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2026 MLB Power Rankings before Opening Day. Read the latest RotoBaller MLB power rankings reviewing the offseason and where each team stands for 2026.
With spring training in the books and Opening Day just hours away, it's time to update our power rankings.
Who is emerging as an early-season World Series? Who has fallen down our rankings after spring training?
Let's dive in!
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No. 30 - Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies remain the bottom team in our rankings. Last season, they won just 43 games, the worst in baseball, and did not make any major improvements during the offseason. On offense, they added infielder Willi Castro, who does bring some minor power upside to the lineup.
Their pitching rotation remains the worst in the sport as well. On Opening Day, the Rockies will likely turn to Kyle Freeland or Michael Lorenzen. Freeland posted a hefty 4.98 ERA last season across 162 2/3 innings.
No. 29 - Washington Nationals
Coming just above them are the Nationals. The Nationals were involved in one of the major trades this offseason as they sent their top pitcher, MacKenzie Gore, to the Texas Rangers in exchange for several high-end prospects. While this does improve their long-term future, they enter 2026 as the clear bottom club in the NL East.
Their lineup is headlined by two budding stars, James Wood and CJ Abrams, but their supporting cast is very weak. Their rotation is projected to be one of the worst in the sport, as they may turn to Josiah Gray to lead the staff on Opening Day.
In a surprising move, the Naitonals opted to send former top prospect Dylan Crews to Triple-A to begin the season. This will pave the way for breakout Daylen Lile to have a full-time role.
No. 28 - Los Angeles Angels
Despite sitting near the bottom of our list, the Angels do enter the campaign with a solid starting lineup. However, their pitching staff is projected to finish near the bottom of the sport. Future Hall of Famer Mike Trout headlines the lineup, but he is joined by budding stars Zach Neto and Jo Adell. Additionally, the Angels acquired outfielder Josh Lowe from the Rays to further bolster their depth.
However, in the rotation, the Angels will likely rely on Yusei Kikuchi to lead the charge with Grayson Rodriguez, Reid Detmers, Alek Manoah, and Jose Soriano slotting behind him. While all five of these pitches have shown potential at times, they have all battled lingering injuries during their careers.
No. 27 - Chicago White Sox
While the White Sox would have sat near the bottom at the start of most seasons in recent memory, they have begun to show major strides and appear to be emerging from their lengthy rebuild. On offense, they have several foundational pieces in place, such as young backstop Kyle Teel, shortstop Colston Montgomery, and second baseman Chase Meidroth. Additionally, top outfield prospect Braden Montgomery is on the way and could debut as early as the opening months of the campaign.
Their pitching staff is not as strong, but it does have a few solid options. Headlining the staff is right-hander Shane Smith, who turned in a solid 3.81 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP last summer. Additionally, top starting pitching prospect Noah Schultz could be in the mix to join the staff quite early in the first half. In the offseason, they also added a reliable closing option in Seranthony Dominguez.
They will be a bit shorthanded to begin the season with Kyle Teel on the IL due to a hamstring injury.
No. 26 - Minnesota Twins
The Twins are a difficult club to project in 2026. While they still have some competitive pieces on the roster, they are trending towards a retool and will likely send off a few of their remaining starting pitchers later in the campaign. Their rotation has several question marks, aside from ace Joe Ryan.
On offense, star center fielder Byron Buxton will look to turn in another dominant campaign as he is coming off a 35/24 season. Additionally, a name to watch is young second baseman Luke Keaschall. Keaschall flashed high upside during his limited taste of the majors last season and could become a key part of the retool.
No. 25 - St. Louis Cardinals
Like the Twins, the Cardinals are entering a transitional phase in their franchise’s history in 2026. With Nolan Arenado now shipped to Arizona and Brendan Donovan now in Seattle, the Cardinals are expected to provide their young hitters like Nolan Gorman, Jordan Walker, and even top prospect J.J. Wetherholt with a full-time role in 2026. While they may endure some growing pains, they have several young pieces who have all put together dominant minor league seasons.
Their main concerns lie on the pitching side. With Sonny Gray moving to Boston, they will have one of the most inexperienced pitching staffs in baseball that could be led by young right-hander Michael McGreevy or southpaw Matthew Liberatore. They will likely finish at the bottom of the NL Central.
