Power Rankings: Opening Day Edition
The top 8 teams are pretty good and easy to rank in that range. The rest? Not so much.
The 2026 MLB season is upon us after dozens of roster moves and months of predictions and projections.
Let’s have some fun with Opening Day Power Rankings. As the season progresses, we’ll tune up the fun here with monthly updates
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are the defending champs and on paper are even better than last season after adding Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz to the mix. But they’ll also get more of Shohei Ohtani the pitcher, presumably a better version of Roki Sasaki, and a solid chance for better production from young hitters Andy Pages and Dalton Rushing.
Key Player: Ohtani, RHP
The more Ohtani can pitch, the better the Dodgers will be.
2. Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays lost Bo Bichette but added Kazuma Okamoto, Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, and Max Scherzer, should get a lot more of rookie righty Trey Yesavage, though they’ll have to hope his early-season shoulder injury doesn’t keep him out too long. They took the Dodgers to seven games a year ago and had two shots to clinch their first title in 30-plus years, and this year’s roster is better.
Key Player: Yesavage, RHP
First, the rookie needs to get healthy, but if he’s a 160-inning mid-rotation value, the Jays could separate themselves in the division.
3. Seattle Mariners
Seattle had their best postseason run ever in 2025, and there are numerous paths to a better 2026. It all starts with the rotation, where four of the five dealt with injuries a year ago, but the Mariners did bring back Josh Naylor and added Jose Ferrer to the bullpen and Brendan Donovan to the infield mix.
The club’s advantages over some other teams in the Top 10 include the chance they get significant help from the farm system in more ways than one. They can use it for trades, but Colt Emerson and Kade Anderson may break through and assist Seattle to another division title and a chance at their first World Series. They also have more players trending up than the majority of the American League.
Key Player: Cole Young, 2B
If Young shows he can hold down the everyday job at second base, it not only catapults an otherwise strong lineup into the Top 5 in baseball, it makes the deadline goals pretty easy for the front office.
4. New York Yankees
I think the Bombers have more potential questions than not only the Jays but also the Boston Red Sox, but also more upside, particularly with the rotation. They expect to get Gerrit Cole back in a month or less, Carlos Rodon is on a schedule landing him back on the mound by May, and Max Fried returns for Year 2 in pinstripes. They’ll also get Cam Schlittler from the get-go.
They may have a weak spot or two in the bullpen, but the lineup should be fine with Cody Bellinger back, a second full season of Ben Rice, and the chance Jasson Dominguez gets back and finds his footing. And the Yankees have Aaron Judge.
Key Player: David Bednar, RHR
The Yankees need someone to step up and shut it down, and Bednar has done that before in Pittsburgh.
5. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phils are getting a bit long in the tooth with 12 of their ultimate 26-man roster members over 30, including Zack Wheeler, Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, J.T. Realmuto, and Kyle Schwarber. But they are getting some youth infused into the roster with right-hander Andrew Painter and outfielder Justin Crawford. Philly won 96 games a year ago and look like the best roster in the division again, despite the moves made by the New York Mets.
Key Player: Wheeler, RHP
If Wheeler gets back to his No. 1 starter form, the Phillies will hold an edge in the East. Without such a development, it’s more wide open.
6. Boston Red Sox
Boston went out and added Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez to the rotation, Willson Contreras and Caleb Durbin to the lineup, and will have Roman Anthony from Day 1. It’s a deeper staff and overall roster than a year ago, and if they don’t have issues keeping the rotation healthy they could win the division. Boston, however, may be one hitter shy, depending on how some young players show early.
Key Player: Contreras, 1B
While Contreras will play first base and perhaps some DH, he’s essentially the replacement for Alex Bregman, who bolted for the money of the Chicago Cubs. He has been a steady bat for 10 years, but he’s also 33 and tends to miss 25-40 games a year. They need his steady presence.
7. New York Mets
The names on the roster look nice and shiny after a busy winter. Francisco Lindor. Juan Soto. Bo Bichette. Luis Robert Jr. Freddy Peralta. Marcus Semien. Devin Williams. But the pieces to the puzzle don’t necessarily fit as well on an actual baseball field as they do on a fantasy roster. They’ll be leaning on two rookie starting pitchers, and hoping for a healthy year from Clay Holmes to avoid major rotation issues, but they are healthy now and look like a legit contender on paper.
