After an unusual down year in 2025, the Braves have been imposing to begin the season. They’re 9-5, lead the majors in run differential (+40), and have spawned another promising prospect in Drake Baldwin. They’re back in full force, and despite injury to their rotation, it looks like they’ll be sticking around.

They’re atop the National League East, which appears to be the most talented division in baseball. The Marlins’ young hitters have arrived and are 8-6 without Kyle Stowers in their lineup, plus the Mets and Phillies are hovering around .500 despite undesirable starts. It’s going to be a dog fight between four teams this season, which doesn’t include the Nationals who have their own young superstars in James Wood and CJ Abrams.

It’s business as usual around the rest of the league. The Yankees are still a powerhouse, the Dodgers continue to bully teams, and the American League might be weaker than last season. Oh, and the Pirates are in first place in the NL Central. Weird.

William Navarro-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

Yeah, they’re still number one.

The Dodgers lead the majors in OPS (.875), homers (25), and slugging (.506) early in the season, and are getting incredible production from Andy Pages. The 25-year-old enters Saturday with a major league-leading .449 batting average and an NL-leading 1.6 bWAR. He also entered Friday’s game with an NL-leading 22 hits, eight of which are extra-base hits.

The rest of the lineup is also flourishing. Freddie Freeman and Kyle Tucker have turned early woes around, the team has survived with Mookie Betts on the 10-day IL, and Max Muncy broke out Friday with a three-homer night. They won five games in a row before dropping Wednesday’s finale to the Blue Jays, and have a healthy +35 run differential.

2. Yankees

Will Ben Rice win the AL MVP? I’m not sure, but if the season ended today he’d have a case.

Rice is third in baseball in OPS, and second in slugging percentage and OBP. He’s been elite while others have not. Aaron Judge has a pedestrian .738 OPS, Trent Grisham hasn’t matched his 2025 form early, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. has struggled mightily, which he attributed to cold weather.

The real engine has been the pitching. The staff hasn’t slowed down after its historic start, and leads the AL with a team 2.50 ERA. The “worst” starter in the four-man rotation has been Will Warren, and he has a 3.07 ERA. Still, they need more offense. The club started 8-1. Now they’re 8-5.

3. Braves

Atlanta’s back! What? Didn’t you read the open?

The club is enjoying a resurgence, mostly due to catcher Baldwin. He’s slashing .328/.391/.621 with a major league-leading 15 homers and 16 RBIs. Matt Olson also hit his groove early, and a .982 OPS with four homers through 14 games.

Along with a strong offense is their MLB-best 2.25 ERA. Bryce Elder has started 2026 with 13 scoreless innings, Reynaldo López has a 1.15 ERA and some bruises in three starts, and Grant Holmes‘s ERA sits at 2.25 through three starts. Chris Sale‘s 3.94 ERA is the highest on the staff.

4. Mets

The Mets seemed to be treading water after losing Juan Soto.

The club took three of four from the Giants, then defeated the Diamondbacks to open a three-game set. Yet, despite initial positive signs from the offense, the Mets have lost three in a row. The offense has scored three runs over their last three games, and hasn’t scored in 17 straight innings.

Still, there isn’t much room for concern. Soto will return eventually, Jorge Polanco‘s Achilles seems fine for now, and the club is still 7-7 despite the offense being non-existent in the beginning of the season. Their pitching has been excellent and is sixth in the majors with a 3.26 ERA. It did take a hit when Clay Holmes left Friday’s game vs. the Athletics with a left hamstring injury, but the righty said post-game he’s optimistic he’ll make his next start.

5. Mariners

The M’s snapped a five-game losing streak with a 9-6 win over the Rangers Friday. Randy Arozarena clubbed a massive two-run homer in the fifth, giving the Mariners a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

The win and offensive outburst was much needed for Seattle. Their offense is going through their early woes, but a 5-9 record can be hard to claw your way back from. The only consistent bats have been trade acquisition Brendan Donovan and the 22-year-old Cole Young. Still, this team is loaded, and once the regulars get going, this team will prosper. There’s no reason for concern.

6. Marlins

The Marlins rebuild might be over.

The fish have started 2026 on the right foot, jumping to an 8-6 record and +11 run differential. They’re getting incredible offensive production from Xavier Edwards (1.016 OPS), Connor Norby (122 OPS+), and Otto Lopez (.836 OPS), plus the new guy Owen Caissie is slugging .583 with 12 runs batted in. The offense is rolling and they don’t even have Stowers healthy.

The one concern has been the pitching. Ironic, right? Sandy Alcantara has pitched to a vintage 0.74 ERA, but Janson Junk has the next best ERA at 3.09. The bullpen has also been abysmal. Every arm in the ‘pen has an ERA+ under 100 outside Andrew Nardi.

7. Guardians

José Ramírez has been uncharacteristically bad to start the year. He’s slashing .151/.250/.264 and only one homer through the first two weeks, leaving the offensive load to younger names.

Chase DeLauter has been the main cog, but other guys like offseason signee Rhys Hoskins have fit perfectly so far. Hoskins doesn’t have a homer yet, but his five doubles have been more than enough and he’s second on the team in OPS+.

