Satoria, the Czech pitcher who defied the odds and toppled some of the best batters in baseball, made waves especially because he wasn’t even a full-time athlete: he’s an electrician. The everyman story captured peoples’ attention and made him a bit of a hero to audiences, and he’s finally speaking about the experience. When he spoke about his final outing against Team Japan, he said:

“In my eyes, it’s as valuable as the Olympics, because it’s only once every four years. It’s a fully professional world championship. The team has to qualify, and there you get to face players you usually only watch on TV, which is the most magical thing for us. We can shake hands with them on the field, and for us amateurs, that’s the best part.”

He also spoke specifically about striking out Shohei Ohtani, perhaps the most famous player in the world:

“It changed my life quite a bit, because it got me noticed, and it also put Czech baseball on the map. That’s really thanks to this. Of course, it’s something I’ll always remember fondly. I’m glad it’s on video, so if anyone ever doubts it, I can prove it. I have the ball from that strikeout on my shelf at home. But still, the most important thing for me is the medal from the European Championship, which I always carry with me… I wouldn’t call myself a legend, but unfortunately, everyone else does. I guess I just have to accept it.”

It was a really sweet interview, and a reminder of the importance of an event like the World Baseball Classic which can create excitement about baseball in countries where it isn’t as popular. Read more here.

Let’s get into the rest of today’s news!

• Davy Andrews reports that the Phillies are really committed to Crisopher Sanchez, extending his extension.
• A quick explainer on the Opening Night game on Netflix, and how to watch the game. (MLB)
• Theo DeRosa tries to predict who will take home the big awards of 2026.
• Ryan Phillips rounds up nine players who are poised to be the next big thing in baseball.
• Mound visits usually aren’t heartwarming, but this Skip Schumaker trip to the bump was a Spring Training highlight. Story by Stephen Douglas.
• Frank Thomas is suing the Chicago White Sox over the unauthorized use of his likeness. Story by Dan Hajducky.
• Brittany Ghiroli shares the story of a whistleblower within the Tigers’ organization being dismissed for calling out the very workplace concerns the team expressed wanting to hear about. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Nothing to worry about here from a starting pitcher…

• Ben Clemens looks at the positional power rankings for starting pitchers.
• Meanwhile, Dan Szymborksi looks at potential boom and bust candidates for starters in 2026.
• David Adler looks at the Spring Training stats that actually matter.
• Sarah Langs shares which players could be hitting major milestones this coming season.
• Karl Rasmussen ranks all 30 starting rotations.
• Kyle Koster looks at which teams are spending the most, and which players are earning the biggest paydays.
• Jayson Stark wonders how much we should care about how imperfect robot umpires are. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Quite possibly the strangest way he could have phrased this question.

• Michael Baumann wonders if the Braves are finally running out of pitchers.
• Sam Dykstra spotlights hot prospect Kevin McGonigle, who had made the Opening Day roster for the Detroit Tigers.
• Ryan Phillips explains why the Tigers got it right by including McGoningle on their Opening Day roster.
• A Mets’ announcer shares his disappointment about missing the postseason. Story by Jimmy Traina.
• Ranking all 30 teams going into the 2026 season. (ESPN)
• Evan Drellich and Ken Rosenthal share that there are potential risks to base coaches regarding a new rule meant to help eliminate pitch tipping. (The Athletic subscription required.)
• Guess I know what I’m reading next.

And tomorrow will be a better day than today, Buster. Make it so.

Spring training has finally concluded, the Colorado Rockies roster is set, and the 2026 season officially begins for the club on Friday. With the conclusion of a successful Camp Schaeffer, it seems appropriate to hand out some superlative predictions for the new-look Rockies as we head into the regular season with hopes high and the team looking to leave the 2025 season far in the rearview mirror.

Most Likely to Rebound in 2026: Willi Castro

The only position player free agent the Rockies signed to a major league deal, Willi Castro, projects to be the regular at second base. He’ll get his chances to move around a little bit, but after struggling in a part-time role with the Chicago Cubs to close out the 2025 season, he’s back in a starting role with Colorado and there is optimism.