Key Player: Nolan McLean, RHP
McLean looked terrific in eight starts last season, and if he picks up where he left off, the only questions left will be how easily he wins the ROY and how high he finishes in the Cy Young vote. But Peralta’s 2025 may be more the outlier than anything, so a potential fall in production from him means more ask of the rest of the rotation.
8. Chicago Cubs
The Cubs don’t have the starting pitching on paper, but they do have depth, and the upside with Cade Horton and Edward Cabrera is more than interesting. The same can be said for the club’s bullpen. The lineup should be among the league’s elite, however, starting with Bregman and Pete Crow-Armstrong. There may not be an easy out in the lineup, including at catcher where Carson Kelly and Miguel Amaya loom.
Key Player: Justin Steele, LHP
Steele is the Cubs’ ace and figures to return in the first half of the season. If he’s vintage Steele, the Cubs are in business and every team in the NL should be on notice.
9. Detroit Tigers
I’d like the Tigers more if they did anything to add a veteran hitter to their lineup over the winter. They added Framber Valdez, brought back Justin Verlander, and already employ the best pitcher in baseball in Tarik Skubal. Detroit finished No. 11 in runs a year ago, No. 12 in wRC+, No. 14 in OBP, and struck out more than all but three clubs... and their lone addition to the lineup is rookie Kevin McGonigle. But this club is dangerous and should win the division again.
Key Player: McGonigle
The kid has a chance to answer the question I have about the Tigers, thanks to a plus hit tool. If not, Detroit may again be among the more inconsistent offenses in the league.
10. Baltimore Orioles
The O’s have among the most talented roster in baseball, but there are still some rotation questions, and they will need some of their young hitters to step up, especially with Jordan Westburg out until sometime in May. But Jackson Holliday, too, is out to start the season, as is Heston Kjerstad.
Key Player: Adley Rutschman, C
Rutschman was worth 11.1 fWAR combined in his first two seasons and has since fallen off a cliff. He posted a 91 wRC+ in 2025, and his left-handed swing fell to pieces. If Rutschman rebounds, the Orioles have another bat in their lineup and could play Sam Basallo at DH or 1B, and the club also could potentially move Rutschman for arm help. But he has to hit well up to that point.
11. San Diego Padres
The Padres’ rotation is unlovable, they have seven arms on the IL, and it was essentially a middle-of-the-pack offense in 2025, ranking 18th in runs and 13th in wRC+. They also have the most overrated GM in the game putting square pegs in round holes. Yu Darvish is out for the year - at least - and the farm has little help on the way. Still, the Friars are probably the second best team in the NL West, so they’ll probably be in the Wild Card hunt.
Key Player: Walker Buehler, RHP
We’ve seen Buehler dominate. Back in 2019 and 2021 with the Dodgers, he was among the best starters in the NL. Anything near that in 2026 and the Padres could be a top 8 team.
12. Kansas City Royals
They’ll need a little magic dust, but the Royals have a chance to be good. Cole Ragans has a chance to be a true No. 1 like he showed some of in 2024, and the Royals have some rotation depth to battle with the rest of the division. They also have Bobby Witt Jr., and my rookie of the year pick, catcher Carter Jensen. Vinnie Pasquantino found his swing again in 2025, and Jac Caglianone has made a few adjustments that should help him contribute... and the sky is the limit for him at the plate. Isaac Collins is a nice pickup, and Starling Marte should help versus lefties.
Key Player: Jonathan India, 2B
India’s first year in KC did not go well - he slashed .233/.323/.346 for a wRC+ of 89. The Royals need India or Michael Massey to find a viable level of production, or they’ll be in the market for second base help.
13. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers get the nod here in a cluster of about 5-7 teams I don’t like all that much, and had a tough time typing out their name after No. 10... so here, I didn’t. Milwaukee does boast one of the best catchers in the game, will have Andrew Vaughn for the full year, and Jackson Chourio may be ready to explode. The names lining up to make starts is a bit uninspiring, but the Brewers have a recent track record of figuring those things out, and they have help on the way.
Key Player: Brandon Woodruff, RHP
Woodruff missed all of 2024, but returned last season and was excellent in 12 starts, posting a 32% strikeout rate and pounding the zone. He didn’t have all of his velocity back, and still doesn’t appear to, but his four-seamer, cutter, and changeup were nearly unhittable. A repeat for 175-plus innings, and the Brewers have their replacement for Peralta.