The offense has started slow. But the Guardians have always won from great pitching, and it’s been no different in 2026. Gavin Williams, Parker Messick, and Joey Cantillo have been fantastic, so much so that it’s distracted from the sinking bullpen that’s normally among the best in baseball. But like the other teams ahead of the Guardians, I’ll say it’s early. Baseball is a marathon and I doubt Cade Smith will finish as one of the worst relievers in baseball.

8. Phillies

It’s been a poor start for the reigning NL East champs.

Their team .662 OPS is 21st in baseball, and outside a series with the Nationals, they’ve been manhandled in the first two weeks. They dropped a series to the Rangers and Giants, plus dropped Friday’s game to the Diamondbacks 5-4.

The offensive production from their infield may be the worst in baseball. Bryson Stott (.443 OPS) and Alec Bohm (.505 OPS) have been non-existent, and make up the middle of the Philadelphia order. Trea Turner also has been mediocre, and is slugging just .327 with 13 strikeouts in 13 games.

The one bright spot has been Cristopher Sanchez. He’ll be on NL Cy Young watch the whole season, and has a 1.65 ERA and 12.7 K/9 in 16 1/3 homerless innings.

9. Blue Jays

It’s never a great week when you get swept by the White Sox. No matter what part of the season you’re in.

But the Blue Jays sandwiched a series sweep with the Sox between a loss to the Rockies and two more to the Dodgers to suffer an early six-game losing streak. It was an offense that might have dropped them off the list if not for it being April, but it seems like the reigning AL champions have bounced back.

They survived the series finale against the Dodgers, then beat down on the Twins Friday 10-4 to get back to 6-7. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has put up an early .863 OPS, plus Kevin Gausman and Dylan Cease both have ERAs under three and are tied in the AL for the most strikeouts (26).

The only serious issue early for the Jays has been health. Both Addison Barger and Alejandro Kirk have hit the 10-day IL, Anthony Santander is nowhere to be found, and the five crucial arms started the season on the shelf. Cody Ponce was supposed to fill time with Trey Yesavage, José Berríos, and Shane Bieber all hurt, but now he’s on the 60-day IL and most likely will miss the remainder of the season. Yeah, not great.

10. Astros

Some might ask why a team that’s 6-8 and has a -2 run differential is on this list. Especially coming off a failed season in 2025.

Well, it’s because the Astros have quietly been one of the best offenses in baseball. Only two teams have OPSs over .800. That would be the Dodgers and Houston. The results are mostly due to Yordan Alvarez being healthy, and the full-time DH has a ridiculous .516 OBP and .750 slug through his first two weeks. Christian Walker has also hit his stride after a forgettable 2025, and is OPSing .994 with three homers as of Saturday.

Of course, not enough can be said about Cam Smith. The rookie got a cup of coffee last season, but has flourished in the first two weeks. He’s slashing .250/.357/.479 with three homers in 14 games, and is making the decision to trade Tucker look better every day.

Rest of the Field

11. Brewers
12. Cubs
13. Rangers
14. Padres
15. Orioles
16. Reds
17. Rays
18. Pirates
19. Diamondbacks
20. Twins
21. Giants
22. Red Sox
23. Nationals
24. Tigers
25. Cardinals
26. Royals
27. Angels
28. Rockies
29. Athletics
30. White Sox

Previous Rankings: W1 | OD

The post 2026 MLB Powering Rankings: Week Two Update appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

JJ Wetherholt has looked comfortable with St. Louis so far, taking his walks and holding second base defensively for a young and upcoming Cardinals team. Konnor Griffin signed a 9-year, $140 million extension at 19 and then promptly hit an RBI double in his first major league at-bat Friday, signaling a beacon of hope offensively for a Pittsburgh team already loaded with pitching.

Then of course there’s Chase DeLauter. MLB Pipeline’s No. 43 prospect has already clubbed five homers in seven games, putting up a .923 slugging percentage through 27 plate appearances. Safe to say he’s scorching hot, and could be another offensive weapon for Cleveland.

The young guys are rolling. And so is the rest of the majors. The Dodgers and Yankees are still elite, the Marlins look like a team that could fight their way into a regular top-10 team through seven games, and the Braves have also jumped to a 6-2 record with a healthy core.

Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

1. Dodgers

The Dodgers started the 2026 season in classic fashion. They swept the Diamondbacks to open the year 3-0, lost a series to the Guardians thanks to DeLauter going nuclear, and then bounced back with by slaughtering the Nationals 13-6.

They’ve done all this despite slow starts from Mookie Betts, Will Smith, and Freddie Freeman. The pitching has been the leading factor for the club, with Roki Sasaki proving doubters wrong in his first start and Shohei Ohtani struck out six in six scoreless innings to start his season.

2. Yankees

The Bombers are poised to have another dominant season. But right now, it’s not because of the bats.

The pitching staff was historic in the first week of the season for the Yankees. They allowed just three runs over their first five games, matching the record set by the 1943 Cardinals, and through seven games have allowed just eight runs. Max Fried and Cam Schlittler haven’t allowed an earned run through two starts, and Will Warren has a 2.70 ERA and nine strikeouts in 10 innings.

This is not to say the offense has been lagging behind either. Ben Rice looks like another Brian Cashman gem, and Giancarlo Stanton has begun the season on a tear with three extra-base hits in 25 plate appearances.

3. Mariners

The M’s have started the season exchanging wins and loses, but there’s no cause for panic.