Castro had an excellent performance in Cactus League play as well as with Team Puerto Rico in the World Baseball Classic. Castro is a model base runner and could be the epitome of the type of player they hope will take this club to the next level. He isn’t far removed from an All-Star season, and a fresh start in Colorado could get him back to that level of production.

Team Rookie of the Year: T.J. Rumfield

The best “feel-good” story from camp has to be the fact that T.J. Rumfield earned his spot with the Rockies for Opening Day. After having his path blocked in New York, Rumfield came over to the Rockies in a trade and lived up to the opportunity.

He was named the recipient of the Abby Greer Award, an honor bestowed on the Rockies’ spring MVP, and has a chance to do some great things this season. The front office is hoping not to have to rely on rookies out of desperation as they did in 2025, so Rumfield coming into camp and earning his keep is a nice development.

If he can stay on the roster throughout the season and find a way to be a productive member of the lineup, he’ll easily be the Rookie of the Year for the team and perhaps even a candidate for the National League.

Team Cy Young: Kyle Freeland

In a sense, Kyle Freeland earns this early designation by default.

If things go according to plan, there’s a chance none of the three veteran free agents could be on this team beyond the deadline. Ryan Feltner and Chase Dollander have the talent but need to take big steps forward, while other options — including a mix of prospects in Triple-A — are primed for a second-half appearance.

Freeland has been a rock of this rotation for a long while and is entering his 10th season with the Rockies. He is in the final guaranteed year of his contract with a vesting option for 2027 that becomes guaranteed if he tosses 170 innings, so a fantastic year could do a lot for him personally.

Team Reliever of the Year: Zach Agnos

The bullpen will have an interesting mix heading into the season, but one addition that may be able to rise above the rest by season’s end is Zach Agnos. The righty started off strong after his debut in early 2025, but after landing on the bereavement list following the death of his grandfather, whom he was very close to, Agnos struggled to settle himself the rest of the year between the majors and Triple-A.

Refocused and determined, Agnos entered camp with a new pitch and has looked phenomenal on the mound. The Rockies aren’t expected to use much in the way of a standard closer at the start of the season, but Agnos could find himself in some big situations.

Biggest Surprise: Tomoyuki Sugano

When the Rockies signed Tomoyuki Sugano it raised quite a few eyebrows. Why would a team that plays 81 games at Coors Field want to signed an aged arm that led the league in home runs allowed last season? Well, the team valued his experience, his ability to manipulate the ball, and his capabilities of pounding the zone.

Between his start in the WBC and couple of appearances in spring training, Sugano has shown what could make him successful. He knows home runs were an issue last season, and he is entering a difficult environment, but there is a determination and maturity that will enable him to have a solid season with the Rockies, whether it’s for the whole year or just half the season.

Most Likely to be an All-Star: Brenton Doyle

This could easily go to Ezequiel Tovar, but for the sake of variety let’s talk about Brenton Doyle.

After a breakout 2024 campaign, injury and personal tragedy hindered Doyle in 2025. He began to return to form in the latter half of the season, leaving him in a good position to break out further in 2026. Doyle’s defense will always be a calling card but if he bring a consistent approach out the gate and find his power, there is a strong chance he can be a representative for the Rockies at the All-Star Game.

He may not make much headway in the popular vote if he is in a position to do so, but joining the ranks of the many All-Star outfielders in franchise history would be a huge accomplishment.

Breakout Candidate: Kyle Karros

Kyle Karros showed off plenty of what could make him a great player in his brief spell with the big league club last season. Entering spring training, however, he was adamant that no one was going to take the third base job away from him. Making sure he was physically ready for the demand, Karros delivered a standout performance at the plate in Cactus League play. He’s already proven capable of playing at a Gold Glove-caliber level in the field, but if he can settle in offensively at the plate and continue to lace line drives, Karros can be on his way to living up to his goal of being one of the best third baseman in franchise history.

