The 2026 MLB season is descending upon us, meaning each team starts 0-0 and believes it has a shot at winning the World Series. Everyone's chasing a loaded Los Angeles Dodgers roster that has won the last two titles and is pursuing the first three-peat in 26 years.
Chasing the Dodgers is a host of teams. The Toronto Blue Jays, for example, were two outs away from the title last year and snuck by a feisty Seattle Mariners squad in the ALCS. Two reloaded teams in New York also take center stage, in addition to a Chicago Cubs crew a decade removed from its last World Series crown.
Let's break down our MLB predictions for 2026, including standings for every division and the World Series. Make your MLB Picks on PrizePicks and earn real money if you’re right, including on game winners, spreads, totals, and futures!
MLB futures payouts are live as of writing but are subject to change.
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American League East Division Picks, Futures
The AL East was the only division with three teams earning 89+ wins last season. The Blue Jays edged out the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox for the crown. Can they repeat?
Here are the payouts, via PrizePicks Team Picks, to win the American League East.
American League East Division Winner Payouts
- New York Yankees: 2.77x
- Toronto Blue Jays: 3.7x
- Boston Red Sox: 4.34x
- Baltimore Orioles: 5x
- Tampa Bay Rays: 14.28x
Why the Toronto Blue Jays Can Win the AL East
Blue Jays AL East Winner Payout: Yes 3.7x | No 1.26x
Blue Jays World Series Winner Payout: Yes 12.05x
Regardless of who you pick in the AL East, you may be predicting the best division in baseball. Three of its teams went to the postseason last year. After the Yankees squeaked by the Sox, the Blue Jays knocked off the Yankees and Mariners and came close to winning the World Series.
Toronto had at least a share of the AL East lead from July 2 on, eventually winning on a tiebreaker over the Yankees. They lost SS/3B Bo Bichette from a potent lineup that led the majors in batting average and was third in RBIs and OPS.
With 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and outfielders George Springer and Daulton Varsho, Toronto still has one of the best offenses in baseball.
SP Dylan Cease comes over from the San Diego Padres to anchor a strong rotation with Kevin Gausman, but for the most part, the pitching staff is the same. Add in solid defense and an improved bullpen, and the Blue Jays could be a real threat to not only win the AL East again but return to the Fall Classic.
The Yankees and Red Sox may be right there with the Jays again. New York's upside is significant if injuries and bullpen issues don’t rear their ugly heads.
American League Central Division Picks, Futures
The 2025 AL Central saw an incredible race come down to the season’s last day, but the better team didn't win the division. What will happen in 2026?
Here are the payouts, via PrizePicks Team Picks, to win the American League Central.
American League Central Division Winner Payouts
- Detroit Tigers: 2.04x
- Kansas City Royals: 3.22x
- Cleveland Guardians: 5.88x
- Minnesota Twins: 9.09x
- Chicago White Sox: 22.22x
Why the Detroit Tigers Can Win the AL Central
Tigers AL Central Winner Payout: Yes 2.04x | No 1.78x
Tigers World Series Winner Payout: Yes 16.66x
It was either an incredible comeback by the Cleveland Guardians last year or an incredible collapse by the Detroit Tigers. Either way, the Guardians, 12.5 games back on August 23, won the AL Central on the season’s last day. The incredible run got them to 88 wins with a negative run differential.
The Tigers led that division from the season’s first week and eventually won the Wild Card round from the Guardians. Detroit has back-to-back Cy Young winner SP Tarik Skubal and added Framber Valdez to the rotation.
Cleveland didn’t improve much in the offseason and could go back to the .500 team it was through late August. While the Kansas City Royals have young talent like RF Jac Caglianone, they seem a year away.
FanGraphs has the Tigers with a projected five-game edge over the Royals and a larger gap to the rest of the division.
American League West Division Picks, Futures
The Houston Astros had control of the division for the first half of the year before the Mariners went on a historic run that gave them their first title in 25 years.
Here are the payouts, via PrizePicks Team Picks, to win the American League West.
American League West Division Winner Payouts
- Seattle Mariners: 1.88x
- Houston Astros: 3.84x
- Texas Rangers: 4.54x
- Athletics: 11.11x
- Los Angeles Angels: 22.22x
Why the Seattle Mariners Can Win the AL West
Mariners AL West Winner Payout: Yes 1.88x | No 2x
Mariners World Series Winner Payout: Yes 7.69x
There weren’t many who predicted the Mariners to win the AL West and come within eight outs of winning the franchise’s first AL pennant. They won’t sneak up on anyone in 2026, however, given they hold what some consider the best roster aside from the Dodgers.
C Cal Raleigh, LF Randy Arozarena, and CF Julio Rodríguez anchor a powerful lineup that added IF/OF Brendan Donovan, while SP Logan Gilbert and Bryan Woo are back to lead the pitching staff.
The Astros took a step back last year, and the Texas Rangers made some offseason moves but are still fighting the injury bug. This could be the Mariners’ division to lose.
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National League East Division Picks, Futures
The NL East has been a battle between the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets, and Philadelphia Phillies for the better part of this decade. Will that be the case in 2026?
Here are the payouts, via PrizePicks Team Picks, to win the National League East.