They ran into the Guardians for a four-game set to begin the year, resulting in an even split down the middle. Then they hosted the Yankees at home, where they dropped the final two games to lose the series.

Julio Rodriguez is having his usual slow start, batting just .100 coming into Saturday. Cal Raleigh has also fallen back to earth to begin 2026, and has already gotten a mental day off in the first week of the season. He’s still looking for his first homer, and has struck out 16 times in 29 at-bats. Both these two superstars will find their groove, and this team should dominate the American League West.

4. Blue Jays

The Jays’ new pieces in 2026 have clicked.

Jesús Sánchez and Kazuma Okamoto have both hit in their new homes, registering OPS+’s over 120 and combining for three homers. They’ve fit nicely with guys in Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Andrés Giménez, and the offense has averaged over four runs a game.

The pitching has been hit or miss. Jeff Hoffman has blown a couple saves already, but neither led to losses and he still has a sparkling 1.93 ERA. The rest of the bullpen has been rough, and holds four seperate players with ERAs over 10.

The Jays also got some unfortunate news Saturday. Alejandro Kirk was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left thumb, resulting in the Jays losing a key piece of their offense.

5. Mets

The Mets’ 2026 season started out bumpy.

The offense exploded for 11 runs Opening Day against Paul Skenes, but then went on to score 14 runs over their next six games. Guys like Bo Bichette and Marcus Semien haven’t hit yet, but showed signs of progression Friday. Francisco Lindor also has mitigated his usual slow starts by walking an NL-leading 10 times.

It also helps that the pitching has been reliable. Nolan McLean, Clay Holmes, and Kodai Senga have been a strong 1-2-3, and the bullpen hasn’t faltered for Carlos Mendoza.

The only thing looming over the Mets right now is Juan Soto‘s calf. He was pulled in the first inning Friday and is getting an MRI to see how serious the injury is.

6. Phillies

Will Brandon Marsh win the NL MVP? Probably not, but he’s playing like one in March.

And the Phillies have needed it, because their offense has been stale. Bryce Harper is slashing .179/.258/.429, Trea Turner has a .646 OPS, and Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott have both registered OPS+’s under 70.

The backbone early has been their elite pitching. Cristopher Sanchez has a 0.79 ERA through two starts, Andrew Painter struck out eight over 5 1/3 in his major league debut, and Aaron Nola has 16 strikeouts in 11 1/3 innings.

7. Guardians

Cleveland might have developed another superstar.

DeLauter was called up to begin the season, and he’s already mashing. The lefty has five homers in seven games, and is OPS’ing 1.293. He’s been a life preserver for the lineup which is struggling right now, as José Ramírez and Steven Kwan haven’t hit through the first week.

The starting rotation is also being leaned on early in the season. Gavin Williams has a 2.25 ERA through two starts, 25-year-old Parker Messick threw six scoreless to begin the season, and Joey Cantillo has punched out 11 over nine innings.

8. Braves

The Braves are healthy. And that should scare the league.

The club has gone 6-2 in their first eight games, powered by Matt Olson, Ozzie Albies, Drake Baldwin, Dominic Smith, and Mauricio Dubón, who all have OPSs over .900.

Chris Sale is also already in midseason form, pitching to a 0.75 ERA over two starts and leading a Braves rotation that has survived despite numerous injuries. The bullpen also looks like the best in the sport, with just four earned runs allowed in 28 1/3 innings.

9. Cubs

Chicago has started slowly, and continues to deal with injury.

Seiya Suzuki is still out due to his injury in the WBC, and the club had Cade Horton pulled with right forearm tightness Friday. Not great.

Still, they have the glue to survive and the talent to win. Nico Hoerner and Ian Happ have been carrying the freight for a lineup trying to find their swing, and Alex Bregman broke out of a funk with a couple homers against Washington.

We’ll see how the rotation holds up. Edward Cabrera was lights out in his debut and struck out five over six scoreless innings, and Matthew Boyd struck out 10 over 5 2/3 innings after a rough debut.

10. Orioles

Baltimore’s record isn’t at .500 to start the year, but there have been positive signs.

Adley Rutschman is slashing .294/.429/.529 to start the season, hopefully putting worrisome thoughts about the type of player he is to bed. Pete Alonso has also fit in nicely, homering off Jacob deGrom in the first series of the year.

Trevor Rogers is also repeating his bounce back 2025. The lefty has registered a 1.38 ERA in two starts, and has provided Birdland with a reliable ace, something the club hasn’t had since Corbin Burnes.

Rest of the Field

11. Red Sox
12. Astros
13. Padres
14. Rangers
15. Royals
16. Brewers
17. Tigers
18. Marlins
19. Giants
20. Pirates
21. Reds
22. Rays
23. Nationals
24. Cardinals
25. Diamondbacks
26. Twins
27. Athletics
28. Angels
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

Previous Rankings: OD

The post 2026 MLB Powering Rankings: Week 1 appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Baseball began Wednesday night with the Yankees defeating the Giants 7-0, kicking off an exciting 2026 season. The Dodgers still have a target on their heads coming off back-to-back World Series rings, and will look to be the first team to three-peat since the Yankees from 1998-2000.

