MLB Power Rankings: 1 reason to be excited for each team

Opening Day is here. In this edition of theScore's MLB Power Rankings for the 2026 season, we look at one reason to be optimistic for each team. Projected records courtesy PECOTA and FanGraphs. Odds courtesy theScore Bet.

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1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Aiming for three-peat: Not many fan bases can say it's championship or bust and mean it, but the Dodgers are certainly one of them. Los Angeles enters the season looking to become the first MLB team since the 1998-2000 Yankees to win three consecutive World Series titles. With another loaded roster led by Shohei Ohtani, and complemented with the new additions of Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz, anything less than hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy is a failed season for this team. Who has it better than Dodgers fans right now?

2. Toronto Blue Jays

Best version of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. It feels like the Blue Jays' first baseman is on the verge of superstardom. Guerrero was a force at the World Baseball Classic, hitting two homers with a 1.420 OPS without striking out. And his showing came on the heels of one of the greatest individual postseasons in MLB history. With Bo Bichette gone, the 27-year-old's now the undisputed leader in Toronto. Guerrero has always boasted otherworldly talent, but the mental element of his game now appears as strong as his other tools.

3. New York Yankees

Another season of Aaron Judge: This Yankees roster has some flaws that are fair to criticize. Still, having the best all-around hitter in the world will hide a ton of those. Judge is the anchor of this organization, and he'll be the catalyst for any success it has. Although his 2025 campaign was historic, New York's early ALDS exit left him hungry for more - and that's a scary thought. The expectations are always championship or bust for the Yankees, but it's important to take a step back and enjoy Judge's brilliance on the field while he's still at his peak.

4. Seattle Mariners

Emerging as legit World Series threat: The Mariners came within one game of their first Fall Classic in franchise history. It wasn't meant to be, but Seattle has as complete a roster as any AL club. Re-signing Josh Naylor and trading for Brendan Donovan strengthened an already tough lineup to complement one of baseball's deepest pitching staffs. Not many teams have the luxury of deploying Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, George Kirby, and Luis Castillo before turning the ball over to a bullpen led by Andrés Muñoz, Matt Brash, and Gabe Speier.

5. New York Mets

Revamped roster: Out with the old, in with the new. The Mets orchestrated a massive makeover, bringing in Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Jorge Polanco, Devin Williams, Luis Robert Jr., and Marcus Semien to replace former franchise pillars such as Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz, Brandon Nimmo, and Jeff McNeil. New York could also benefit from a full year of Nolan McLean, MLB's top pitching prospect and an NL Rookie of the Year favorite after posting a 2.06 ERA with 10.6 K/9 in eight starts in 2025.

6. Philadelphia Phillies

Infusion of youth by top prospects: The Phillies' core is still very good, but Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler, J.T. Realmuto, and Aaron Nola are all on the wrong side of age 30. As a result, the addition of top prospects Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford to the Opening Day roster is an important step in the club's attempt to extend its championship window, especially given that Philadelphia is essentially running back the same team.

7. Boston Red Sox

Roman Anthony takeover: Even though he's only 21 years old, it feels like this is Anthony's team now. Boston has put a lot of faith in the star outfielder, and he's passed every test to date. If the WBC is any indication, Anthony isn't afraid of the bright lights or expectations. The Red Sox got a taste of how good Anthony can be before his season-ending injury last season, and they'll need him to be at his best if they're to contend this year.

8. Detroit Tigers

Pitching staff: Pitching is going to drive these Tigers. It starts with Tarik Skubal atop the rotation, and the two-time reigning Cy Young Award winner now has a ton of support behind him. Framber Valdez, Casey Mize, Jack Flaherty, and old friend Justin Verlander stabilize the rotation and give Detroit four quality arms that can eat innings. A deeper bullpen is now anchored by Kenley Jansen in the ninth inning, with reliable relievers Will Vest, Kyle Finnegan, and Tyler Holton behind him. Yes, there are questions here offensively, but this talented pitching staff also takes some pressure off the bats.

9. Baltimore Orioles

Scary lineup: The Orioles appear poised to hang some big innings on opposing pitchers. Adding Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward brings another potential 60-plus homers to a lineup that already includes Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Tyler O'Neill, and Colton Cowser. Baltimore also has youngsters Samuel Basallo and Dylan Beavers. The biggest X-factor for the offense could be Jackson Holliday. A breakout by the former No. 1 prospect in his third year could take this group to a different level.