Team MVP: Ezequiel Tovar

A return to form for Ezequiel Tovar would be a huge boon for the Rockies. Injuries plagued him last season, and he never found a rhythm. We saw hints of some of the offensive growth, but things just fell apart in 2025. This year, Tovar delivered a standout performance with Venezeula in the WBC and didn’t seem to miss a beat when he returned to Rockies camp. With a new front office and coaching staff in place, 2026 is the chance for Tovar to finally live up to the lofty expectations that led the team to sign him to a long-term extension and become the superstar they so desperately need.

Rockies Update from Paul DePodesta | Rockies Newsletter

President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta shared a quick message as the regular season gets underway.

Marlins’ ‘Machete,’ Rockies ‘Glizzilla’ tops 2026 new ballpark grub | ESPN.com

A new season means plenty of new food concoctions around the league. The Rockies are introducing a two-foot hot dog and a giant cinnamon roll, and the 9-9-9 challenge is also making its way to Coors Field.

Please keep in mind our Purple Row Community Guidelines when you’re commenting. Thanks!

Our contributors at Brew Crew Ball are excited to get the 2026 season underway after an offseason that saw quite a bit of turnover across the league. Here are our bold predictions and storylines to watch for the Brewers in 2026.

Bold Predictions

Paul Dietrich: The Brewers have a pair of 30/30 players

If I wanted to get extremely bold, I would say three… but I don’t think Christian Yelich has another 30/30 season in him, which he has done only once, in 2019. But: Jackson Chourio has gone 20/20 in each of his first two seasons, and if he makes the kind of jump we all think he can make, it’s definitely in play. The other one would have to be Brice Turang, who so far this spring has given us no reason to believe that the late-season power surge that got him to 18 homers last year was a mirage. Thirty homers is probably a stretch, but that’s what makes the prediction bold… and he’s averaged 36 stolen bases per season as a big leaguer, so that seems doable even if he only had 24 in 2025.

Harrison Freuck: Jacob Misiorowski reaches the 200-strikeout threshold

This isn’t overly bold, especially given how easily Jacob Misiorowski manages to rack up strikeouts, but this prediction would require him to make at least 20 starts (and that’s if he averages 10 strikeouts/game). Last season, he totaled 87 strikeouts in just 66 innings, so at that pace, he’d need to pitch roughly 150 innings. The bold part of this prediction is that Miz’s career-high in innings pitched came last year, when he totaled 129 1/3 innings between Triple-A and MLB. Hitting the 200-strikeout mark would also make him the eighth Brewer since 2021 to reach that threshold (and give the Brewers a 200-strikeout pitcher for the sixth consecutive season).

Dave Gasper: Brice Turang and Jackson Chourio both have 30/30 seasons, finish top 10 in NL MVP voting

The power surge that Turang saw in the second half last season was proof that he was finally able to get his raw power to click in game action. With that knowledge, over a full season, I believe he has a very good chance to reach 30 homers. Turang’s speed is also elite, and with a change in first base coach to Spencer Allen, I imagine stealing bases will be a renewed priority for this team, and Turang should reach 30 steals easily.

Jackson Chourio has gone 20/20 in each of his first two seasons in MLB, but there’s plenty more in the tank. After all, he just turned 22 years old. If not for a hamstring injury last year that took him out for much of August, Chourio likely would have well surpassed his rookie year numbers. I expect with a fully healthy season this year, Chourio can reach 30/30 as well and continue his superstar trajectory. If both he and Turang can do that, they’ll help lift this team to another NL Central title and should receive enough MVP votes to finish in the top 10.

Jason Paczkowski: Brice Turang finishes in the top five for NL MVP

In the award predictions, I said that Turang could finish in the top 10 for NL MVP. Looking at his performance from last year, he should have been in the top 10 anyway. A big factor there is name recognition, and while stats can carry quite a bit, having a reputation can help gain votes. It’s likely part of the reason that Christian Yelich — who finished 12th in the NL MVP vote — finished ahead of Turang last season. If he posts a similar season to last year, he will definitely be in the top 10 this time. If he improves on it, the top five will be within his reach.

