Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The 2026 MLB season is underway, and it’s time for some season predictions. This isn’t particularly Dodger-focused, even if the end result is.
It’s hard to pick against the Dodgers completing the 3-peat. After signing Edwin Diaz and Kyle Tucker, another year of development for the younger players and a relatively healthy offseason, the odds of a 3-peat have never been better — even if they aren’t great.
2026 MLB Predictions
American League
East
Blue Jays^
Yankees*
Orioles
Red Sox
Rays
Central
Royals
Tigers*
Guardians
Twins
White Sox
West
Mariners^^
Astros*
Athletics
Rangers
Angels
^- No. 1 seed
^^- No. 2 seed
*- Wild Card
Wild Card Round
Royals over Tigers in 3
Yankees over Astros in 3
ALDS
Blue Jays over Royals in 4
Mariners over Yankees in 4
ALCS
Mariners over Blue Jays in 6
National League
East
Mets^^
Phillies*
Braves
Marlins
Nationals
Central
Cubs
Pirates*
Brewers*
Reds
Cardinals
West
Dodgers^
Padres
Giants
Diamondbacks
Rockies
^- No. 1 seed
^^- No. 2 seed
*- Wild Card
Wild Card Round
Cubs over Pirates in 3
Phillies over Brewers in 3
NLDS
Dodgers over Brewers in 3
Mets over Cubs in 5
NLCS
Dodgers over Mets in 6
World Series
Dodgers over Mariners in 6
MVP: Ohtani
The almost-matchup in 2025 becomes the matchup in 2026. The Mariners added to their already-loaded roster by re-signing trade deadline acquisition Josh Naylor and acquiring Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals. They also have one of the game’s best shortstop prospects in Colt Emerson ready and waiting in the minors. But if the Mariners make it to the World Series, it’s going to be on the strength of their top-tier starting rotation. Not many teams can matchup 1-5 with the Mariners: Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, Luis Castillo, Bryce Miller (when healthy). They also boast one of the game’s strongest bullpens, anchored by Andres Munoz. Despite all that, the Dodgers have just a little too much for the M’s, as Ohtani shows off the entire package en route to his first World Series MVP. The Dodgers get to celebrate a World Series championship on their home field for the first time since 1963 (!!!).
Awards
AL
MVP: SS Bobby Witt Jr., Royals
Cy Young: LHP Garrett Crochet, Red Sox
ROY: IF Kazuma Okamoto, Blue Jays
You might be surprised to learn Witt had an 8-WAR season in 2025, and that’s with his bat taking a bit of a step back from 2024. In 2026, he puts it all together and does enough to beat out Aaron Judge for his first MVP award. Crochet establishes himself as the best pitcher in the AL, just barely edging out free-agent-to-be Tarik Skubal. Okamoto helps the Blue Jays withstand some of the aging/injury-prone vets and the loss of Bo Bichette.
NL
MVP: OF Juan Soto, Mets
Cy Young: Paul Skenes, Pirates
ROY: 2B/SS JJ Wetherholt, Cardinals
Soto has the best season of his career to takedown reigning MVP Ohtani. Skenes wins his second-consecutive Cy Young award and helps the Pirates to their first playoff berth since 2015. Wetherholt gets a ton of runway and shows off his natural hitting ability to easily claim the Rookie of the Year award.
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