JJ Wetherholt OPPO TACO 🌮💣
In 18 ABs this Spring JJ is slashing:
.278 AVG
2 HR
6 RBI
1 SB
7 BB
4 SO
1.091 OPSHe may already be the best player on the Cardinals roster. pic.twitter.com/1xtW6y1NYY
— Cardinals Talk (@theredbird_way) March 9, 2026
No. 24 - Tampa Bay Rays
The Rays had a down season in 2025 and are not expected to take much of a step forward in their return to Tropicana Field. On offense, all eyes will be on budding superstar Junior Caminero. The former top prospect smashed all expectations in his first full season in the majors as he launched an eye-catching 45 long balls. He will be joined by a solid lineup, consisting of young first baseman Jonathan Aranda and proven veterans like Yandy Diaz.
On the pitching side, they could enjoy some positive regression moving back to their old home, and more importantly, out of a minor league park. Right-hander Ryan Pepiot will headline the pitching staff, but if Shane McClanahan can return to his Cy Young-level of play after his nearly two-year absence, the Rays could become a sneaky Wild Card contender.
No. 23 - Miami Marlins
Another team that could make a push for a Wild Card is the Miami Marlins. In fact, the Marlins finished only four games out of a playoff spot last season and enter 2026 just as equipped to compete for a position. Even though they lost right-hander Edward Cabrera in a trade with the Cubs, they acquired top outfield prospect Owen Caissie, who is expected to take on a lead role. Caissie will join a lineup full of young, emerging players, including Jakob Marsee and Kyle Stowers.
Even without Cabrera and left-hander Ryan Weathers on the staff, the Marlins have two budding arms in their system who could make an immediate impact for this club in 2026: Robby Snelling and Thomas White. While Snelling appears poised for an early-season debut, White may not reach until the All-Star break after suffering an injury in camp. Additionally, they bolstered their bullpen by adding a true closer in Pete Fairbanks.
No. 22 - Pittsburgh Pirates
Coming in much higher than their typical spot are the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates had one of their more productive offseason in recent history as they brought in two reliable bats, in second baseman Brandon Lowe and first baseman Ryan O’Hearn. They will round out a relatively top-heavy lineup with Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz. Earlier this week, they remained productive and added designated hitter Marcell Ozuna.
The primary reason the Pirates hold this spot is their strong pitching staff. Reining NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes headlines the staff and will be joined by top prospect Bubba Chandler and a healthy Jared Jones. The sport’s top-ranked prospect, Konnor Griffin, could also make an impact much sooner than expected, even though he did not break camp with the MLB roster. Do not be surprised if this squad is in the Wild Card picture for most of the summer.
No. 21 - San Francisco Giants
The Giants have a tougher path competing in a potent NL West, but will sit just outside the top half in our ranking. Last season, the Giants finished 81-81 and are projected to finish in a similar position in 2026. In the offseason, the Giants made a few minor moves. They brought in second baseman Luis Arraez to round out their infield and added Tyler Mahle to the back half of their rotation.
Their success will be determined by Rafael Devers’ performance in his first “full” season in the Bay Area. With the Giants last season, Devers held a .236/.347/.460 line with 20 home runs over 90 contests.
No. 20 - Arizona Diamondbacks
Sitting just above them are their NL West rivals, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Arizona’s star power gives them the ever-so slight edge in our way-too-early rankings. Their lineup is headlined by two offensive superstars, Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. Last summer, they saw shortstop Geraldo Perdomo enjoy a breakout season and could become a strong No. 3 option in this offense going forward.
Their weakness lies in their pitching staff. Their top option is Merrill Kelly, who did turn in a solid 2025 season, posting a 3.52 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP, but could face some regression entering his age-37 season. Their bullpen could face some early-season struggles, but it will have reinforcements in the second half once A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez return from injuries.
While it appeared Corbin Carroll was in danger of missing the start of the season, he recently made his spring debut and remains on track to get the starting nod on Opening Day.
No. 19 - Texas Rangers
The Texas Rangers began their offseason by shipping second baseman Marcus Semien to the New York Mets in exchange for outfielder Brandon Nimmo. Later, they would acquire Washington Nationals ace MacKenzie Gore in exchange for several high-end prospects. Last season, they finished just outside the playoff picture, but should be in a strong position to contend in 2026.
Despite the disappointing season, they will run back a solid lineup led by Corey Seager and budding star Wyatt Langford. If Seager can stay on the field, this lineup could be dangerous. On the mound, their success will once again be determined by the health of future Hall of Famer Jacob deGrom. However, adding Gore will help ease his workload, especially early in the campaign.
