Shohei Ohtani And The Dodgers Are Once Again World Series Favorites. Can Anyone Stop L.a. From Becoming A Dynasty?

As Opening Day 2026 approaches, Major League Baseball finds itself successful an enviable position. The caller World Baseball Classic was an overwhelming success, underscoring why nan athletics is genuinely a world game. MLB has 2 of nan biggest sports stars connected nan satellite successful Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge, pinch a agelong database of superstars poised to subordinate them arsenic family names. And while nan Los Angeles Dodgers loom complete everything, arsenic does nan imaginable of upcoming labour strife, dream still springs eternal connected Opening Day.

While we count nan minutes until first pitch, present are immoderate of nan apical MLB storylines to watch this season.

Can nan Dodgers three-peat? Can Shohei Ohtani four-peat arsenic MVP?

Like it aliases not, nan Dodgers are nan defining communicative successful MLB successful 2026. Not contented pinch back-to-back World Series titles, President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman went retired and landed 2 of nan biggest free agents this wintertime successful outfielder Kyle Tucker and pitcher Edwin Díaz. All eyes are connected a three-peat, which would adjacent nan New York Yankees’ feat from 1998-2000 and firmly put nan franchise successful dynasty territory.

As for Ohtani, there’s 1 point missing from his trophy case: The Cy Young Award. Ohtani will beryllium pulling double-duty for a afloat play for nan first clip since 2023 and Friedman has said that he’s connected a “mission” arsenic a pitcher. Even if Ohtani doesn’t rather scope Cy Young heights, a 4th consecutive MVP is good wrong his grasp. Only Barry Bonds (2001-2004) has accomplished that.

Introduction of ABS strategy

Recent norm changes for illustration nan transportation timepiece person been a hit, truthful MLB is trying it again with nan ABS (automated ball-strike) system this season. Teams will beryllium permitted 2 challenges per crippled (plus 1 successful other innings) and clasp them if successful. Only nan batter, pitcher, aliases catcher tin situation a call. In outpouring training, nan fielders (pitchers and catchers) had a flimsy separator complete hitters successful overturning calls.

It will beryllium absorbing to spot nan different strategies astatine play and whether there’s a attraction connected having challenges disposable precocious successful games. The Dominican Republic, who dealt pinch aggregate arguable calls, would person loved to person nan ABS strategy successful spot erstwhile they mislaid to Team USA successful nan World Baseball Classic semifinals. One thing’s for certain: The first situation to flip a crippled will make for compelling theater.

The AL East is loaded

We’ve gotten utilized to saying this complete nan years, but it feels particularly pronounced successful 2026.

The Blue Jays are caller disconnected their first World Series quality since 1993 and were fierce successful free agency this winter, highlighted by a monolithic statement for Dylan Cease. The Yankees are mostly bringing backmost nan aforesaid group that won 94 games past season, and they should person Gerrit Cole backmost soon. The Red Sox will get a afloat twelvemonth of Roman Anthony, and they added pitchers Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez to their rotation this winter. The Orioles had 1 of nan astir progressive offseasons successful MLB, headlined by five-time All-Star Pete Alonso. The Rays are coming disconnected their worst play since 2016, but their fortunes could alteration pinch a return to Tropicana Field.

Tarik Skubal connected nan verge of a awesome payday

Skubal already landed a record-setting $32 cardinal net done arbitration this offseason, but he’s still connected nan verge of history connected aggregate fronts. With different Cy Young Award, he would go nan first pitcher to triumph 3 consecutive Cy Young Awards since Randy Johnson won 4 consecutive from 1999-2002 pinch nan Diamondbacks. Greg Maddux (1992-1995) besides won 4 consecutive during his ascendant tally pinch nan Braves. Coolest nine ever.

If Skubal tin stay healthy, he’s apt to beryllium successful a people of his ain from a net position this offseason. Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s $325 cardinal statement pinch nan Dodgers is nan richest successful MLB history for a starting pitcher, conscionable up of Gerrit Cole’s $324 cardinal woody pinch nan Yankees. Skubal turns 30 successful November, but he’s poised to group a caller benchmark. This could beryllium nan past twelvemonth of nan Tigers’ model pinch Skubal, and they astatine slightest tried to make nan astir of it this offseason pinch nan summation of Framber Valdez.

Will nan Mets’ makeover get them backmost to nan postseason?

The Mets underwent a important facelift this offseason, parting ways pinch longtime halfway pieces Pete Alonso, Edwin Diaz, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil, while acquiring notable names for illustration Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Marcus Semien, Devin Williams, Luis Robert Jr., and Jorge Polanco.

One of nan intends of President of Baseball Operations David Stearns this wintertime was to amended nan defense, but Bichette and Polanco will beryllium learning caller positions. Can Williams rebound aft a unsmooth one-and-done successful nan Bronx? Can high-profile rookies Nolan McLean and Carson Benge found themselves arsenic nan headliners of nan team’s adjacent core? We’ll soon find retired if nan pieces fit.

Can nan Brewers proceed to defy expectations?

Pat Murphy has won NL Manager of nan Year successful back-to-back seasons, which fundamentally intends that nan mini marketplace Brewers person been nan biggest astonishment successful nan convention each of nan past 2 years. And nan connection astonishment is really underselling it, arsenic they won much games than anyone past year. However, pinch moreover much roster turnover, 2026 mightiness beryllium their biggest situation yet.

The Brewers traded unit ace Freddy Peralta to nan Mets this offseason and past year’s breakout Quinn Priester will miss nan commencement of nan play owed to thoracic outlet syndrome. Meanwhile, nan Cubs (and erstwhile Brewers head Craig Counsell) are pushing difficult for nan NL Central crown down caller acquisitions Alex Bregman and Edward Cabrera.

This year’s rookie people is overflowing pinch talent

A activity of blue-chip talent is connected nan way. Along pinch high-profile arrivals from overseas (Tatsuya Imai, Munetaka Murakami, Kazuma Okamoto), this year’s rookie people could beryllium particularly deep. Konnor Griffin , a 19-year-old, apt isn’t agelong for nan minors, giving Pirates fans dream that nan nine tin capitalize connected their remaining years pinch Paul Skenes. Bubba Chandler (Pirates), Kevin McGonigle (Tigers), JJ Wetherholt (Cardinals), Samuel Basallo (Orioles), Colt Emerson (Mariners), Carter Jensen (Royals), Andrew Painter (Phillies), Justin Crawford (Phillies), Sal Stewart (Reds), and nan aforementioned McLean and Benge (Mets) are among nan different names to know.

Expiration of nan CBA looms

Not to rainfall connected nan Opening Day parade, but it’s difficult to disregard that nan existent MLB corporate bargaining statement is group to expire connected December 1, 2026. MLBPA interim executive head Bruce Meyer (who replaced Tony Clark pursuing an soul investigation) precocious said that a lockout is “almost guaranteed.” The owners reportedly want a net headdress and nan players are adamantly opposed, mounting nan shape for contentious negotiations and nan imaginable of missing regular play games for nan first clip since 1994-95.