Adam Zimmer: Jacob Misiorowski is a top-five NL Cy Young finisher

I’m a big believer in Misiorowski, who has the stuff to eventually win a Cy Young someday. He’s not there yet, particularly given the stiff competition he’ll face in the National League. Still, Misiorowski showed flashes of greatness in an up-and-down season. With former ace Freddy Peralta now in New York, the Brewers will need their new Opening Day starter to serve as a steady option at the front of the rotation. If his command is even slightly improved after an offseason of work with the Brewers’ pitching lab, the sky is the limit for the Miz.

Storylines to Watch

Paul Dietrich: Who is the first blue-chip prospect to break through?

Given that we expect the Brewers to contend this season, it’s a bit strange to call it a transitional year… but it is, in some ways. Luis Rengifo was brought in for one year, as a cadre of exciting infield prospects make their way up the minor league ladder. Joey Ortiz is either going to prove he deserves to start on a good major league team, or he’s going to quickly fall out of the Brewers’ plans. The same goes for Garrett Mitchell, who needs to produce in addition to staying mostly healthy for a full season.

It would not be a shock if the 2027 Brewers had an Opening Day lineup that included Jesús Made, Cooper Pratt, and Jett Williams in place of Rengifo, Ortiz, and Mitchell. My question is whether we see any of those guys this year. Made is probably not going to happen, and Pratt needs to show he can hit at Triple-A. But Williams could be a candidate for the roster if anyone struggles or gets hurt, even if it’s early in the season. And I wouldn’t be surprised if Pratt made it to Milwaukee for his debut sometime late this summer.

Harrison Freuck: Can Milwaukee’s 2025 breakout stars repeat in 2026?

The Brewers won 97 games in 2025 largely on the backs of some previously unsung players. Brice Turang took another big step forward to lead the team with 5.6 bWAR. Quinn Priester and Chad Patrick broke out in the rotation as two of the best pitchers on this team. Andrew Vaughn, who was a star prospect before struggling in the majors with the White Sox, seemed to find his groove in a new place as he was a key part of Milwaukee’s late-season push for the NL Central crown. If those players (and others) can repeat in 2026, this team will have what it takes to claim a fourth consecutive NL Central title.

Dave Gasper: Which starting pitchers ultimately earn job security?

The Brewers have loaded up on starting pitching depth. With everyone healthy, the Brewers have 11 legitimate starting pitching options on the 40-man roster, and that doesn’t even include Aaron Ashby or DL Hall. Jacob Misiorowski is pretty locked in to a spot, as are Brandon Woodruff and Quinn Priester when healthy. Chad Patrick is in a pretty good spot right now, but will that remain the case as his sophomore season goes along? Tobias Myers lost his job pretty quickly last year.

Kyle Harrison and Brandon Sproat appear to have won the early-season spots in the rotation, but will they be able to keep them as the season goes along? Logan Henderson, Robert Gasser, Shane Drohan, Carlos Rodriguez, and Coleman Crow can step in at the first sign of trouble. The Brewers will likely use all of these starting pitchers throughout the year. With so much depth, the cream will rise to the top. Who will that be? Who can stake a more permanent claim on a rotation spot? It will be fascinating to watch.

Jason Paczkowski: Can Andrew Vaughn maintain his 2025 performance?

When the Brewers acquired Andrew Vaughn for Aaron Civale in 2025, it felt like they were just trying to get anything for a disgruntled player. It was entirely possible that Vaughn would have just lingered down in Triple-A for the rest of 2025. However, when Rhys Hoskins went down injured, Vaughn became one of the Brewers’ legends. He went from hitting .189 for the White Sox to hitting .308 for the Brewers. All of his numbers saw dramatic jumps. His biggest moment may have come in NLDS Game 5, where his solo home run put the Brewers ahead for good.