Meanwhile, the other 29 teams will look to dethrone the champs, especially in the National League, which features a loaded resume of teams. The Mets, Phillies, and injury riddled Braves will compete for an NL East title, the Reds bolstered their roster by re-signing Eugenio Suarez to battle the Cubs and Brewers for the NL Central, and the Giants will have a full season of Rafael Devers to try and keep up with the Padres and Dodgers, who have mainly fought for the NL West the past two seasons.

Will anyone knock the Dodgers off? Probably not. They spent another offseason reloading their roster with All-Stars, signing Edwin Díaz away from the Mets and winning the arms race for Kyle Tucker. But if anyone in the NL can’t end their season prematurely, maybe the Yankees and Aaron Judge can in the American League.

Still, it’s too early to be talking about October. It’s March. And I know you all missed these absolutely, positively correct power rankings every week. This season, every article will include a link to the old power rankings at the bottom of the article. Let’s kick off 2026 with a fresh top-10.

Juan Soto
Photo by Ed Delany of Metsmerized

1. Dodgers

Until they’re dethroned, the champs are No. 1.

The Dodgers loaded up again to go for a third consecutive World Series. They signed the best closer in Díaz after their bullpen was suspect in the playoffs, and poached Tucker away from the Cubs, Yankees, and Mets in free agency to shore up their offensive hole in the outfield.

They’re incredibly talented, but also banged up. This, funnily enough, might be the only time they sit in first on the power rankings. Their strategy of coasting to a playoff spot, then attacking with a healthy roster in October has worked the last two seasons.

That being said, there are some questions surrounding the Dodgers. Is Mookie Betts going to bounce back from a .732 OPS in 2025? What does Freddie Freeman offer in his age-36 season? And can the rotation provide enough to survive a strong division that holds the Giants and Padres?

2. Blue Jays

I won’t lie. I incorrectly slept on the Blue Jays the entire 2025 season. I won’t make the same mistake twice.

This roster is loaded, and the front office bolstered it in the offseason. The Jays inked Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million contract in the offseason, shoring up third base with a righty that OPS’d 1.014 with the Yomiuri Giants last season in Japan. They also signed power-throwing Dylan Cease to a seven-year, $210 million deal to lead a strong rotation already headlined by Kevin Gausman and rookie Trey Yesavage.

The Jays are ready to make a push at another pennant. And with power in their lineup and rotation, they’re positioned to win a tough division that features the Yankees, Orioles, and Red Sox.

3. Mariners

Seattle quietly had an impressive offseason. They traded for Brendan Donovan from the Cardinals, a gap-to-gap lefty bat who will fit nicely in T-Mobile Park.

They also signed Josh Naylor, who they acquired at last year’s deadline, to play first again, spacing out their big right-handed bats in Julio Rodriguez and Randy Arozarena. The lineup is intimidating, even after losing Suarez and Jorge Polanco in free agency.

Of course, the talk of the roster is their loaded pitching. The lineup features four arms that could win the Cy Young. Take your pick against Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, Bryce Miller, or Luis Castillo, it most likely won’t end well. Then there’s the bullpen, which is anchored by the most underrated closer in the game: Andrés Muñoz. The flamethrower put up a 1.73 ERA and 38 saves in 62 1/3 innings, and has a cohort of strong options behind him in Matt Brash, Jose A. Ferrer, and Gabe Speier.

4. Phillies

Philadelphia is running it back with the same core for 2026. Which isn’t necessarily bad.

The club won 96 games last year and took home the NL East. They also re-signed Kyle Schwarber, who clubbed 56 homers last season and drove in 132 runs. So what is there to complain about?

The fan base will say this core hasn’t done anything since 2022. And that’s fair. But they did add Adolis García, who could return to his 2023 form, and will insert Justin Crawford into their lineup at center, the son of former major leaguer Carl Crawford who batted .334 with 49 stolen bases in Triple-A last season.

Additions were also made in the bullpen. Philadelphia signed Brad Keller, acquired Jonathan Bowlan from the Phillies, and will get a full season from Jhoan Duran and José Alvarado, the later who was suspended in 2025 for steroids. It has the potential to be the best ‘pen in the sport.

Pair that with a starting rotation that’s led by Cristopher Sanchez and Jesús Luzardo, and you’re in business. This team is good. World Series level good. Oh, and did I mention they’ll be adding Zack Wheeler and Andrew Painter at some point this season?

5. Yankees

The Bombers are poised to make a run at their 28th World Series title.

They’re the favorites again to win the AL, and it’s for a good reason. Judge is the best right-handed hitter of all-time (argue with a wall), and he’s backed up by household names in Cody Bellinger, Jazz Chisholm Jr., and Giancarlo Stanton.

The narrative is the same as always with the Yanks. Health. Will Stanton play this season? Can Chisholm stay on the field? Can Bellinger and Trent Grisham play, and repeat their phenomenal 2025 seasons? If they can, they’ll push for the AL East title.

Pitching health will also be a storyline this season. Gerrit Cole is returning from Tommy John at 35, yet was sitting at 96 miles per hour Tuesday. If he can return, Cole has the juice to compete for a Cy Young. Luis Gil‘s return will also be massive for the Yankees, and give them much-needed depth. It’s reported the Yankees will begin the season with a four-man rotation, but a rotation that sends Max Fried and Cam Schlittler out will be fine to begin the first two weeks of the season.

6. Mets

The narrative of the Mets’ offseason was that they got worse. I disagree.

