After a long and eventful offseason, the 2026 MLB season is finally set to begin. The two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers enter the year heavy favorites to repeat, but several clubs have loaded up in hopes of denying the Dodgers a three-peat.

Here’s how each division looks heading into the new season.

AL East

Historically one of the most competitive divisions in MLB, the AL East should once again be a gauntlet with four teams expected to be in the postseason hunt.

The Toronto Blue Jays doubled down after falling just short in the World Series, adding ace Dylan Cease and Japanese infield standout Kazuma Okamoto to a group that should again compete for a championship, and the Red Sox significantly upgraded their rotation by bringing in Ranger Suarez, Sonny Gray and Johan Oviedo, while also acquiring Willson Contreras to anchor the lineup.

The New York Yankees largely opted to run it back, returning effectively the same squad that won 94 games in 2025, and the Baltimore Orioles made some big splashes in response to last year’s last-place campaign, signing top free agent slugger Pete Alonso, while bringing in Shane Baz and Chris Bassitt to upgrade their rotation.

It will probably be a long year for the Tampa Bay Rays, who are rebuilding after reaching the playoffs five straight years between 2019-23.

AL Central

The Detroit Tigers didn’t mess around this winter, adding top starting pitcher Framber Valdez to pair with two-time defending AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal atop the club’s rotation. That’s about as good a 1-2 punch as you’ll find in baseball, and with the bulk of last year’s 87-win team back, the Tigers should be well positioned to challenge the two-time defending AL Central champion Cleveland Guardians for the division crown.

Cleveland, of course, chased down Detroit in one of the most remarkable late-season comebacks baseball has ever seen. The Guardians locked up perennial All-Star Jose Ramirez to a long-term extension, but the rest of the lineup is filled with question marks, which will put more pressure on the club’s young pitching staff to lead the way again.

If not the Guardians, the biggest threat to the Tigers will be the Kansas City Royals, who feature MVP candidate Bobby Witt Jr. and up-and-coming slugger Jac Caglianone. The rebuilding Minnesota Twins likely won’t be a factor and the woeful Chicago White Sox still have a long way to go.

AL West

After winning their first division title since 2001 last fall, the Seattle Mariners are heavy favorites to repeat as division champions. The Mariners boast one of baseball’s most talented starting rotations, and last year catcher Cal Raleigh broke out in historic fashion, hitting 60 home runs to help lead Seattle to within a win of the club’s first ever World Series appearance. Expect the Mariners to make a push again in 2026.

Beyond that, the rest of the division is in flux. The Texas Rangers had an active offseason, acquiring All-Star lefty MacKenzie Gore and swapping Marcus Semien for new outfielder Brandon Nimmo. The team has talent, but the preseason projection models do not have Texas as a playoff favorite. The Houston Astros are on a downward trend too, they missed the playoffs for the first time since 2016 and lost Framber Valdez in free agency.

The Athletics are assembling an interesting young core but don’t look ready for prime time yet, and the Los Angeles Angels look destined for another rough year.

NL East

The New York Mets and Atlanta Braves were two of baseball’s biggest disappointments last year, but there is good reason to believe both will be much improved heading into 2026.

The Mets had a tumultuous offseason but ultimately brought in an impressive haul, adding top free agent bat Bo Bichette and new ace Freddy Peralta after losing slugger Pete Alonso and closer Edwin Diaz in free agency. The Braves didn’t make many offseason splashes but instead should get a lot of key players back to full health after a disastrous run of injuries throughout 2025.

The Philadelphia Phillies remain a safe bet to contend, returning much of last year’s NL East-winning club after bringing back Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto. The Miami Marlins don’t have nearly as much talent as their division rivals but boast some intriguing young players who could make their mark soon, and the Washington Nationals are firmly in a rebuild under new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni, who took over after a successful run as an assistant general manager in the Red Sox front office.

NL Central

The Chicago Cubs lost outfielder Kyle Tucker in free agency, but the club still enters the season as the favorites to dethrone the Milwaukee Brewers as division champs thanks to the addition of third baseman Alex Bregman and the continued improvement of young outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, who may be on the verge of becoming one of the game’s best all-around players.

The Brewers, who likely overachieved to some extent last year, will have to contend with the loss of Freddy Peralta to the Mets and potentially also young starter Quinn Priester to injury. The wild card for Milwaukee is Jacob Misiorowski, one of the most talented young arms in the game who is still just scratching the surface of his potential.

The Pittsburgh Pirates, typically one of the cheapest and weakest organizations in MLB, actually had a productive offseason and look primed to field a competent team for a change. The Pirates already boast one of the game’s best pitchers in Paul Skenes, and 19-year-old shortstop Konnor Griffin could potentially give Pittsburgh a franchise shortstop, too.

The Cincinnati Reds are coming off a surprise playoff berth and added Eugenio Suarez to bolster their lineup, but the pitching staff suffered a massive blow when ace Hunter Greene underwent elbow surgery that will sideline him until at least July. As for the St. Louis Cardinals, they are now solidly rebuilding under new boss Chaim Bloom.

NL West

It’s the Los Angeles Dodgers’ world and we’re all living in it. The two-time defending World Series champions are the overwhelming favorite to make it three in a row, especially after adding Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz to what was already among the most talented rosters ever assembled.

The San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks don’t have the horses to keep up with Los Angeles, but all three remain viable playoff contenders, especially the Padres if their rotation can hold up. The same cannot be said for the Colorado Rockies, however, who lost 119 games last year and could be facing a similarly brutal season again.