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

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On December 3, 2018, though, newly minted general manager Brodie Van Wagenen swung the biggest move of the offseason, acquiring fireballing closer Edwin Díaz and eight-time All-Star Robinson Canó from the Mariners. Díaz was coming off a season for the ages, posting a 1.96 ERA and striking out 124 batters against 17 walks in 73 1/3 innings while saving 57 games, which is tied with Bobby Thigpen for the second-most in major league history. Canó, meanwhile, posted a solid .303/.374/.471 slash line in 348 plate appearances, but was handed an 80-game suspension for failing a drug test and had five years and $120 million left on the 10-year contract he signed with Seattle back in 2013. The Mariners had fallen from an eight-game lead in the AL Wild Card race to missing the 2018 playoffs, and had already traded their ace, James Paxton, to the Yankees.

Heading to Seattle in the trade were two of the Mets’ top prospects – 2018 first-round pick Jarred Kelenic, and 2016 first-round pick Justin Dunn. To offset some of Canó’s contract, the Mets also sent Jay Bruce, who had two years and $28 million left on his deal, and Anthony Swarzak, who was owed $8.5 million in the final year of his contract. Bruce and Swarzak both had dealt with injuries and failed to live up to expectations in 2018. While reports surfaced that Jeff McNeil would be the final piece of the trade, the Mets instead sent righty reliever Gerson Bautista to complete the deal.

The early returns on the trade were mixed for both sides. Díaz was bedeviled by the home run ball, posting a 5.59 ERA and giving up 15 long balls in 58 innings. He lost his closer’s role to Seth Lugo for a brief period of time. Canó struggled out of the gate and dealt with injuries, and his bat didn’t come alive until the summer. The Mets were 10 games under .500 at the 2019 All-Star break, and a 46-26 second-half record made them the first team out of the NL playoff picture.

Meanwhile, in Seattle, Bruce clubbed 14 homers in 47 games before getting shipped to Philadelphia. Swarzak appeared in just 15 games as a Mariner before he was traded to the Braves. Bautista was rocked for 11 earned runs in nine major league innings and posted a 7.85 ERA in the minor leagues. He was non-tendered in 2020 and hasn’t appeared in the majors since. Down on the farm, though, Kelenic was soaring through the minor leagues, posting a .904 OPS with 23 homers and 20 steals across three levels. Dunn posted a solid season in Triple-A and made his major league debut in September.

While early on the trade looked like a massive win for the Mariners, the tides started to shift as years went on. Although Canó was given another suspension for using performance-enhancing drugs, Díaz found his groove in New York, and he had a dominant 2022 season, a year in which he posted a 1.31 ERA and struck out over half the batters he faced in 62 innings. He then inked a five-year deal to stay in Flushing. Dunn posted a respectable 3.94 ERA in 25 major league starts for Seattle, but was traded to the Reds as part of a deal to acquire Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez. As for Kelenic, he never quite lived up to the lofty expectations he set in 2019, posting an underwhelming .686 OPS in 974 plate appearances in Seattle before getting traded to Atlanta in 2023. While it was a risk to trade two top prospects for a closer and an aging bat with a hefty contract, the Mets turned into winners in this deal.

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The Dodgers won the National League pennant, sweeping the Brewers in four games to advance to the World Series. Shohei Ohtani delivered one of the best individual performances the game has ever seen in Game 4, hitting three home runs and throwing six scoreless innings with 10 strikeouts. The Dodgers will defend their title against either the Blue Jays or Mariners. The Mariners currently hold a 3-2 lead in the ALCS.

There are no postseason games scheduled for Saturday.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Latest Mets News

The Mets signed Cuban righty pitcher Roberto Peña to a deal. Peña, just 17 years old, received a $500,000 signing bonus, the highest for a pitcher in the organization during the current international signing period.

Nick Morabito and Chris Suero each went 2-for-5 for the Scottsdale Scorpions in AFL action.

Latest MLB News

Pet Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies are expecting to part ways with Nick Castellanos this offseason, whether via trade or release.  Castellanos had a .694 OPS with the Phillies this season.

The Astros signed reliever Nate Pearson to a one-year, $1.35 million contract with the plan to try Pearson out as a starter. Pearson pitched in just 11 games for the Cubs this year and recorded a 9.20 ERA.

Royals third base coach Vance Wilson interviewed with the Giants for their open manager position. Wilson is also considered a candidate for the Twins’ manager position too.

Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Cardinals and Joe McEwing are mutually agreeing to part ways. McEwing spent one year as the Cardinals’ bench coach and two years as an assistant to general manager John Mozeliak.

Latest on MMO

Mojo Hill grades the season Jonah Tong had for the Mets in 2025.

Jack Markowski writes about the Mets’ reported interest in Tarik Skubal if he is made available for trade.

David Melendi recaps the FCL Mets’ season.

On This Date in Mets History

1986: The Mets lost the opening game of the World Series, 1-0 to the Red Sox. Ron Darling earned the loss despite seven scoreless innings, with one unearned run allowed.

