2026 predictions, anyone?

[Auggie]

Random thoughts. Please add yours.

As it stands now, barring injuries, trades, call-ups, etc ...

I don't expect L.A. Dodgers to repeat as champions. They will remain a force though.

Toronto and Seattle will vie for the AL championship.

Cleveland has made enough improvement to surprise everyone again and win the AL Central.

San Francisco will be a Wild Card playoff team.

Yankees will finish third in the AL East.

[NewHendoLib]

1. The Red Sox will surprise people - they assembled a solid team, particularly the arms

Playoff bound if they stay healthy, but they will not be bashers like Red Sox teams of old - pitching and defense will predominate.

[True Dough]

2. Auggie, tell me when

the Guardians will call up Travis Bazzana. I have him stashed in a fantasy baseball league and I think he'll provide a nice boost when he's in the bigs.

Unlike you, I expect the Dodgers will find a way to win it all again this year. Injuries are always the key — not just for L.A., but for all teams.

I like the Mariners too.

[Auggie]

8. It will require a slump or injury to one of three infielders

Or if Bazzana gets on a tear, any of those three could be traded. I don't believe any -- Arias Rocchio, Schneemann -- have options left.

Travis had a good Spring.

[True Dough]

13. I think he can outshine them all!

Maybe a month or two of seasoning at Triple A and he'll be in Cleveland. That's my hope.

[True Dough]

17. How about that Chase Delauter?

Hopefully he can stay healthy this season. He's young, but he's been injury prone.

And it's only one game, but Rhys Hoskins as a pick up is looking like a wise move.

[Auggie]

18. Yeah, great game for both. Their contributions won it.

Cleveland bullpen was outstanding as well. Kudos to the power-hitting Mariners. They are scary.

Cleveland announcers were discussing that we probably won't see a full season of DeLauter since the team won't want to press him too hard. They speculated that even 120 games would be asking a lot. Same could be said of Hoskins.

[True Dough]

21. 2 out of 3 for Cleveland with the fourth game against Seattle on Peacock tonight

The Guardians roughed up Seattle closer Andres Munoz to steal it in the 10th after Cleveland closer Cade Smith blew it in the 9th!

Four dingers in three games for DeLauter!

Better to talk about the Guardians than the Giants right now!

[Auggie]

22. Honeymoon for the Giants' rookie manager isn't going to last long

Maybe it will with Buster Posey, but that fans are expecting much more. Yankees dominated.

Cade Smith was one pitch away from the save. Call was probably a high fastball. Smith didn't throw it high enough.

DeLauter hit the game winner in the 10th but Kwan set it up with a bunt that allowed the ghost runner to score on the throwing error. Put the ball in play -- you never know what can happen.

Win now, because next come the Dodgers.

[True Dough]

23. I'm not a Guardians fan, just have an interest in the game overall

But I would like to see them take the series over LA. I tend to root against teams with the highest payroll in a sport!

[Borogove]

3. Phillies all the way.

[walkingman]

4. Could this be the year for the Astros?

[Chasstev365]

5. The Cubs win the NL Central and the White Sox become the first team to lose 100 games 4 years in a row.

Last edited Wed Mar 25, 2026, 12:04 PM - Edit history (1)

[mikeysnot]

9. They already have

Lost over 100 games three years in a row…. For my Sox friends and family I hope it is not four in a row.

[Chasstev365]

10. I will correct

[Chasstev365]

11. I wish Reinsdorf would sell the White Sox and the Bulls!

[Auggie]

12. Yeah, Cubs are generating buzz

[MIButterfly]

16. Now you're talking!

I like the way you think. GO CUBS!!!!

[Bristlecone]

6. The Rockies will lose less than 105 games

The $18 beer sells either way, unfortunately for Rockies fans.

[JMCKUSICK]

7. Go Twins!

[rubbersole]

14. Harmon Killebrew was my idol growing up.

The Twins used to spring train in Orlando and my mom would make sure we got to go to at least one game a year. Harmon would sign autographs for a long time (not Ripken long, but 30+minutes) after the game. I still have at least one. My son was lucky enough to be a ball boy for the AA Twins (Sunrays) for 8 summers. Go Twins!

I'm a converted Tampa Bay Rays fan and they have a new owner. Hope springs eternal...

[JMCKUSICK]

15. Indeed

[Capt. America]

19. Guards didn't do enough...Rhys Hoskins is not gonna put you over the top.

The Tigers are better and the Royals brought in the fences. The Guards had an abysmal team batting average last year.
Tigers
Royals
Guardians
Twins
Sux

Jays
Tigers
Mariners

WC: Yankmees, Houston

Phillies
Cubs
Dodgers

WC: Mets, Padres

[ProfessorGAC]

20. Cubs Will Win NL Central

But, no World Series for them. They still won't have the bullpen & they're 98 years from the next WS win.