No. 18 - Athletics
Sitting just above the Rangers is another AL West club, the Athletics. The Athletics finished just five games behind the Rangers in last year’s standings but appear poised to overtake them in 2026. Their lineup is quietly one of the most productive in the sport as it is headlined by breakout star Nick Kurtz, along with Tyler Soderstrom, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, and Jacob Wilson. In the offseason, they brought in a strong contact hitter, Jeff McNeil, to help set the table for these high-power bats.
On the bump, the Athletics will rely on Jeffrey Springs and Luis Severino to lead the rotation. However, last season, two of their young pitchers, Jacob Lopez and Luis Morales, showed solid upside and could develop into reliable No. 3/No. 4 options. Additionally, top pitching prospects Gage Jump and Jamie Arnold figure to compete for a spot by the All-Star break.
No. 17 - Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians were one of the most dominant clubs down the stretch, jumping the Tigers to claim the AL Central title. However, the Tigers would eventually cut their season short in the opening round of the postseason. Entering 2026, the Guardians will run back a very similar squad that is headlined by third baseman Jose Ramirez. Ramirez continues to age like fine wine, posting a .283/.360/.503 slash line with 30 home runs and 44 stolen bases. The Guardians will need their young hitters like C.J. Kayfus and Chase DeLauter to quickly find their footing for this squad to compete.
On the mound, Cleveland will have to look to a new ninth-inning option as Emmanuel Clase’s time in the MLB appears to be over following a gambling scandal. Fortunately, they have one of the sport’s top setup options in Cade Smith, who could push for a 30-save season this summer. Their rotation depth will also be tested, as they are likely to turn to young options like Parker Messick and Joey Cantillo on a weekly basis.
No. 16 - Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles were one of the most disappointing clubs in the 2025 season. After looking like a legit World Series contender for years to come, the O’s fell short of the postseason and finished the season with a 75-87 record. However, after a busy offseason, the Orioles should return to the playoffs in 2026.
Their main transaction was signing star first baseman Pete Alonso to a massive five-year, $155 million contract. He will join a potent lineup that has shown immense upside at times. However, Jordan Westburg is set to miss the start of the season, and Gunnar Henderson may miss out on Opening Day. Their pitching staff also welcomed former Rays pitcher Shane Baz and will see Kyle Bradish return to his role as the team’s ace, following a return from Tommy John surgery.
Bradish earned Cy Young votes back in 2023 and should be viewed as a sleeper for this award this season.
Kyle Bradish ends his day with a swinging strikeout on his 73rd and final pitch.
5 innings, 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strikeouts.
The Orioles' potential 2026 Opening Day starter dialed it up today and appears to be rounding into form with the season not too far away. pic.twitter.com/65lAbgyLaB
— Jake Rill (@JakeDRill) March 11, 2026
No. 15 - Cincinnati Reds
The Reds narrowly sneaked into the postseason last summer and will look to take the next step with their young squad. The centerpiece is shortstop Elly De La Cruz. De La Cruz is one of the most exciting players in the sport, due to his game-breaking speed (37 SBs last season) and high power (22 HRs). He will be joined by Eugenio Suarez and emerging corner infielder Sal Stewart, who is a sleeper pick for NL Rookie of the Year.
Their rotation could be even more productive this season with former top prospect Chase Burns taking the reins after a full offseason at the MLB level. Burns flashed elite strikeout potential during his first stint and could quickly establish himself as one of the game’s top pitchers.
However, they will be without ace Hunter Greene for nearly half the season, as he recently underwent elbow surgery which will test the depth of this rotation.
No. 14 - San Diego Padres
The Padres won 90 games last season but were unable to go on a lengthy playoff run as they fell to the Chicago Cubs in the opening round. Despite the early exit, the Padres remain legit contenders for the NL West and should give the Dodgers a strong fight for the division title. While they did not resign Ryan O’Hearn in free agency, they will bring back a strong offense with Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and a healthy Jackson Merrill. Merrill held an impressive .292/.326/.500 line as a rookie and would bring a massive spark to this club if he can return to that level of play.
Their pitching staff is a bit weaker than last season, but it still has some upside entering 2026. Michael King will likely serve as the ace with a strong No. 2 in Nick Pivetta sitting behind him. However, the main concern is Joe Musgrove's health. Musgrove is set to begin the year on the IL but could be a difference maker when he returns.