2015: The Mets defeated the Cubs 4-1 in Game 2 of the NLCS. The win put the Mets ahead 2-0 in the series.

2024: The Mets defeated the Dodgers 12-6 in Game 5 of the NLCS to stay alive in the series. They still trailed the series 3-2.

Born on This Date: Kevin McGowan (1991), Yoenis Céspedes (1985), Garrett Olson (1983), Alex Cora (1975), Andy Hassler (1951).

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RHP Kevin Gausman (1-1, 2.38 ERA) vs. RHP Bryce Miller (1-0, 2.61 ERA)

Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 – T-Mobile Park – 3:08 PM PDT (6:08 PM EDT)

TV – FS1, FOX Deportes RADIO – ESPN Radio

The Blue Jays’ offense strafed Seattle’s pitching staff once again in Game 4, scoring a total of eight runs and knocking Luis Castillo out of the game in the third inning en route to a 8-2 victory that tied the ALCS at 2-2. Andrés Giménez had yet another big day with two hits, including a two-run home run, and four RBIs while Vladimir Guerrero Jr. also went deep with a solo shot. Max Scherzer was effective in his playoff debut for Toronto, going 5 2/3 innings and giving up just two earned runs on four walks and three hits while striking out five batters.

Kevin Gausman will toe the rubber for the Blue Jays after allowing two earned runs across 5 2/3 frames in a Game 1 loss to the Mariners at Rogers Centre. Bryce Miller, on the other hand, defeated Gausman in that contest with six innings of one-run ball and will look to do so again as Seattle aims to leave T-Mobile Park with at least one win after falling in each of the last two.

John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images

BLUE JAYS LINEUP

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

MARINERS LINEUP

1. Julio Rodríguez – CF
2. Cal Raleigh – C
3. Jorge Polanco – DH
4. Josh Naylor – 1B
5. Randy Arozarena – LF
6. Eugenio Suárez – 3B
7. J.P. Crawford – SS
8. Dominic Canzone – RF
9. Leo Rivas – 2B

GAME NOTES

• Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters that Trey Yesavage will start Game 6 in Toronto. The rookie right-hander allowed five earned runs over four innings in the club’s Game 2 loss to the Mariners.
• Julio Rodríguez is batting leadoff for the first time this postseason as Seattle looks to kickstart its offense after scoring a combined six runs over the last two games.

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RHP Max Scherzer (0-0,-,– ERA) vs. Luis Castillo (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 – T-Mobile Park – 5:33 PM PDT (8:33 PM EDT)

TV – FS1, FOX Deportes RADIO – ESPN Radio

The Blue Jays’ offense came to life on Wednesday, banging out 13 runs on 18 hits (including five home runs) to earn a 13-4 victory over the Mariners. Eight of the nine Toronto starters recorded at least one hit, including three-hit efforts from George Springer and Andrés Giménez, and a four-hit night from Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who was a triple shy of the cycle. Seattle still holds a 2-1 series lead entering Thursday’s action.

Max Scherzer will make his first start of the postseason for Toronto – the 31st playoff appearance of his career. Scherzer struggled down the stretch for the Blue Jays, posting a 10.20 ERA in September and a 5.19 overall mark for the season. He takes on Luis Castillo, who earned the win in Game 5 of the ALDS against the Tigers with 1 1/3 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. Castillo started Game 2 of the ALDS, allowing just one hit over 4 2/3 shutout innings, though he also issued four walks.

Blue Jays Lineup

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

Mariners Lineup

1. Randy Arozarena – LF
2. Cal Raleigh – C
3. Julio Rodríguez – CF
4. Jorge Polanco – DH
5. Josh Naylor – 1B
6. Eugenio Suárez – 3B
7. Dominic Canzone – RF
8. J.P. Crawford – SS
9. Leo Rivas – 2B

Game Notes

• Bryce Miller will start Game 5 for the Mariners, manager Dan Wilson said. Bryan Woo will pitch out of the bullpen at least for the remainder of the ALCS.
• The Blue Jays are removing Anthony Santander from their ALCS roster and replacing him with Joey Loperfido. Santander was scratched from Monday’s lineup due to a sore back, then was removed in the middle of Game 3 for a defensive replacement. Santander’s season is over.

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The Mariners took a 2-0 series lead when they crushed the Blue Jays on Monday by a 10-3 score in Toronto. Julio Rodríguez, Jorge Polanco and Josh Naylor all homered for Seattle, and they got six scoreless innings from their bullpen.

Both Shane Bieber and George Kirby will be making their LCS debuts. Bieber lasted only 2 2/3 innings in his previous start this postseason. Kirby has gone five innings in both of his postseason starts this year and has struck out 14 in that span.

Blue Jays Lineup

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

Mariners Lineup

1. Randy Arozarena – LF
2. Cal Raleigh – C
3. Julio Rodríguez – CF
4. Jorge Polanco – 2B
5. Josh Naylor – 1B
6. Eugenio Suarez – 3B
7. Dominic Canzone – DH
8. Victor Robles – RF
9. J.P. Crawford – SS

Game Notes

The Mariners have never been a win away from the World Series.