The lineup lost Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo, yes. But they added Polanco, Bo Bichette, and Luis Robert Jr. It’s deeper, and contact-oriented. Emphasis on contact-oriented. Too often last season, Francisco Lindor and Juan Soto would get on base, then jog back to the dugout after consecutive strikeouts to end the inning. It’s completely rethought. And they removed two players in their top four who swung and missed a lot.

Also, remember the rotation is set to be healthy in 2026, and features a true ace in Freddy Peralta. That takes pressure off rookie Nolan McLean to pitch like a No. 1, allows David Peterson to slot into the third spot and hopefully return to his 3.06 first-half ERA, and Kodai Senga to be a No. 4 starter with No. 1 stuff. It’s all in front of them.

Plus if it doesn’t work out, the rotation has depth. Sean Manaea is waiting in the wings, Tobias Myers has the potential to be a back-end guy, and Jonah Tong and Jack Wenninger are close to being major league starters. Last season, the rotation faltered. 2026 won’t see the same issue.

The fate of the season truly hangs on the bullpen. Is Devin Williams still among the best closers in baseball? Or did New York break him? And what are they going to get out of Luke Weaver? If one of those two arms don’t produce, this team’s in trouble.

7. Cubs

Give Chicago credit. The ownership has been blasted due to missing the playoffs since 2018 (COVID doesn’t count), and they added this offseason after an NLDS appearance in 2025.

The big signing was Alex Bregman. He’ll man third base and is coming off his third All-Star appearance in 2025, where he clubbed 18 homers and OPS’d .821 in 111 games with the Red Sox. Combine that with a loaded offense featuring Pete Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner, and Michael Busch, and the Cubs are positioned to score more runs than in 2025 (793).

Don’t sleep on the rotation either. They traded for Edward Cabrera from the Marlins, who has always had the stuff to develop into a top-of-the-rotation arm. And even if he doesn’t, the rotation is top-heavy with Cade Horton, Shota Imanaga, and Matthew Boyd.

8. Red Sox

Boston has made moves the last couple of offseasons to build a championship team. Now, they’re ready to push for a pennant.

The young core of Roman Anthony, Wilyer Abreu, and Ceddanne Rafaela will be the cog that turns the wheel for the Red Sox, and veteran bats of Trevor Story, Jarren Duran, and Willson Contreras will carry the weight.

The rotation will also limit runs, headlined by Cy Young candidate Garrett Crochet and young-budding star Brayan Bello, and finished by veteran additions in Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez. They’re talented, but find themselves in the toughest division in baseball.

9. Giants

San Francisco had a weird 2025. They went 81-81 despite a threatening roster, and missed the playoffs with an experienced manager in Bob Melvin.

I’m willing to bet on the 2026 Giants being a playoff-caliber team. The lineup is dangerous with Devers, Matt Chapman, Willy Adames, and Heliot Ramos, plus the additions of Harrison Bader and Luis Arraez should help lengthen it.

The rotation also is playoff caliber. Logan Webb is never talked about despite consistently pitching like an ace, and Robbie Ray made 32 starts last season and pitched to a 3.65 ERA. Round that out with Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser, and this team has the arms to compete with the top teams in the West.

The bullpen is a little suspect compared to the All-Star names on the Padres and Dodgers 40-man rosters. Ryan Walker registered a 4.11 ERA last season and will be the closer heading into 2026. Plus, the Giants should do themselves a favor and call up Bryce Eldridge.

10. Royals

Kansas City finalizes the first top-10 of 2026. And it’s not hard to love them.

They’re led by the best shortstop in baseball in Bobby Witt Jr., and rounded out by other impressive infielders in Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino.

It’s a scary top-three in the lineup. But the 4-6 are just as strong. Salvador Perez is coming off another 30-homer season, Jac Caglianone slashed .304/.448/.522 in spring, and Jonathan India provides a solid floor. Add in Carter Jensen as well, the Royals’ exciting top prospect.

The rotation also has a great floor. Seth Lugo looks to bounce back after an average 4.15 ERA and Cole Ragans is only one year removed from looking like an ace. The bullpen will also hold leads, primarily due to Carlos Estévez and Nick Mears, who was acquired from Milwaukee.

Rest of the Field

11. Padres
12. Orioles
13. Guardians
14. Braves
15. Tigers
16. Brewers
17. Astros
18. Rangers
19. Reds
20. Diamondbacks
21. Rays
22. Athletics
23. Pirates
24. Marlins
25. Nationals
26. Twins
27. Cardinals
28. Angels
29. White Sox
30. Rockies

The post 2026 MLB Power Rankings: Opening Weekend appeared first on Metsmerized Online.

Mark Vientos will represent Nicaragua at the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Vientos was born in Connecticut and went to high school in Florida, but his mom was born in Nicaragua while his dad was born in the Dominican Republic. Notable players who represented Nicaragua in the 2023 WBC include Jonathan Loáisiga and Erasmo Ramírez.

Mark Vientos (27) Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets posted a “Thank You” graphic for Edwin Díaz after his signing with the Dodgers became official.

The Mets signed reliever Daniel Duarte to a minor league deal. Duarte, 29, owns a 3.99 ERA in 36 career big league innings and has thrown 18 2/3 scoreless innings in the Mexican winter ball.