National League East Division Winner Payouts
- New York Mets: 2.27x
- Philadelphia Phillies: 3.03x
- Atlanta Braves: 3.22x
- Miami Marlins: 16.66x
- Washington Nationals: 33.33x
Why the Philadelphia Phillies Can Win the NL East
Phillies NL East Winner Payout: Yes 3.03x | No 1.38x
Phillies World Series Winner Payout: Yes 12.5x
Every year, many want to take the Mets to win the NL East given their big salaries and high expectations. They added Bichette and 2B Jorge Polanco to a lineup that already had SS Francisco Lindor and RF Juan Soto. SP Freddy Peralta and a full season of rookie Nolan McLean headline the rotation.
However, it's the Phillies who've been more consistent and trustworthy. They ended up running away with the NL East last season, winning by 13 games, and their core of 1B Bryce Harper, LF Kyle Schwarber, SS Trea Turner, and C J.T. Realmuto is back for another run.
A rotation of SP Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Christopher Sanchez, and Jesus Luzardo might be primed to be among the best in baseball. Sanchez was the runner-up to Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates in Cy Young voting last year.
What about the Braves? RF Ronald Acuna Jr. is back, although last season was quite disappointing at a team level. The Marlins are an up-and-comer but won’t have the depth to compete, and the Nationals are still in a major overhaul.
National League Central Division Picks, Futures
While the American League East gets all the attention for the best division in baseball, it’s easy to forget the NL Central also sent three teams to the postseason last year. Can that happen again?
Here are the payouts, via PrizePicks Team Picks, to win the National League Central.
National League Central Division Winner Payouts
- Chicago Cubs: 2.12x
- Milwaukee Brewers: 3.33x
- Pittsburgh Pirates: 5x
- Cincinnati Reds: 5.88x
- St. Louis Cardinals: 16.66x
Why the Chicago Cubs Can Win the NL Central
Cubs NL Central Winner Payout: Yes 2.12x | No 1.72x
Cubs World Series Winner Payout: Yes 14.28x
The Cubs’ roster looks to be the best in the division. That was also the case last year, though, when the Milwaukee Brewers won 97 games and earned the top seed in the National League. Another tight race could be on deck, but perhaps this time with Chicago on top.
After winning 92 games and making the postseason, the Cubs added 3B Alex Bregman to the lineup and SP Edward Cabrera to the rotation. Meanwhile, the Brewers traded away Peralta and SP Caleb Durbin and look to replace them from within with Jacob Misiorowski entering his sophomore campaign.
The Pirates have Skenes and upgraded their offense but are still a team that won just 71 games last season. The Reds surprised many with a Wild Card berth last year, while the Cardinals are in the middle of a large rebuild.
National League West Division Picks, Futures
The Dodgers didn't run away with the NL West last season as many expected. Can the Padres cut things close again in 2026?
Here are the payouts, via PrizePicks Team Picks, to win the National League West.
National League West Division Winner Payouts
- Los Angeles Dodgers: 1.17x
- San Diego Padres: 7.69x
- San Francisco Giants: 11.11x
- Arizona Diamondbacks: 16.66x
- Colorado Rockies: 33.33x
Why the Los Angeles Dodgers Can Win the NL West
Dodgers NL East Winner Payout: Yes 1.17x | No 5x
Dodgers World Series Winner Payout: Yes 3.03x | No 1.38x
The better question may be this: Why wouldn’t they win the NL West?
The two-time defending champions added OF Kyle Tucker and RP Edwin Diaz to an already record-breaking roster that is causing many in the industry to ask for a salary cap in upcoming CBA discussions.
L.A. is anchored by the best player on the planet in four-time MVP SP/DH Shohei Ohtani. SS Mookie Betts, 2B Tommy Edman, 1B Freddie Freeman, and RP Will Smith are all back, while Ohtani is joined by SP Tyler Glasnow, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Emmet Sheehan, and Roki Sasaki in the rotation.
Maybe injuries will slow the Dodgers down? Well, they ran through over 40 pitchers last year and still managed 93 wins. San Diego can be competitive with OF Fernando Tatis Jr. and a bullpen that led the majors with a 3.03 ERA in 2025, but they could be battling for a Wild Card spot come September.
The San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks are another level down. The Colorado Rockies, well, are still the Rockies.
2026 MLB World Series Picks, Futures
It's hard to make the case for anyone but the Dodgers to win the crown again. Even with lots of injury issues and missing out on a bye last year, they went 9-1 in the NL playoffs before beating the Blue Jays in the World Series.
This team could be back again, eyeing the first three-peat in the majors since the Yankees in 1998-2000. Don't be surprised if their foe is a Mariners team that nearly beat the Jays last fall.
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Make 2026 MLB Season Picks on PrizePicks
The upcoming 162 games will decide six division champions for the 2026 MLB season. Will the Blue Jays, Guardians, Mariners, and Brewers follow up their surprise division titles, or will mainstays like the Dodgers and Yankees rule 2026?
You can make your MLB predictions for 2026 on PrizePicks and PrizePicks Team Picks to earn real money. With Team Picks, make predictions on winners, spreads, and over/unders, now available in 35 states.
Keep tabs on the Playbook for continued MLB predictions, picks, and news.
