2026 MLB Predictions From the Lookout Landing Staff — and You

2026 MLB Predictions from the Lookout Landing Staff—and You

As spring training winds down and Opening Day approaches, the writers at Lookout Landing have once again put their reputations on the line with their bold predictions for the 2026 Major League Baseball season. From division winners to MVP candidates, the staff has weighed in on every major category, and this year they also invited the site's passionate readership to submit their own forecasts. The result is a comprehensive look at what fans and analysts alike expect from the upcoming campaign.

Among the staff picks, there was notable consensus on a few fronts. Several writers picked the Seattle Mariners to take a significant step forward this season, banking on a young core that has continued to develop and a front office that made key additions over the offseason. The American League West is expected to be one of the most competitive divisions in baseball, and the staff was split on whether the Mariners, Astros, or another contender would ultimately claim the crown. In the National League, the Dodgers and Braves once again featured prominently in most predictions as pennant favorites.

Reader predictions, collected through a poll on the site, offered some fascinating contrasts with the staff picks. While the writers leaned toward established contenders in many categories, the fan base showed a willingness to embrace dark-horse candidates and breakout performers. Several readers predicted surprise playoff appearances from rebuilding clubs and identified under-the-radar prospects as potential Rookie of the Year winners. The divergence between staff and fan picks highlighted the beautiful unpredictability that makes each new baseball season so compelling.

Of course, predictions are only as good as the games that follow, and baseball has a long history of defying even the most informed expectations. Last year's forecasts from the Lookout Landing team produced a mixed bag of triumphant calls and spectacular misses, a humbling reminder that 162 games can produce outcomes nobody saw coming. As the first pitch of the 2026 season draws near, staff and readers alike can agree on at least one thing: they cannot wait for baseball to begin.