Latest MLB News

The Royals extended third baseman Maikel Garcia with a five-year contract. The deal is for $57.5 million, but he has the ability to make up to $85 million.

The Blue Jays signed reliever Tyler Rogers to a three-year, $37 million contract with a vesting option for a fourth year. Rogers, 35 next week, spent the second half of 2025 with the Mets after being dealt at the trade deadline. He was solid, earning a 2.30 ERA in 28 appearances. Prior to his trade to the Mets, Rogers spent his entire career with the Giants.

In other Blue Jays news, Rogers Communications announced that Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro has been extended for five years.

The Rangers signed catcher Danny Jansen to a two-year, $14.5 million contract. In 98 games between the Rays and Brewers in 2025, Jansen posted a .721 OPS.

The Rangers also signed relievers Alexis Díaz and Tyler Alexander to one-year contracts. Both relievers struggled in 2025 while playing for multiple teams.

The Marlins signed third baseman and corner outfielder Christopher Morel to a one-year deal. Morel, who has shown flashes of power in the past, struggled with a .684 OPS with the Rays in 2025.

Latest on MMO

Robert Colonna profiles reliever Kenley Jansen as a free agent target for the Mets.

Jack Markowski recaps the comments Pete Alonso made at his introductory press conference with the Orioles.

Kai Chang recaps the comments Edwin Díaz made at his introductory press conference with the Dodgers.

On This Date in Mets History

Born on This Date: Doug Saunders (1969), Ron Taylor (1937), J.C. Martin (1936), Joe Christopher (1935).

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Tyler Rogers. Photo Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images

Rogers, 34, has been as much of a workhorse as a modern reliever can be. He has led the majors in games pitched four times over the past six seasons and has exceeded 80 appearances twice. His efficiency is equally impressive. In 2025, he posted a 1.98 ERA combined with the Mets and Giants. With New York, he was particularly effective, registering a 2.30 ERA and a 6.86 K/BB ratio.

Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in 2013, Rogers spent 2019-24 in San Francisco before being traded to the Mets at the 2025 Trade Deadline in exchange for Drew Gilbert, Blade Tidwell, and José Buttó.

Rogers’ success stems from one of the most unorthodox deliveries in baseball. His extreme submarine angle, combined with a slider that creates the illusion of rising, earned praise from his former Giants pitching coach, Andrew Bailey, who called it a “UFO” slider because it “breaks the break chart.”

Overall, Rogers offers significant reliability — the biggest reason behind his lucrative contract. While it’s somewhat surprising he landed a deal approaching $40 million, it reflects his underrated consistency. For context, MLB Trade Rumors projected Rogers at a two-year, $18 million deal, ranking him below Ryan Helsley (ended up signing for two years and $28 million) and Kyle Finnegan (two years, $19 million).

The Mets had been linked to Rogers but will now need to pivot. Potential higher-end right-handed targets include Pete Fairbanks, Luke Weaver, Shawn Armstrong, and Seranthony Domínguez. Left-handed options remain thin, though veterans like Andrew Chafin are always available. There will also always be trade opportunities, such as Trevor Megill, who the Mets have been previously linked to.

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Position: SS B/T: R/R

Player Data: Age: 27 (03/05/1998)

2025 Traditional Stats: 628 PA, .311/.357/.483/.840, 181 H, 18 HR, 44 2B, 94 RBI

2025 Advanced Stats: 134 wRC+, 14.5% K%, 6.4% BB%, .342 BABIP, .364 xwOBA, -12 DRS, -13 OAA, 3.8 fWAR, 3.4 bWAR

Rundown

In 2024, Bo Bichette endured the worst season of his big league career. The two-time All-Star saw his OPS dip below .600 and made three trips to the injured list, resulting in him missing 81 games. In 2025, however, Bichette returned to form, putting together the best overall offensive season of his career and helping the Blue Jays capture their first AL East title since 2015.

Bichette set full-season career-best marks in batting average, on-base percentage, doubles, walk rate, strikeout rate, OPS, OPS+, and wRC+. The 27-year-old likely would have led the AL in hits for a third time had it not been for a late-season hamstring injury that cost him the last three weeks of the regular season – he finished just three hits behind Bobby Witt Jr. for the league lead. Bichette also trailed Witt by three for the major league lead in doubles.

While Bichette’s BABIP jumped from .269 to .342, his .307 xBA, .489 xSLG, and .364 xwOBA prove that his success wasn’t just based on luck. Bichette’s plate discipline improved as well – his chase rate fell from 37.1% to 35.2%, and whiff rate dropped from 22% to a career-low 18.4%. He was also the majors’ best hitter with men in scoring position, batting .381/.427/.626 in those situations. Bichette returned from his injury in time for the World Series, and he picked up right where he left off at the plate, going 8-for-23, including a mammoth three-run homer in Game 7 of the series. Bichette drove in six runs in the Fall Classic and drew four walks against four strikeouts in 27 plate appearances.

Bichette’s biggest drawback continued to be his defense, and his negative-13 OAA and negative-12 DRS ranked among the worst in the majors. During the World Series, John Schneider opted to have Bichette play second base and serve as the designated hitter and play the slick-fielding Andrés Giménez at shortstop. Bichette’s average sprint speed also decreased to a career-low 26.1 feet per second, and he swiped just four bases in seven tries.

