The march to the World Series begins tonight, when the New York Yankees take on the San Francisco Giants. More teams will join the action on Thursday and this weekend all 30 MLB teams will have begun the long journey to October.
Unfortunately for some teams, that journey may end faster than expected.
Before the start of the 2026 MLB season, let’s take a look at each team’s chances of winning a World Series, stacking the teams into tiers and ranking their chances, from the Colorado Rockies to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
30. Colorado Rocky Mountains
29. Chicago White Sox
28. Washington Nationals
27. Angels of Los Angeles
26. Miami Marlins
25. St. Louis Cardinals
Baseball’s rich history offers many memorable quotes.
We begin our look at all 30 teams with one from Humphrey Bogart, the legendary actor who said this about the game. Or at least attend a game.
“A hot dog at the baseball game beats roast beef at the Ritz.”
It may be a long season for these six teams, but still, their fans will be able to sit in the sun and enjoy those dogs, at least a few times this season.
24. Minnesota Twins
23 Tampa Bay Rays
22. Athletics
21. Arizona Diamonds
Every team at this level could make the playoffs if things go their way. For the Twins, if they can get a healthy Byron Buxton for 162 games, the lineup is built from there. The Rays return home and could put up impressive numbers in that park, particularly Junior Caminero. The young talent on the A’s roster could surprise this season, especially since they will be able to play their home games at Sutter Health Park again this year, which could lead to massive numbers for Nick Kurtz.
The Diamondbacks need pitching help, but Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte and Geraldo Perdomo form a pretty potent trio.
That’s right, we’re putting the Pittsburgh Pirates on a level of their own.
The Pirates might be the most fascinating team in baseball. In Paul Skenes, Pittsburgh has a bona fide ace. While the Pirates arguably (or inarguably) had the worst offense in baseball a season ago, they added Brandon Lowe, Marcell Ozuna and Ryan O’Hearn in the offseason, which should bolster production. And waiting in the wings? Two rising stars in Jhostynxon García and Konnor Griffin.
In fact, other analysts have predicted that the Pirates will take a big step forward. MLB.com contributor Travis Sawchik believes Pittsburgh will score more than 150 more runs this season than in 2025while FanGraphs has Pittsburgh scheduled for 136 more races.
That kind of improvement in production could see the Pirates finish with a winning record for the first time in a decade and also make the playoffs. In fact, FanGraphs has Pittsburgh finishing at 82-80, making a playoff berth still a long shot, but a possibility.
Something Pirates fans haven’t seen in a long time.
19. Cleveland Guardians
18. San Francisco Giants
17. Kansas City Royals
16 Cincinnati Reds
15. San Diego Padres
14. Texas Rangers
13. Houston Astros
12. Baltimore Orioles
11.Detroit Tigers
10. Milwaukee Brewers
These are all teams that should make a run at the playoffs this season, and at least be on the “buyer” list come the MLB trade deadline.
Leading the way are the Detroit Tigers, led by ace Tarik Skubal, who is seeking his third straight Cy Young Award. Detroit also added workhorse Framber Valdez, and they have a bullpen that should give them some wins over the course of the season. The Orioles are another fun team to watch at this level, as Baltimore was loaded in the offseason with names like Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward, Ryan Helsley, Shane Baz and Andrew Kittredge. There’s still a feeling in the Inner Harbor that the Orioles need to add a true ace at the deadline, but a sense of urgency has finally settled in around this organization.
Then there are the Brewers, who finished with the best record in baseball a year ago.
National League contenders
9. Atlanta Braves
8. Chicago Cubs
7. Philadelphia Phillies
Here are three teams that should not settle for just entering, but should think about winning the league.
The Atlanta Braves are set for a full year with a healthy Ronald Acuña Jr., on a roster with talent beyond the star outfielder. The Chicago Cubs have a roster full of young talent and added Alex Bregman in the offseason. Then there are the Philadelphia Phillies, who have won 90 games in each of the last four seasons, are looking to have a rotation built to win in the fall and make the playoffs, and could have their next big star in Justin Crawford, who made the Opening Day roster.
American League contenders
6. Boston Red Sox
5. Toronto Blue Jays
4. Seattle Mariners
Red Sox fans, frustrated with the organization missing out on Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso and seeing Alex Bregman leave town for Chicago, calmed their nerves by watching Roman Anthony drop bombs in the World Baseball Classic. But can this offense hit hard enough to go deep in the fall?
Toronto also experienced a key departure, with local star Bo Bichette leaving for the New York Mets. But the Blue Jays added Dylan Cease, Kazuma Okamoto, Cody Ponce and Tyler Rogers, adding those players to a team that was just yards away from perhaps winning a World Series. Of course, the news that. Trey Yesavage starting the year on the IL (no schedule for Shane Bieber either) isn’t the best way to start a season.
As for the Mariners, who led the Blue Jays to Game 7 of the American League Championship Series, Cal Raleigh, Josh Naylor and Julio Rodríguez are back. And it’s only a matter of time until top prospect Colt Emerson joins them.
3. New York Mets
2. New York Yankees
Now we can talk about the two teams in New York.
The Mets made a big splash heading into 2025, signing Juan Soto to a record contract in December 2024. While his slow start changed the narrative a bit, Soto finished the year with 43 home runs and a .263/.396/.525 line.
But when the playoffs began, that expensive roster was watching them from home.
That led to more additions, as the Mets added Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Marcus Semien and Devin Williams. While Pete Alonso is now in Baltimore, this is a potent lineup given the additions of Soto and Francisco Lindor. And with Kodai Senga looking strong so far this spring, expectations should be high in Queens.
As for the Yankees, this was an unconventional offseason for Brian Cashman and company. Instead of making big moves of his own, Cashman only marginally altered a roster that won 93 games a year ago. Get both. Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon should also help, and given the talent already in the building, you can understand Cashman’s approach.
Two consecutive titles, a bet on a third, the best player on the planet and the highest payroll in the sport?
Yes, until we see reasons to disbelieve, the Los Angeles Dodgers are your favorites for another World Series.