The big question for Vaughn is if he can do it again. The track record with the White Sox wasn’t great, but it was also the White Sox. It’s hard to tell if his struggles were due to playing on a bad team or if he would be struggling regardless of where he played. The Brewers need the 2025 version of him to shine through if they want to hold the division title again in 2026.

Adam Zimmer: Who’s going to play third base?

The majority of the Brewers’ infield is pretty much set. Andrew Vaughn will be the regular first baseman, spelled occasionally by Jake Bauers. Second base is locked down by Brice Turang, and shortstop is Joey Ortiz’s job to lose. After trading last year’s starting third baseman, Caleb Durbin, to the Red Sox, the Brewers didn’t exactly find a clear replacement. Luis Rengifo appears to have the inside track for the job, but if he struggles, the Brewers could turn to fellow offseason acquisition David Hamilton. Given the Brewers’ infield depth in the minor leagues (Jett Williams, Brock Wilken, Cooper Pratt, and even Andrew Fischer), there’s a chance their third baseman down the stretch isn’t currently on the 40-man roster.

Good morning, baseball fans!

Today is Opening Day for the San Francisco Giants! And that is the best sentence I’ve both written and read in a long time. Every year, it feels like the season takes longer and longer to get here. But today, the long winter is over and baseball returns to Oracle Park.

As a reminder, today’s game will only be available on Netflix. And while that is a sentence I have written before, it was only in jest as a satirical statement on the state of streaming services nickle-and-diming us out of our regularly scheduled baseball broadcasts. Kind of a sour note to start the season on, in my opinion, but I guess that’s what we get for playing the New York Yankees in the first series. And also being the only game scheduled for today.

Regardless, we’ve got Giants baseball at Oracle Park today and that feels great!

If you’re heading to the game, make sure to keep us posted down in the comments! Also, to keep us occupied until first pitch, what are some of your favorite Opening Day traditions/memories?

What time do the Giants play today?

The Giants and Yankees play tonight at 5:05 p.m. PT.

Baseball America tosses in Kansas City Royals pitching prospect Kendry Chourio as a candidate for the next overall top pitching prospect.

Under the sweltering heat in Goodyear, Chourio proved to be every bit as advertised. And so far in the backfields and in spring training this year, it’s been more of the same, suggesting a ceiling for the 18-year-old righthander, even if his timeline is a little longer than more experienced prospects.

Still, there is a lot of development that needs to happen. Chourio’s fastball sat 96-98 in Spring Breakout, and he used his curveball as his secondary pitch. What stood out is that, despite the speed of the curve and its usage (57%), he got no whiffs on the pitch. In addition, he didn’t throw his changeup once in Friday’s game, so he needs to hone in on a lockdown third pitch to really be considered as a top pitching prospect.

MLB.com’s Anne Rogers predicts the Opening Day lineup in a preview of the Royals-Braves tilt this Friday.

The top four or five is what we’ll see the majority of this season, but facing Sale is a tough first assignment. Pasquantino will play regardless, but we might see other lefties swapped out for matchup reasons. Between Carter Jensen, Jac Caglianone and Kyle Isbel, there will likely have to be one lefty in the lineup, so we opted to keep Jensen in there at DH, while putting righties Starling Marte in right field and Lane Thomas in center field. It’s not that right fielder Caglianone won’t play against left-handers … it’s just that Sale is an especially tough lefty to face. The Royals still could put Caglianone in right field, though, while having Marte DH and Jensen on the bench for Opening Day.

Maikel Garcia, 3B
Bobby Witt Jr., SS
Vinnie Pasquantino, 1B
Salvador Perez, C
Isaac Collins, LF
Jonathan India, 2B
Carter Jensen, DH
Starling Marte, RF
Lane Thomas, CF

MLB.com writers also took their preseason ballots and voted Bobby Witt Jr. as the 2026 AL MVP.

An all-around star, Witt missed out on the 2024 AL MVP Award because of an incredible year at the plate from Aaron Judge. The Kansas City shortstop finished fourth in MVP balloting in 2025, behind only Judge, Cal Raleigh and José Ramírez. This year, our voters project it will be Witt’s turn to take home the hardware — but they think it will be close.