Contract

Entering 2025, it looked as if Bichette would have to settle for a one-year, prove-it deal, but he recouped almost all the value he lost during his disastrous 2024 season. Spotrac projects him to sign an eight-year contract worth $186.4 million, which averages out to $23.3 million per season. While it seems rather unlikely that he gets a contract of that length, Bichette could exceed that average annual value, and given his age, he could set himself up for another big payday if he takes a shorter-term deal.

Recommendation: Worth Checking In

The Mets have a bit of a logjam in the infield currently, and Bichette certainly wouldn’t play shortstop if he signed in Flushing with Francisco Lindor holding down that position. If the Mets were to move on from Jeff McNeil and trade away Jett Williams for a pitcher, Bichette would have an opening at second base. Bichette could also slot in as the team’s DH if they don’t retain Pete Alonso or Mark Vientos. Considering that Bichette is just now entering the prime of his career, it’s possible that his best days are yet to come. However, it wouldn’t be worth it for David Stearns to spend excessively and offer a long-term contract to try to outbid other teams for Bichette’s services. Stearns said that run prevention is a priority this offseason, and signing Bichette wouldn’t exactly address that issue, unless he’s willing to be a DH.

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RHP Shohei Ohtani (2-1, 3.50 ERA) vs. RHP Max Scherzer (1-0, 4.50 ERA)

Saturday, November 1, 2025 – Rogers Centre – 8:00 PM EST

TV – FOX

The Dodgers got a gutsy win in Game 6 Friday night, sending the World Series to a Game 7 for the first time since 2019.

Saturday marks the 41st time the World Series has gone to a Game 7 since 1905, and the sixth time in the last 14 World Series. The last World Series that went to Game 7 was in 2019, where the Nationals defeated the Astros in Houston.

Road teams have won the last five Game 7s, dating back to 2014, when Madison Bumgarner shut down the Royals to earn the Giants their third ring in five seasons. The Dodgers are a part of that stat, where they lost a home Game 7 in 2017 to the Astros.

Max Scherzer will take the bump in Game 7 — as he did in 2019 against the Astros. Scherzer allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings in Game 3 in Los Angeles, and will get another crack at home against the Dodgers. Scherzer has now pitched the last two Game 7s in the majors, and earlier became the first pitcher in MLB history to make a World Series start with four different teams.

Meanwhile, Shohei Ohtani will toe the rubber for the Dodgers. Ohtani started Game 4 and allowed four runs over six-plus innings of work. The righty cruised through six innings with his only blemish being a two-run homer from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., but was pulled in the seventh before recording an out.

If the Dodgers win tonight, they’ll be the first team to win back-to-back World Series since the Yankees in 2000. If the Blue Jays win tonight, they’ll end their 32-year World Series drought. The Dodgers are 2-4 all-time in World Series Game 7s, while the Blue Jays have never played a Game 7 in the World Series.

Kevin Ng-Imagn Images

Dodgers Lineup

1. Shohei Ohtani – P
2. Will Smith – C
3. Freddie Freeman – 1B
4. Mookie Betts – SS
5. Max Muncy – 3B
6. Teoscar Hernández – RF
7. Tommy Edman – CF
8. Kiké Hernández – LF
9. Miguel Rojas – 2B

Blue Jays Lineup

1. George Springer – DH
2. Nathan Lukes – LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
4. Bo Bichette – 2B
5. Addison Barger – RF
6. Alejandro Kirk – C
7. Daulton Varsho – CF
8. Ernie Clement – 3B
9. Andrés Giménez – SS

Game Notes

• When the Game 6 winner has forced a Game 7 on the road, that road team has won the series 14 of 22 times (63.6%). And in all of postseason history, teams playing any winner-take-all game in their home park are 69-67, including 31-29 in best-of-seven series.
• The Blue Jays haven’t won a World Series since 1993, when the No. 1 song was “I Will Always Love You,” by Whitney Houston, and movies such as Jurassic Park and A Bronx Tale were released in theatres.
• Max Scherzer becomes the first starter since… Max Scherzer and Zack Greinke to start a Game 7 in the World Series. His last outing went well, as he held the Astros to two runs over five innings. The last Game 7 that did not feature Scherzer was the 2017 World Series, where Lance McCullers faced Yu Darvish.

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Does it seem fair to the teams? Maybe not. But it sets a great scene for the viewers, and leaves all of us with the potential to witness an all-time baseball moment.

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

The Blue Jays and Dodgers series has been one of the most exciting World Series in recent memory. Both sides going back and forth, exchanging wins and losses, while superstars for both sides perform. Yoshinobu Yamamoto has shoved twice to keep the Dodgers alive, and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. dominated in Los Angeles to give the Blue Jays a chance to win a trophy at home.

Of course, Mookie Betts provided the offensive spark in Game 6 after entering just 3-for-23, providing all of us at home the ultimate scenario in baseball. Game 7 of the World Series.

Game 7s in the World Series don’t come around often, but when they do, we’re all blessed with great moments. Just ask Ray Knight and the 1986 Mets.

