Opening Day is here.
The Yankees and Giants opened the 2026 MLB season last night, with the rest of Major League Baseball set to play their first contests today.
After predicting the 2026 American League standings, here is how I see things finishing in the National League.
East
Phillies
Philadelphia rides an elite rotation and an above-average lineup and bullpen to a third straight division title. The Mets will be breathing down their necks, but the Phils’ are the more proven roster with a leadership core of Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper that remains strong.
Mets
New York had one of the best offseasons in baseball, signing Bo Bichette and trading for Luis Robert Jr. and Freddy Peralta, among other moves. Still, many of these additions were just filling voids for a team that missed the playoffs last year.
The roster is probably better than Philadelphia’s, but the improvements need to translate paper into practice before they can be placed higher.
Marlins
Though it pales in comparison to the two-horse race above, Miami offers a young lineup spearheaded by Kyle Stowers when healthy. A bounce-back campaign from Sandy Alcántara would go a long way towards solidifying an unsteady rotation.
Braves
Atlanta has almost an entire above-average starting rotation sitting on the injured list to begin the year. By the time a few arms get healthy, the team may already be buried. MVP candidate Ronald Acuña Jr. will have to do a lot of heavy lifting early.
Nationals
Washington finishes in last place for the sixth time in seven seasons. CJ Abrams and James Wood are the only things between them and the worst record in the NL.
Central
Cubs
Chicago finally reaches the division summit for the first time in a full season since 2017 after a balanced offseason, swapping out Kyle Tucker for Alex Bregman in the lineup and rebuilding the bullpen. The batting order has no gaping holes, and a postseason-ready starter at the deadline would cement them as an NL frontrunner.
Brewers
Milwaukee lost a lot of contributors through trades, including Freddy Peralta, that made a big impact in 2026. They got a lot of young talent in return that should sustain the small market team in future seasons alongside Jackson Chourio and Brice Turang.
While 2026 will likely be a step back, the Brewers aren’t going anywhere and will continue to be perennial contenders.
Pirates
Pittsburg made a considerable effort to improve after their playoff drought reached double digits. Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn and Marcell Ozuna add power to go along with Oneil Cruz.
The Bucs are finally trying to build a competitor around Paul Skenes (while they still have the chance).
Reds
Cincinnati didn’t lose much talent from their playoff run a year ago and added Eugenio Suárez. However, the top of the rotation is banged up, and the lineup remains underwhelming. The Pirates got better, and the Reds were never going to touch the Brewers or Cubs.
The Reds needed to improve just to keep up. Instead, they sat on their hands.
Cardinals
If you were a player who wasn’t going to contribute past the next two seasons, chances are St. Louis traded you away this winter. The roster is desolate plain, with the only thing sprouting through being rookie shortstop JJ Wetherholt.
West
Dodgers
Somehow, the Dodgers continue to get better, adding an elite closer Edwin Díaz and breaking the average annual value record to sign all-star outfielder Kyle Tucker.
Though the in-division depth knocks them down a few wins and keeps them from earning the best record in baseball, Los Angeles are serious contenders to “three-peat” in 2026
Padres
San Diego still has one of if not the best bullpens in baseball with a high-powered veteran lineup to boot. The rotation is shakier, and they probably won’t keep up with the Dodgers as in past years, but this is still a playoff club.
Giants
San Francisco has a lineup capable of beating the Padres any given day, but it may be a moot point if that day aligns with a start from the back half of the rotation. Instead of shopping at the top of the market, the lower-cost additions of Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser are serviceable but underwhelming for a contending club.
Diamondbacks
It wasn’t necessarily a bad offseason, bringing back Merrill Kelly and trading for Nolan Arenado. Ketel Marte remains among the best in the sport, but there just isn’t enough going in Arizona to propel them past the three-headed monster at the top of the division.
Rockies
Colorado is getting better, and Charlie Condon’s eventual debut will draw more attention to the Rox. Despite that, it isn’t enough to get out of the West’s cellar for the first time since 2021.
Best record: Phillies
Worst record: Rockies
Surprise: Pirates
Under-performer: Reds