10. Chicago Cubs

Alex Bregman's presence: Chicago signed Bregman for more than just his steady production at third base (and his bat should be a great fit at Wrigley Field). The 31-year-old also brings leadership, championship pedigree, and accountability to a roster that sorely needed it. Last year's Cubs were very good but also flawed, which became apparent in the second half of 2025. Bregman will be a strong influence on Chicago's younger core players, many of whom are still developing.

11. Atlanta Braves

Ronald Acuña Jr. healthy: The last time Acuña played a full season, he authored the first 40-70 campaign in MLB history and was the unanimous 2023 NL MVP. Since then, multiple injuries have limited him to just 144 games. But all that appears to be in the rearview mirror. The 28-year-old looked very much like himself while helping lead Venezuela to a WBC title, and the Braves are no doubt thrilled by this development.

12. Milwaukee Brewers

Full season of Jacob Misiorowski: The Brewers will turn to the hulking right-hander as their Opening Day starter following Freddy Peralta's departure to the Mets. Misiorowski burst onto the scene last June, earning a historic All-Star nod after just five career starts. However, the 23-year-old faded a little down the stretch and dealt with injuries. Milwaukee will need him to be a consistent mainstay in the rotation if it has any shot of winning the division again.

13. Houston Astros

Healthy Yordan Alvarez: The three-time All-Star heads into the season with a clean bill of health after playing just 48 games last year due to an ankle sprain and hand fracture. The Astros clearly missed their top slugger, as the club failed to make the postseason for the first time since 2016. The 28-year-old went deep 136 times with 384 RBIs and a 164 wRC+ over 540 contests between 2021 and 2024. With Alvarez on the field and Carlos Correa back, Houston could find its form again.

14. San Diego Padres

Elite bullpen arms: The high-leverage trio of Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, and Jeremiah Estrada will give hitters fits. Miller was the best reliever in baseball after being dealt to the Padres at the trade deadline, with the 27-year-old authoring a 0.77 ERA and an absurd 17.4 K/9 over 22 appearances. Morejon allowed two homers in 2025 en route to a 2.28 FIP with 0.90 WHIP, while Estrada recorded 108 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings. All three could be All-Stars this year.

15. Kansas City Royals

Jac Caglianone's first full season: After a meteoric rise through the Royals' minor-league system, the top slugging prospect struggled in his first taste of the majors. The 23-year-old blasted 20 homers and posted an eye-popping 1.025 OPS in the minors last year but managed only seven homers with a .532 OPS at the big-league level. Despite the setback, Caglianone rebounded with a solid spring and helped Italy's historic WBC run. Additionally, Kansas City is moving the fences in at Kauffman Stadium, which should help him fulfill his massive power potential.

16. San Francisco Giants

Sneaky-good offense: Rafael Devers has now settled into both San Francisco and first base, so expect him to put up a monster season. After a slow first half of 2025, the three-time Silver Slugger put up an .886 OPS over his final 53 games. But Devers isn't the only threat. Veterans Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, Luis Arraez, Jung Hoo Lee, and Harrison Bader all add significant offensive depth to this team. Hopefully, Bryce Eldridge isn't too far away, either.

17. Texas Rangers

Really strong rotation: The Rangers somewhat surprisingly finished first in starting pitching ERA last season, and that group looks even better heading into 2026. Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom are an elite 1-2 punch, while MacKenzie Gore is an incredibly talented player who's never been able to tap into his full potential. Texas might unlock it. And after years of waiting, Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker are finally poised to hold rotation spots.

18. Arizona Diamondbacks

Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte: Now that's some star power atop the lineup. Marte is a premier table-setter, consistently reaching base and hitting for power out of the leadoff spot. Then you get to Carroll, a Silver Slugger winner and perennial 30-30 talent who can change the game with one swing. As long as these two are doing their thing, the D-Backs will have a chance to score some upsets in the difficult NL West.

19. Tampa Bay Rays

Shane McClanahan healthy again: Please let this be the year McClanahan avoids the injury bug. One of the most talented pitchers in the majors, McClanahan has missed the last two seasons due to various issues, but he's gotten through spring training healthy and looks dominant. If McClanahan can avoid the IL for any significant amount of time, he could be a major difference-maker for the Rays.

20. Cincinnati Reds

Eugenio Suárez's big bat: Suárez should by no means be considered the savior of the Reds' offense, but his veteran presence will go a long way in anchoring a young lineup that can lean on his clubhouse leadership. Cincinnati's coming off a postseason appearance despite finishing 21st in homers last season, and Suárez should more than help in that department. The Reds hope reuniting with him will take some pressure off the rest of the guys and allow them to take that next step.