Of course while Game 7s don’t come often, there have been a handful of them in the last two decades. Tonight marks the sixth Game 7 of the World Series since 2011. The 2011 World Series was of course more famous for the Cardinals’ comeback in Game 6, but 2014 saw Madison Bumgarner finish off one of the greatest postseasons of all time, 2016 had the game-tying homer by Rajai Davis and then 10th-inning offensive explosion by the Cubs, and Howie Kendrick‘s homer off the foul pole in 2019 to give the Nationals their first World Series Trophy.

Max Scherzer — who started Game 7 in 2019 — will get another chance at a ring with his Game 7 start tonight against the Dodgers. Scherzer pitched five innings and allowed just two runs in the Nationals’ Game 7, leading the Nats to a World Series Championship. Tonight, he will start in the first Game 7 in the World Series since his last start six years ago.

On the other hand, the Dodgers will go to their second Game 7 of the World Series in the last 8 years. Their first in 2017 saw them lose at home to the Astros — who were later found to have been cheating. Kiké Hernández and Clayton Kershaw are the only two remaining players from that 2017 team. George Springer won World Series MVP for the Astros that year, and will bat leadoff tonight just as he did eight years ago.

Tonight’s World Series is the 41st in MLB history to reach a World Series in the history of the seven-game format. The Dodgers are 2-4 all-time in Game 7 of the World Series, defeating the Yankees in 1955 and the Twins in 1965. The Blue Jays have never played a Game 7 in the World Series.

If the Dodgers are victorious, they’ll become the first team since the 2000 Yankees to win back-to-back championships. It will also mark the first time a National League team has won back-to-back World Series since the 1975-1976 Big Red Machine.

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The Dodgers defeated the Blue Jays 3-1 in Game 6 of the World Series, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7. The Blue Jays had a chance to tie or win with runners on second and third and no outs in the ninth inning, but Tyler Glasnow relieved Roki Sasaki and didn’t let a run across. Game 7, the first in a World Series since 2019 between the Nationals and Astros, will begin at 8:00 p.m. ET Saturday night.

Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

Mets prospect Nick Morabito went 1-for-4 with a walk, a stolen base and a run in Friday’s Arizona Fall League action. Chris Suero went 0-for-3 with a walk and a run.

Latest MLB News

The Nationals officially announced that they have hired Blake Butera to be their next manager.

Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux is leaving the team to join the Angels. Maddux has been lauded in recent years for his work with Texas’ pitching staff, and he will now be an important member of the Angels’ coaching staff under new manager Kurt Suzuki.

Former major leaguer Yoervis Medina passed away on Friday at the age of 37 due to a heart attack that led to a car crash. Medina pitched for the Mariners and Cubs and had a career 3.08 ERA in 146 big league appearances.

Latest on MMO

In our latest 2025 Report Card, David Melendi grades Brandon Sproat‘s season.

Eitan Hein profiles starter Michael Soroka as a potential free agent target for the Mets.

John Wilson analyzes the uptick in stolen bases for Juan Soto in 2025.

On This Date in Mets History

2015: The Royals defeated the Mets 7-2 in 12 innings in Game 5 of the World Series to clinch their first championship since 1985. The Mets blew the game in the ninth, after Matt Harvey insisted on staying in the game, and could not pull it out in extras.

2019: The Mets hired Carlos Beltrán to be their next manager. Beltrán never managed a game, having been fired before the season even started due to the break of the Astros cheating scandal.

Born on This Date: Eric Hanhold (1993), José Moreno (1957).

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RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-1, 1.57 ERA) vs. RHP Kevin Gausman (2-2, 2.55 ERA)

Friday, October 31, 2025 – Rogers Centre – 8:00 PM EST

TV – FOX

As the World Series heads back to Canada for Game 6, the Toronto Blue Jays could hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy for the first time since 1993 in front of their home crowd.

After being handed a demoralizing Game 3 loss in an 18-inning thriller on Monday, the Blue Jays bounced back with two-straight road wins over Los Angeles to put the Dodgers on the brink of elimination at Rogers Centre. Yoshinobu Yamamoto will get the start for the road team after throwing the first complete game in the World Series since 2015 and holding Toronto to one run in a Game 2 win.

The Blue Jays, on the other hand, will send out Kevin Gausman after he allowed three earned runs over 6 2/3 innings and took the loss against Yamamoto in Game 2.

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

Dodgers Lineup

1. Shohei Ohtani – DH
2. Will Smith – C
3. Freddie Freeman – 1B
4. Mookie Betts – SS
5. Teoscar Hernández – RF
6. Max Muncy – 3B
7. Enrique Hernández – LF
8. Tommy Edman – CF
9. Miguel Rojas – 2B

Blue Jays Lineup

1. George Springer – DH
2. Nathan Lukes – LF
3. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 1B
4. Bo Bichette – 2B
5. Daulton Varsho – CF
6. Alejandro Kirk – C
7. Addison Barger – RF
8. Ernie Clement – 3B
9. Andrés Giménez – SS

Game Notes

• Per MLB Communications, Guerrero Jr. would become the 11th player to homer in three-straight games of a single World Series if he were to go deep again tonight.
• With 100 runs in 16 games, Toronto is one shy of tying the all-time record by a team during a single postseason. The 2020 Dodgers and 2020 Anaheim Angels, both of whom went on to win the World Series, each scored 101 runs in 18 games.
• The World Series has never ended on Halloween before, but this will be the eighth time that the Fall Classic will have taken place on the holiday. An AL club has won five of the last seven contests under that criteria.

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