Witt, who had a .295/.351/.501 slash line with 23 homers and 38 steals in 2025, was picked to beat out Judge — by only one vote! — to win AL MVP. MLB’s best defender by Outs Above Average last season, Witt certainly has the talent to do it, but he’ll have to put up a campaign comparable to his outstanding ’24 and hope Judge doesn’t eclipse him once again.

Others receiving votes: Judge, Julio Rodríguez, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Roman Anthony, Nick Kurtz, Ramírez, Gunnar Henderson

Get a closer look at catcher Salvador Perez’s newest ink after the World Baseball Classic.

The 9-9-9 Challenge is coming to Kauffman Stadium (at least a branded one now).

Kansas City Sports Network’s Joel Penfield chatted with Royals general manager J.J. Picollo ahead of Opening Day. You can watch the full interview here.

FanGraphs’ Dan Szymborski predicts bust seasons for not just one, but two Royals pitchers.

Royals Keep’s Kevin O’Brien has his bold Royals predictions in for 2026.

How are the Royals changing the 50/50 raffle this season?

Bleacher Report pitches Kansas City trading Kris Bubic and prospects to the New York Yankees for Jasson Domínguez.

Yardbarker has their Royals predictions for the 2026 season.

FanSided ranks the Royals as the 15th-most watchable team in 2026.

A check in on the sports card market and Salvador Perez.

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The days are longer, it’s getting warmer, and baseball has arrived. MLB Opening Day is upon us, and with it, the hope that 2026 can finally be the year our team turns it all around. Sure, functionally this is another season where everyone is trying to catch the seemingly-unstoppable Dodgers’ monolith, but everyone is 0-0 right now and that means we can dream.

It’s time to take stock of the Major League Baseball landscape before the first pitch and dive into the players who will shape the grand narrative of the season. These aren’t necessarily the best players in baseball (though there will naturally be some overlap), but more so the players whose performance will write the chapter on this season.

No. 1: Shohei Ohtani — Los Angeles Dodgers

Ohtani has such gravity that all of baseball revolves around him. It’s a quality we almost never see, and perhaps haven’t seen in any sport since peak LeBron James. This isn’t a case of thinking Ohtani won’t have a monster year, or won’t win MVP (again), but rather a case where everything in MLB is defined by the most influential player on the league’s best team.

No. 2: Gerrit Cole — New York Yankees

The Yankees are settling in as one of the few teams that could actually stop the Dodgers from running a three-peat, but that all depends on the return of ace Gerrit Cole. If he is able to bounce back from Tommy John surgery then the rotation in the Bronx of Cole/Fried/Rodón might be one of the most terrifying in all of baseball. If he comes back as a shadow of his former Cy Young self, well, the Dodgers might just take home another championship without much resistance.

No. 3: Cal Raleigh — Seattle Mariners

The most difficult part of capturing lightning in a bottle is holding onto it. In 2025 Cal Raleigh went from being one of baseball’s best catchers, to one of its best players without a positional qualifier. Seattle was one of the best stories in baseball last year, but if they want to turn that into perennial success then Raleigh needs to be close to what he was in 2025. That’s easier said than done.

No. 4: Alex Bregman — Chicago Cubs

2025 marked the return of the Chicago Cubs to being a team you actually needed to pay attention to. Topping 90 wins for the first time since 2018, their big free agency acquisition this year was to fix their gaping hole at third base. Bregman might not be the elite MVP candidate he was in Houston — but he’s still a massive upgrade whose bat could become the difference in the North Siders becoming a true contender.

No. 5: Dylan Cease — Toronto Blue Jays

It’s rare you see a team as good as the 2025 Jays go through so much roster upheaval. Right now it looks like they might be better on paper? It’s difficult to know. One thing is certain though, any chance of putting up a fight to the Dodgers’ crown will require the signing of Dylan Cease to pay off in the hopes he can slot into an aging rotation and give the team a chance for its prolific batting to make a difference.