Teams to take a 3-0 lead in a best-of-seven Postseason series have gone on to win the series 40 of 41 times (97.6%).

Thankfully, Doug Eddings will not be behind the plate tonight.

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The Mariners defeated the Tigers in the 15-inning winner-take-all Game 5 on Friday night to advance to the ALCS.

Tarik Skubal and George Kirby both pitched well as the starters before the bullpens took over in a grueling yet thrilling game. Jorge Polanco won it with a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 15th.

With their victory, the Mariners are headed to the ALCS and will face the Blue Jays with a trip to the World Series on the line.

Now, the Cubs and Brewers battle in their own Game 5 at 8:08 p.m. ET. Chances are this one won’t go 15 innings.

Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Latest MLB News

Per ESPN‘s Jorge Castillo, Cody Bellinger plans to opt out of his contract with the Yankees and become a free agent. Bellinger had a fantastic first season with the Yankees, recording 29 home runs, 98 RBIs and an .813 OPS. Bellinger also said he would “absolutely” be open to a return to the Bronx.

Per Sam Blum of The Athletic, the Angels are currently in talks with Albert Pujols about their open manager position. According to Blum, a meeting between Pujols and Angels GM Perry Minasian went well, and the two sides are discussing a contract.

MLB announced that Jose Iglesias is suspended for a game and Xander Bogaerts was fined for how they acted towards umpires following their exit in the Wild Card round.

After the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS, Miguel Rojas told Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation that he plans to retire after the 2026 season.

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com analyzes what Munetaka Murakami‘s market in MLB free agency might look like once he gets posted.

Nippon Professional Baseball released a new app, NPB+, which contains Trackman data such as max exit velocity and bat speed. This data was not previously public.

Latest on MMO

Jack Markowski writes about Eric Chavez‘s recent comments on Juan Soto and Carlos Mendoza.

Rafael González grades Francisco Lindor‘s 2025 season.

On the latest MMO Roundtable, we discuss what Pete Alonso‘s next contract will look like and who he will be playing for.

On This Date in Mets History

1969: The Mets played in their first World Series game in franchise history. New York lost Game 1 to the Baltimore Orioles, 4-1. Tom Seaver didn’t have his best game, allowing four runs over five innings. Al Weis recorded the team’s only RBI.

Born on This Date: Jenrry Mejía (1989), Ty Wigginton (1977), Orlando Hernández (1965), Charlie Williams (1947), Joe Ginsberg (1926).

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ALDS action continued on Tuesday, with the Mariners and Yankees both coming away with big wins.

The Mariners scraped together an 8‑4 win over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday to take a 2-1 series lead. Logan Gilbert allowed just one run over six innings and Jack Flaherty could not make it through four for Detroit. Cal Raleigh, Eugenio Suarez and J.P. Crawford each swatted a home run for Seattle.

The Yankees rallied for a 9‑6 win over the Blue Jays. They stayed alive in the series, still down 2-1. Trailing 6‑3 in the fourth, Aaron Judge launched a three-run homer off the foul pole to tie the game. An inning later, Jazz Chisholm Jr. added a solo homer to put New York ahead, and the Yankees never looked back.

All four division series are in action Wednesday.

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Latest Mets News

Right-handed reliever Wander Suero has elected free agency, per his MiLB.com transaction page. The 34-year-old was claimed off waivers by the Mets in September but never appeared in a major league game for the club.

Latest MLB News

Per MLB.com’s Tim Stebbins, Guardians players David Fry and Nick Enright are both set to undergo surgeries. Fry, 29, will have procedures to repair a deviated septum and fractured nose after being struck in the face by a 99 mph fastball from Tarik Skubal in September. Enright, 28, who previously overcame cancer, is scheduled to undergo Tommy John surgery in the coming weeks.

According to MLB.com’s Brian McTaggart, both Astros GM Dana Brown and manager Joe Espada are under contract through 2026 and will return next season, ending speculation about their futures.

Latest on MMO

Mathew Brownstein interviews former Mets and Yankees reliever Adam Ottavino.

Allison Waxman looks at projected Mets arbitration salaries for 2026.

On This Date in Mets History

1973: Following a hard slide into second base, a fight breaks out between Pete Rose and Bud Harrelson. The tension stems from Harrelson’s postgame remark after Jon Matlack’s two-hit shutout in Game 2, when he said that Matlack “made the Big Red Machine look like me hitting today.” The comment angered Rose and the Reds, leading to the confrontation.

Also, Rusty Staub becomes the first Met to have a multi-homer game in the postseason.

2000: Bobby Jones throws a one-hit shutout to send the Mets to the NLCS.

2022: Jacob deGrom strikes out eight batters over six innings in his final start with the Mets.

Born on This Date: Colin Holderman (1995).

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