14. Houston Astros
I seem to be a little higher on the Astros than most, perhaps because I believe in Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows enough to see them sustaining their run of contending seasons. If they can keep Yordan Alvarez off the IL, the lineup has a chance to be pretty good, particularly if they find ways to get their best hitters in the lineup at the same time regularly. The bullpen has a chance to be very good again if healthy.
Key Player: Cam Smith, RF
Smith flashed in 2025, but struggled mightily after June. All the tools are there for a .260/.330/.450 season, but he had massive issues hitting the four-seamer and slider in his rookie season. If he hits, the Astros aren’t going away.
15. Texas Rangers
If the Rangers stayed entirely healthy all season they might win 95 games. Alas, three of their four best players - Corey Seager, Jacob deGrom, and Nathan Eovaldi - have an ongoing battle with injuries. Their ace, deGrom, stayed healthy in 2025, so that’s something, but it might just be a sign he’s due. He’s also 38 now. The addition of Brandon Nimmo is an underrated one, and MacKenzie Gore helps them cover when Eovaldi/deGrom are out.
There’s still room for more from Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker, but tough to count on them at this point. The signing of Jordan Montgomery could prove a good one with the lefty eyeing a July return. The bullpen is the club’s clearest weak spot, but the lineup has a chance to improve with Nimmo, Andrew McCutchen, and the chance we see breakouts from Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter. The club’s top prospect, infielder Sebastian Walcott, will miss the entire season, but righty Jose Corniell would be ready to help on the mound as early as mid-season.
Key Player
Seager
The shortstop is a steadying presence in the lineup and in the field, but hasn’t exceeded 123 starts in a season since 2022, his first in Texas. When he’s healthy, he rakes; when he’s out of the lineup, the Rangers struggle.
16. Arizona Diamondbacks
They’ve patched together a rotation that will be without Merrill Kelly for the first few weeks, and Corbin Burnes until at least mid-July, if not longer. The good news is Ketel Marte is healthy, Corbin Carroll’s wrist issues seem behind him, and the NL’s second most valuable player in 2025, SS Geraldo Perdomo, is also back. If the D-Backs can find a path to consistent, average pitching, they might surprise some people.
Key Player: Zac Gallen, RHP
He’s starting the year as the Snakes’ No. 1 starter, but he’s coming off the worst season of his career. Arizona needs vintage Gallen to compete for a playoff spot.
17. Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians’ margin for error is thin, but they have a chance to pull off another Wild Card run if they can keep their pitching healthy, and find a legitimate No. 3. The duo of Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams at the top of the rotation has a shot to be really good, and the bullpen still boasts enough quality and back-end impact to win a lot of close games.
The lineup is anchored by Jose Ramirez and ignited by Steven Kwan, but they are going to need a few bats to step up. Kyle Manzardo is a candidate, and Rhys Hoskins should help, at least against lefties.
Key Player: Chase DeLauter, OF
The dude can hit, but hasn’t been able to stay healthy, managing just 138 games in three seasons as a pro. He’ll get his shot in the big leagues to start 2026 and could be the kind of catalyst the Guardians need.
18. Atlanta Braves
On paper, this is a top 8 team, but only if you ignore the injury notes. Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrep are out for the year. Spencer Strider is on the IL to start the season. AJ Smith-Shawyer isn’t likely to return until August. Joey Wentz tore his ACL and he will also miss the year. The good news is Chris Sale is healthy and still among the elite starters in baseball. But the issues don’t stop there.
Ha-Seong Kim had surgery on his hand and will be out until at least late April, and Sean Murphy is expected to be out until May. The club made only marginal improvements to the lineup, including Mike Yastrzemski, Mauricio Dubon, and Jonah Heim.
Key Player: Strider
Strider’s return from injury in 2025 went OK, but a fully healthy version, even if for just 25-28 starts, goes a long way toward the Braves’ postseason hopes.
19. San Francisco Giants
I haven’t a clue what Buster Posey and the Giants are trying to accomplish. They spent big in the trade for Rafael Devers, signed Willy Adames to a large deal, acquired Robbie Ray even before he’s healthy, and handed Jung-Hoo Lee $100 million. They did little to add impact to the rotation this winter, and will be without key reliever Randy Rodriguez all season, and rotation candidate Hayden Birdsong will miss 2026 with elbow surgery.