No. 6: Ronald Acuña Jr. — Atlanta Braves

It feels like both yesterday and forever ago that Ronald Acuña was a transformative star. An injury-shortened 2025 season was the downfall of the Braves, who failed to make the postseason for the first time in seven years. If they want to get back on the right side of the ledger and prove they can be a force in the National League then Acuña needs to return to being the MVP caliber player he is.

No. 7: Bo Bichette — New York Mets

One of the weirdest free agent periods for a player in recent memory resulted in Bo Bichette landing in Queens, where he will either be the missing piece — or another misstep. Nobody spends more money on mediocrity than the Mets, who are so hungry to break the cycle they’ll do anything. Bichette is another Mets swing at finding their missing piece. If he can be additive, then they might finally get over the hump. If not, well, this signing will be another overpaid punchline in Queens.

No. 8: Ranger Suárez — Boston Red Sox

Who needs bats when nobody can hit your gas? That’s more or less Boston’s approach this season as they lost Alex Bregman in free agency, then decided to load up their rotation even more. It’s truly ridiculous that the Red Sox are going to trot out Garrett Crochet, Brayan Bello, Lucas Giolito, and now Ranger Suárez. It’s a rotation that evokes memories of the World Series-winning teams Boston had in the past, and we’ll see if history can repeat itself.

No. 9: Tarik Skubal — Detroit Tigers

Skubal is going to be amazing. We don’t need tea leaves to see that one coming. He will dominate the competition, probably win the Cy Young, and be a key factor in the Tigers’ success this year. What this placement is really about is free agency in 2027. A big year from Skubal could make him the first $500M free agent pitcher in MLB history, making his performance this season a definitive step in baseball.

No. 10: Ketel Marte — Arizona Diamondbacks

The D-Backs have a pretty darn good lineup. It’s just a shame they have atrocious pitching, which will probably sink their season. That makes Ketel Marte a player to watch who could easily be dealt at the deadline to a contender, which could make him the biggest name to move in the trade market this year.

No. 11: Trea Turner — Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are going to be a top-tier team again, but Trea Turner once again missed over 20 games in a season. For the Phillies to be a legitimate contender, they will hope Turner can give them a full slate of games, and if that happens, there’s a real chance that he could exceed his 5.4 WAR from last year and be a league-defining player.

No. 12: Gunnar Henderson — Baltimore Orioles

Gunnar Henderson’s incredible start to his MLB career was slowed by a shoulder injury in 2025 which in part caused the Orioles to fall back to earth. There’s a real chance they could return to form this season with a healthy Henderson leading the charge. Gunnar is one of baseball’s most exciting young players who will get a big lift from Pete Alonso, who will make this list in a couple of spots. Henderson edges out his new teammate, purely by virtue of the fact that 2026 could cement him as the future of MLB..

No. 13: Roman Anthony — Boston Red Sox

We expected Roman Anthony to be good, but didn’t think he’d immediately become one of baseball’s best players in his first season. With one of the best pitching rotations in baseball the Red Sox just need bats, and if Anthony can show up once more then we’ll be talking about Boston as a team that can upend the top of the AL East.

No. 14: Pete Alonso — Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles made the big play to sign Pete Alonso in free agency primarily to give the team a massive bat, and someone who could slot in beside Gunnar Henderson to give Baltimore a much-needed one-two punch. We know the five-time All-Star has power for days, but reliability is what will determine the Orioles fortunes this year.

No. 15: Konnor Griffin — Pittsburgh Pirates

Konnor Griffin might be starting the season in the minors, but it won’t be long before the Pirates call him up. The No. 1 overall prospect is garnering a level of hype rarely seen for a rookie after registering a ridiculous 161 hits in 123 Minor League games last year. If Griffin can live up to the billing, Paul Skenes will inevitably be brilliant once more — and we can start talking about Pittsburgh as a team to watch in 2027.