No. 13 - Kansas City Royals
The Royals posted a modest 82-80 record last season but enter the 2026 season with serious momentum and could be a breakout team. Superstar shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is the engine of this squad and will likely be a favorite to take home AL MVP honors. In 2025, Witt had a “down” year to his standards, posting a .295/.351/.501 line with 23 home runs and 38 stolen bases. However, the Royals' offense could be deeper than it has been in nearly a decade with the emergence of two top prospects, Jac Caglianone and Carter Jensen.
On the mound, they will welcome back a healthy Cole Ragans, who has serious sleeper appeal as an AL Cy Young favorite. In his limited 61 2/3 innings, the southpaw racked up an eye-catching 98 punchouts. The Royals also have several reliable high-leverage options that could be the difference in a competitive AL Central, including Carlos Estevez, newly acquired Matt Strahm, and top setup man Lucas Erceg.
No. 12 - Atlanta Braves
Like the Orioles, the Braves were another disappointing squad in 2025. Atlanta entered the season as a potential World Series contender but would miss the entire postseason. Their ace Spencer Strider stumbled in his return, and their budding right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach saw his season cut short by injury.
On offense, Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II were unable to find much consistency while Ronald Acuna Jr. slowly worked his way back from a torn ACL. However, with a full offseason, the Braves are poised to return to their previous form. Acuna is a legit MVP candidate when healthy, but their rotation could face some early-season struggles.
Spencer Strider is set to begin the season on the 15-day IL, and budding ace Spencer Schwellenbach is set to begin the season on the 60-day IL. Additionally, Chris Sale is also working his way from an injury-riddled campaign, but will likely be asked to take on a massive workload.
No. 11 - Houston Astros
The Astros won 87 games last season and are projected to remain in the AL playoff picture once again. Their offseason was relatively quiet outside of signing starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai to serve as the team’s No. 2 option, behind breakout right-hander Hunter Brown. On offense, they will run back a very similar squad, this time with Yordan Alvarez healthy.
Alvarez appeared in just 48 games last season, but when healthy, he is the driving force for this offense. In 2024, Alvarez posted an elite .308/.392/.567 slash line with 34 doubles and 35 home runs. A healthy Alvarez can bring this team to the 90-win mark.
No. 10 - Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies primary move in the offseason was to re-sign slugger Kyle Schwarber. Since joining the Phillies, Schwarber has hit at least 38 home runs in each season and has surpassed the 45-HR mark in all but one. Even though they missed out on signing infielder Bo Bichette, the Phillies are in a prime position to win the NL East once again.
A name to watch is top outfield prospect Justin Crawford. Crawford is projected to open the season as the team’s starting center fielder. Last season at Triple-A, Crawford showed elite contact skills, posting a .334 AVG with 46 stolen bases.
No. 9 - New York Mets
Their NL East rival will sit just above them on our power rankings. The Mets' offseason began in troubling fashion as they saw two franchise cornerstones, Pete Alonso and Edwin Diaz, sign with other clubs. However, the Mets quickly put together a strong team by adding Luis Robert Jr., Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, and Freddy Peralta.
The strength of this team could be in its pitching staff. Peralta will serve as the ace and is coming off his most dominant season in the majors, during which he posted a 2.70 ERA and 1.10 WHIP. The No. 2 option is one of the top breakout arms in the sport, Nolan McLean, who looked dominant in his first MLB stint, logging 48 innings to the tune of a 2.06 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP. Behind McLean, the Mets also have one of the top budding arms in the sport, Jonah Tong.
Francisco Lindor appeared to be in danger of missing Opening Day like Carroll, but is trending towards being cleared for the start of the regular season.
No. 8 - Chicago Cubs
The Cubs opted not to re-sign Kyle Tucker, but still brought in one of the top available hitters on the open market, Alex Bregman. Bregman will round out an already elite defensive infield that will provide a massive boost to the Chicago pitching staff. In the outfield, the Cubs will hope to see Pete Crow-Armstrong rekindle his first-half production and establish himself as a potential superstar in the game.
On the bump, the Cubs will once again turn to Shota Imanaga to lead the staff, but will have stronger depth than in recent seasons. In the second half of last summer, the Cubs saw rookie Cade Horton emerge as a viable SP3 and will likely see Justin Steele return from his elbow injury.
However, their offense may take an early dip with slugger Seiya Suzuki on the IL.