21. Athletics

Stability: A franchise that's been in a state of flux for ages finally has a core of young players committed to building a lasting contender. Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom inked long-term extensions following Lawrence Butler's deal the previous spring. Shea Langeliers and 2025 AL Rookie of the Year Nick Kurtz could be next. Denzel Clarke and Max Muncy are also important young role players, while up-and-comers like Leo De Vries and Gage Jump are likely to join them soon. This kind of stability could allow the A's to surprise and remain in the playoff race longer than most expect.

22. Pittsburgh Pirates

More than just Paul Skenes: Pittsburgh's starting to gain some serious momentum. The additions of Brandon Lowe, Marcell Ozuna, Ryan O'Hearn, and Jake Mangum should really boost the offense, while Bubba Chandler is here to support Skenes in the rotation. The major-league roster is starting to look like one that can challenge for a playoff spot. And then there's Konnor Griffin. Although MLB's top prospect didn't crack the Opening Day roster, he's not that far away.

23. Cleveland Guardians

Travis Bazzana's knocking on the door: A strong spring training and WBC weren't enough for Bazzana to crack the Opening Day roster, but it can't be long now. The front office made almost no changes to a lineup that scored the third-fewest runs in the majors last season, so it'll be hard to justify keeping the 2025 first overall pick down for long if he's hitting well. Bazzana's addition alongside Steven Kwan, José Ramírez, Kyle Manzardo, and Chase DeLauter would suddenly make the Guardians a lot of fun.

24. Minnesota Twins

Didn't completely tear down: Though you could view this as a reason for pessimism, there are a lot of really nice pieces remaining, and the door always seems open in the AL Central. Luke Keaschall's rookie campaign certainly gives reason for intrigue, and if Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis can finally stay healthy, maybe this season won't be as dire as projected.

25. St. Louis Cardinals

Embracing rebuild: St. Louis is a baseball-mad town where losing is rare and usually unacceptable. That's going to change with the 2026 Cardinals, who project to be a young and raw club that might be tough to watch at times. That's OK, though. The franchise clung to the shreds of the Pujols-Molina-Wainwright teams for far too long, until new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom finally gave St. Louis a dose of reality and began the teardown. Rebuilding the organization and allowing the next generation of Cardinals greats to get their feet wet is the right move.

26. Miami Marlins

Sandy Alcantara and Eury Pérez healthy: They might not be on the same team the entire season, but the Marlins will at least open the year with a strong duo leading the rotation. Both pitchers are now a full year removed from Tommy John surgery and have enjoyed healthy springs, putting them in a good position to reach their potential in 2026. The Marlins may end up trading Alcantara, but that's at least a few months off. Regardless of which course they choose, it'll only help Miami if he pitches like an ace again.

27. Los Angeles Angels

Some gambles have to pay off: Perry Minasian seemingly acquired every bounce-back candidate available this winter with the hopes that at least a few can find their previous form and revive a club mired in 10 straight losing seasons. If Minasian can hit on at least a couple of these lottery tickets, maybe the Angels can be competitive or, at the very least, bolster their options at the trade deadline.

28. Chicago White Sox

Real building blocks: After hitting rock bottom two years ago, the White Sox rebuild is finally yielding results. Chase Meidroth and Colson Montgomery are two foundational pieces in the middle infield, while top young catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero add strength up the middle. Munetaka Murakami, the Japanese slugger signed in free agency, is only 26 and fits perfectly with this team's timeline. Chicago might not be ready to contend just yet, but it won't be a pushover. Considering where this club was in 2024, that's progress.

29. Washington Nationals

Legit slugger in James Wood: It looks like it's going to be another long summer in D.C., but at least fans can be distracted by some dingers. Wood is coming off a breakout campaign in which he went deep 31 times, and there's no reason to think that power surge won't continue. Everything suddenly looks much rosier if Wood can maintain his positive momentum and Dylan Crews finds his form.

30. Colorado Rockies

Long-term vision: Let's give Paul DePodesta a chance. The rather unconventional hire already said the Rockies will try to use playing at altitude to their advantage - what a thought! - and he's added some MLB-caliber starters who can at least eat some meaningful innings in the interim. Colorado has seemingly spun its wheels forever, so it's a breath of fresh air to see someone at least come in and think differently.