The addition of Harrison Bader will help the club’s outfield defense and overall athleticism, but asking him to repeat his 2025 offensive output is a bit much. Luis Arraez could help offensively, but there’s nothing for Posey and new manager Tony Vitiello to hang their hats on. There’s no identity.
Key Player: Bryce Eldridge, 1B
Eldridge is the Giants’ top prospect and may break into the big leagues in the first half of 2026. He’s the kind of bat that can change a lineup.
20. Pittsburgh Pirates
It’s not likely a playoff roster, but it’s no longer a laughing stock. The Pirates went out and added some proven talent, namely Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna, and traded for Brandon Lowe. That trio should be enough to get the Pirates into the Top 20 or so in runs - they ranked No. 28 a year ago, and posted the second-worst wRC+ in baseball (82). The rotation after Skenes is young with a lot of upside, though righty Jared Jones will miss the first few months of the season.
Pittsburgh added Gregory Soto to what might be a solid relief group. Overall, a .500 season is more than realistic here, and if they get more out of Bubba Chandler than expected and top prospect Konnor Griffin runs into no walls once he arrives, that number could turn into 85 in a hurry.
Key Player: Bryan Reynolds, OF
With the veteran additions to the lineup, Reynolds finding his groove again could be a game-changer, especially considering he has five years left on the eight-year deal he signed prior to the 2023 season. He fell to average last season after five straight above-average full seasons.
21. Athletics
The A’s probably won’t pitch well in 2026, but they hit in 2025 and the lineup looks pretty shiny right now. Nick Kurtz for a full season, Jacob Wilson, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and Tyler Soderstrom are back, it’s year 2 for Lawrence Butler, and veteran Jeff McNeil was added to the mix. If this club had an average rotation they’d rank at least 10 spots higher. After Luis Severino, the A’s have four back-end starters, and the pitching help from the system probably isn’t going to arrive until later this season or early next. The bullpen has a chance to be solid, though.
Key Player: Brent Rooker, OF
Rooker is the veteran in the middle of the order who takes attention and pressure off the younger hitters.
22. Cincinnati Reds
Hunter Greene is out for about half of 2026, Nick Lodolo won’t miss a lot of time, but he won’t make his season debut for at least a couple of weeks. This is not a good start for the Reds’ chances. Cincinnati’s lineup was below average last season, posting a 92 wRC+, and the club’s response was to sign Nathaniel Lowe and Eugenio Suarez. Both could and probably will help. But the upside play of Matt McLain, top prospect Sal Stewart, and Noelvi Marte could give the Reds a chance to stay in the mix, and the bullpen has a chance to be pretty solid.
Key Player: McLain
He’s flashed the ability to hit for some average and power, can play defense at second, and run the bases. He has to put the ball in play more, however, and get back to a line-drive approach. He hasn’t hit on the road much at all, including a 56 wRC+ a year ago.
23. Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays have their ace back. Carson Williams may be ready to take over at shortstop full time, that bullpen has a shot to be outstanding, as long as Edwin Uceta’s stay on the IL is short. They may struggle to score runs consistently, but Junior Caminero and Yandy Diaz will hit, Jonathan Aranda projects well after his 2025 campaign, and if Cedric Mullins has anything left in the tank the Rays may fight their way into a .500 or better season. The rotation depth may be their backbreaker, though.
Key Player: Drew Rasmussen, RHP
Ras is coming off a terrific 2025 despite below-average strikeout rates. He can get some ground balls, but his HR/FB rate spiked last year, and his swinging strike rate plummeted to the lowest of his career. The Rays could be a disaster if they don’t get quality innings out of Rasmussen.
24. Minnesota Twins
The Twins took a few steps back the past year or so, and moved some pieces at the deadline to help set them up for 2027 and 2028. The wins aren’t going to come in 2026 much, though, but there’s a lot to tune in and watch, including ace Joe Ryan. Taj Bradley and Mick Abel join the rotation in hopes to be part of the next playoff rotation for the Twins, but this is probably just another season when the club moves veterans for long-term answers, potentially including Ryan.
Key Player: Royce Lewis, 3B
This is all about his trade value. :)
25. Los Angeles Angels
The Angels aren’t going to be good, but there’s more to like about this club versus a year ago. The bullpen has a better chance to compete with the additions of Drew Pomeranz and Jordan Romano, plus the eventual returns of Kirby Yates and Robert Stephenson, both of whom are on the IL to begin the season. Jose Soriano is a breakout candidate in the rotation, and once Grayson Rodriguez gets back they’ll have more upside to chase.