[True Dough]

24. Damn impressive outing

by Gavin Williams tonight!!!

[Auggie]

25. Yes. Cleveland pitching, as a whole, did very well against L.A.

In three games it achieved the following:

Ohtani: 2-10
Betts: 1-11
Freeman: 3-12
Tucker: 2-12

Dodgers team batting was a respectful .250, but that foursome hit .177.

Still early for batters. In a way, Cleveland was fortunate to face two power-hitting teams to start the season, and on the road, no less. 4-3 versus Mariners and Dodgers is pretty good.

[True Dough]

27. Still early for pitchers too!

Some of them gain another mile or two per hour on their fastballs as the weather warms up.

I have Parker Messick on one of my two fantasy teams. I was debating in my mind whether to start him on my roster against the Dodgers and I decided to bench him, but forgot to do it in the moment. When I went back to do it later, the game had begun. It was too late. Worked out just fine!

[WestMichRad]

26. The Brewers will win a close NL Central division race AGAIN

… and probably falter in the playoffs, again. (Sigh.)
Let’s look at the Crew’s performance through their first six games (admittedly a small sample size):
Best record in MLB: check
Best run differential: check
Fewest defensive errors: check (zero)
Most stolen bases: check
Third best bullpen ERA

They’re playing like they did during their hot streak last summer, and this is without two regulars in the starting lineup and without one of their best starting pitchers (and having traded away an ace pitcher for the third year in a row). And without a reliable slugger in the lineup.
Go Brewers!!

[True Dough]

28. Tough loss for Cleveland in the opening game of the double-header against the Cubbies today!

Chicago only had two hits. The Guardians only had one!

Great pitching performances on both sides.

[Auggie]

29. Cleveland was befuddled by Cabrera's change-up

It wasn't the speed but the movement of the ball. My brother and I are discussing if Vogt could have played more/better small ball.

Cabrera was excellent, though he gave up 5 BBs. Could Cleveland have moved them around base better?

Just heard this game was historic -- smallest hit total between two teams at Progressive Field since it opened in 1994.

[True Dough]

30. Hope you're not watching the Sunday night game, Auggie

It's pretty ugly!

[Auggie]

31. I left at 6-0 ...

and watched an ugly movie with Mrs. Auggie.

They have a winning record having faced 5 good teams from 2025, 4 of which made the playoffs, one of which won the World Series.

[True Dough]

32. ALMOST a no-hitter

for Parker Messick today! Kid's been amazing to start the season.

[Auggie]

33. Messick apparently really impressed the Braves last Saturday ...

and now this against the Orioles. Braves are the much better hitting team.

From the Guardians website:

“He's got such good stuff, executes every pitch,” catcher Austin Hedges said of Messick. “He’s got [six] pitches to work with and is throwing every one of them to righties and lefties. Hitting is hard already, but when you’ve got to cover that many pitches, that many speeds, that many shapes, executed, you're going to get nights like tonight.”

Messick featured his four-seamer (43 times), changeup (29), slider (15), curveball (13), cutter (10) and sinker (two) on Thursday. His changeup, which has long been his bread and butter, was a particularly devastating offering. Nine of Baltimore’s 18 whiffs against him were on that pitch.

Guardians are close to putting it together. Waiting for Bazzana, of course, plus AAA pitchers Daniel Espino and Andrew Walters.

[True Dough]

34. And he won't cost the Guardians

$150 million over 8 years!

[Auggie]

35. LOL

Yeah. Their pitchers are usually pitched-out by the time they’re free agents anyway. Don’t sign them long term.

One exception: CC Sabathia

[True Dough]

36. ANOTHER impressive outing by Gavin Williams!

He's looking terrific to start the season!

[True Dough]

37. Cleveland posts 14 runs on the board today!

Now two games over .500 and in first place in the AL Central with a one game lead over the Tigers!

[Auggie]

38. A's bullpen is extremely vulnerable at the moment ...

very overworked.

Fortuitous timing for Cleveland batters, who needed to face such a team.

[True Dough]

39. Well,

yesteday's game was worth celebrating. Today's game, let's not talk about it!

[Auggie]

40. Talk about Bazzana instead

He's having good at-bats. More walks than strikes. Three hits in two days. And he's moved up a spot in the line-up.

Team might call up one or two relievers: Andrew Walters (rehab, Triple-A Columbus) and/or Franco Aleman (AAA). They're needed.

Athletics line-up is scary good.