No. 7 - Milwaukee Brewers
The reigning NL Central Champions will take the next spot on our list. Despite the Brewers losing Freddy Peralta in the offseason, Milwaukee has a deep roster and is well-equipped to remain just as competitive as it was last season. Their pitching staff features many emerging arms, such as Logan Henderson and flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski. However, Henderson is dealing with "mild" elbow soreness, which could delay the start of his season.
On offense, 21-year-old Jackson Chourio will look to take the next step and push himself into superstar territory. Alongside him, the Brewers have some of the sport’s best pure hitters in Sal Frelick, Brice Turang, William Contreras, and Christian Yelich. While this squad does not have one bona fide “superstar,” they complement each other very well and will remain one of the NL’s top-scoring clubs.
No. 6 - Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have one of the strongest groups of emerging players in the entire sport. This young group is headlined by former top prospect Roman Anthony and ace Garrett Crochet. Anthony held his own during his first stint in the majors, posting a solid .292/.396/.463 slash line with eight home runs. Crochet, a 26-year-old southpaw, logged a career-high 205 1/3 innings and was one of the top arms in the sport, posting a 2.59 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, and a 255:46 K:BB.
Their rotation enters 2026 even deeper following the offseason acquisitions of Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez and the emergence of top prospects Payton Tolle and Connelly Early. Their lineup is also stronger heading into 2026 with the addition of first baseman Willson Contreras. Even though they are playing in the toughest division in the sport, the Red Sox are dark-horse World Series contenders.
No. 5 - Seattle Mariners
Leading off the top-5 will be the Seattle Mariners. The Mariners have one of the deepest rosters in the sport on both sides of the game. Their pitching staff is loaded with talent and headlined by Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby. Veteran Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller project to round out the rotation.
In high-leverage situations, they can turn to one of the top closers in the game, Anthony Munoz, and an elite setup option in Matt Brash. On offense, Seattle has two legit MVP candidates in catcher Cal Raleigh, who just put together the most dominant campaign by a backstop, and outfielder Julio Rodriguez. This team is built to win in 2026.
Cal Raleigh with home run #5️⃣0️⃣!#TridentsUppic.twitter.com/iiy22pg2DR
— RotoBaller MLB (@RotoBallerMLB) August 26, 2025
No. 4 - New York Yankees
The Yankees are nearly running back the same squad in 2026, but that does not drop them in our rankings. In 2025, the Yankees won 94 games and finished second in the AL East, due to a tiebreaker with the Blue Jays. The face of the franchise, Aaron Judge, will continue to do much of the heavy lifting. He is coming off his second-straight 50+ HR campaign and an AL MVP award.
While the pitching staff could be shorthanded early in the season, they are expected to welcome back Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon by May and their No. 3 starter, Clarke Schmidt, by the second half. The Yankees will also enjoy a full season of Cam Schittler, who struck out 84 hitters over his first 73 MLB innings last summer.
No. 3 - Detroit Tigers
The Tigers may boast the sport’s elite 1-2 punch at starting pitchers. In addition to having the game’s top arm, Tarik Skubal, who is coming off his second-straight Cy Young, the Tigers inked left-hander Framber Valdez to a contract earlier in February.
While their offense may not be as dominant on paper as the other teams in the top-5, they have several elite prospects on the way who could debut much sooner than expected. The name to watch is infielder Kevin McGonigle. Last summer, McGonigle held a .305/.408/.585 line through 88 games in the Detroit system and could provide an elite bat to this infield.
No. 2 - Toronto Blue Jays
The reigning AL Champions will hold the No. 2 spot on our list. After falling just short in Game 7 of the World Series, the Blue Jays put together an impressive offseason and are well-equipped to return to the Fall Classic.
Even after losing Bo Bichette, the team signed Dylan Cease to operate as the No. 2 starter while adding Kazuma Okamoto to add depth to the lineup. The success of this squad will be determined by young right-hander Trey Yesavage. Yesavage dominated in the postseason but will have a delayed start to the season due to a shoulder injury.
No. 1 - Los Angeles Dodgers
Of course, the reigning two-time World Series Champions stand as our way-too-early No. 1. After winning their second-straight World Series, the Dodgers were very active this offseason and made their roster even stronger by adding top closer Edwin Diaz and star outfielder Kyle Tucker.
The Dodgers enter 2026 with the best offense in the sport, highlighted by Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman. While their starting rotation has some injury concerns, especially with Blake Snell set to open the season on the injured list, they have ample depth and will likely represent the NL in the World Series once again.
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