No. 16: Trey Yesavage — Toronto Blue Jays

The odds-on favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year honors, Yesavage showed unreal potential in limited time in 2025. Now he arrives on a Blue Jays roster that is stacked with talent, and part of a rotation that’s rich with veteran experience. It might not be long before we talk about him as the ace in Toronto, which could lead to serious postseason success.

No. 17: Kyle Tucker — Los Angeles Dodgers

The rich just keep on getting richer with the Dodgers solving a “weakness” by upgrading at right field and adding one of the most patient batters in the game. The big thing with Tucker is whether or not he can stay healthy for a full season slate. At his current rate the Dodgers will get better, if he hits his high water marks then it might be impossible for anyone to catch L.A.

No. 18: Jackson Merrill — San Diego Padres

It was a down year for Merrill in 2025, but there’s plenty of reason to believe the Padres’ CF can bounce back. If he does then we’re looking at a San Diego roster that’s one of baseball’s best on paper, and a legitimate contender after the Dodgers in the NL West.

No. 19: Jarren Duran — Boston Red Sox

Which version of Jarren Duran will show up in 2026? The Red Sox had been waiting for the outfielder to take that next step, which he did in 2024, then regressed once more in 2025. Is he closer to the 8.7 WAR monster that he was a couple of years back? Or the barely-above replacement player? This season could determine if Duran is part of Boston’s future plans, or shipped away at the trade deadline.

No. 20: Blake Snell — Los Angeles Dodgers

If you need evidence of how good Los Angeles was last year then look at the fact the Dodgers won the World Series while having one of the best pitchers in baseball on IR for four months of the season. A returning Snell helped lift the team in the postseason, and a strong return to form in 2026 will set the tone for the season.

No. 21: George Kirby — Seattle Mariners

One of the rare players on the Mariners who didn’t lift his game during Seattle’s incredible run was the rotation’s most promising pitcher, George Kirby. This organization will need their top players to return to form, as well as guys like Kirby to lift their games to prove they’re contenders in 2026. The potential is there, now we wait to see how it plays out.

No. 22: Jazz Chisholm Jr. — New York Yankees

One of the best defensive infielders in baseball, Jazz Chisholm Jr. is back to his natural spot at second base where he can make a big impact this season after spending last season at 3B. It’s a contract year for Chisholm Jr. which will amp up the urgency to have a big year, and his performance will be key to how far the Yankees can go this season.

No. 23: Julio Rodriguez — Seattle Mariners

Rodriguez is already an elite player, but there’s been just a little bit lacking to his game up to this point. Promising signs at the end of the season when it comes to reliability could very well carry over into 2026, making this a potential MVP season in the AL for him. If we see a 7 or 8 WAR year from him then we’ll be talking about Seattle as serious threats to the Dodgers. If not, well, it might be like last year — which was brilliant, but just a little too short.

No. 24: Bobby Witt Jr. — Kansas City Royals

The Royals don’t figure into being threats, but Bobby Witt Jr. is poised to ascend into being one of the faces of Major League Baseball. There might have been a small step back last season for the MVP-caliber shortstop, but this season could see him surge back into being one of the most dominant all-around players in the game.

No. 25: Yordan Alvarez — Houston Astros

The Astros’ chances to make noise in the postseason feel slim, at best — but they hinge on Yordan Alvarez getting back to his old self. The 28-year-old went from being a high-level player to a 0.7 WAR guy who lost a lot due to injury — but there’s little doubting he can bounce back. Houston needs him to be a top talent this year to have any chance of getting back to contention.

No. 26: Munetaka Murakami — Chicago White Sox

Putting a White Sox player in last place just feels right. It wasn’t long ago that Murakami conjured almost-Ohtani levels of hype when it came to making his MLB debut after hitting 56 home runs in 2022 and breaking the single-season record in Japan’s NPB. From there he went on a serious slump, wrecking high-level dreams and settling for a two-year deal with the White Sox. In spring training there have been some signs of promise, and it will be fascinating to see if Murakami can find his bat once more, or if time has passed him by.