Offensively, they’re missing pieces, but Zach Neto, Nolan Schanuel, Mike Trout, Jo Adell, and Christian Moore are a decent place to start for a club looking to start climbing north.
Key Player: Logan O’Hoppe, C
O’Hoppe flashed signs of all-star level production in 2023 and 2024, but the wagon ride was too bumpy a year ago when he posted a 72 wRC+. Contact was a problem in general, but it’s mostly about breaking balls (.156 AVG, 42% whiff). If he gets back to average or better, the Halos lineup might look viable.
26. Miami Marlins
The upside here could get the Fish back into the Top 20, especially if ace Sandy Alcantara gets back to form and Eury Perez stays healthy. The Marlins have the makings of a pretty good bullpen with Pete Fairbanks, Anthony Bender, Andrew Nardi, and Calvin Faucher. It’s too bad Ronny Henriquez will miss the year, because this could have been a great bullpen. At the plate, Miami will lean heavily on Kyle Stowers, who was great a year ago as a late-bloomer (28), posting a 149 wRC+ in 117 games. Jakob Marsee and Heriberto Hernandez were good in partial seasons. After that, it’s a lot of question marks and marginal performers, but there’s upside in Augustin Ramirez and the newly-acquired Owen Caissie.
Key Player: Max Meyer, RHP
He’s been hurt a ton since the Draft and didn’t look good in 12 starts a year ago, but the stuff was nasty this spring, and the former No. 3 overall pick is ready for the start of the season. If he can pitch with some impact and get to 120 or more innings, he could help the Marlins’ rotation creep above average.
27. Chicago White Sox
For the first time in a while, the Pale Hose have multiple talents on which to build their next winner, starting with catcher Kyle Teel and infielder Colson Montgomery. There’s more talent coming from the system, too. The playoffs are still a few years away and they’ll need a lot more pitching, but you can see light at the end of the tunnel.
Key Player: Munetaka Murakami, 1B/DH
Murakami isn’t likely to be around the next time the Sox are actually good, but if he hits, he supports a developmental environment in the majors and serves as a valuable trade chip next summer.
28. St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals have torn it down, shipping out veterans over the winter for young players, a fresh start with payroll, and new leadership. They did well in those trades, but this is going to take a while to get back. The fun part for Cards fans is they don’t have to wait for the future to show up at Busch. JJ Wetherholt will join Masyn Winn and Alec Burleson on the club’s infield in 2026. Top pitching prospects Liam Doyle and Brandon Clarke are likely a year away, and Jurrangelo Cijntje could see the bigs by September. It will be lean for a bit, but there’s a path to something solid in 2028.
Key Player: Ivan Herrera, DH
Herrera is a budding star, putting up a 137 wRC+ in 107 games in 2025 after a strong 72-game showing in 2024. He’s 25 years old and ready to roll out a 150-game season where 30 homers is a distinct possibility. Such a breakout might suggest he’s either a core member of the next winning team in St. Louis or part of a massive trade that returns the kind of haul that tops off a rebuild.
29. Washington Nationals
The Nationals would rank higher here if I believed they were done trading players away. I don’t, so this is me projecting the club gets worse, still, before it gets better. It probably starts with CJ Abrams and could include Keibert Ruiz and James Wood before it’s all said and done. The Nats’ pitching situation is the most dire for the foreseeable future, even including their farm system.
Key Player: Ruiz, C
Ruiz is signed through 2030 with two club options prior to the 2023 season, but has gone backwards since. For the club’s sake, Ruiz needs to figure it out so they can trade him.
30. Colorado Rockies
I’d like to see someone like Theo Epstein take over the Rockies to just get this club up off the mat. You can win in Denver, it’s been done before, but the roster building approach has been archaic, limiting the Rockies to five playoff appearances since their inception in 1993. They have not won a playoff game since 2009, which was also the last time they had a .500 or better season. Nothing the club did over the winter lends confidence they’ll be anything but really bad again.
Key Player: Hunter Goodman, C
Goodman is the Rockies’ best player, and he’s headed for free agency after the 2027 season. This could be his last run, and he’s one of the better catchers in baseball. At 26, with two years of control remaining, he could fetch a nice haul.