FanGraphs Releases 2026 Staff Predictions
Opening Day 2026 arrived with a set of clear expectations from a 25-person staff poll. Filmogaz.com collected ballots from writers across its analytics and prospect desks. The results lay out projected division winners, wild-card teams, pennant favorites, and award frontrunners.
Staff and methodology
Twenty-five writers from Filmogaz.com and partner pages submitted ballots. Each filled out division, wild-card, seed, pennant, World Series, and award picks. The ballots are shown in sortable tables in the original release.
Playoff projections
American League
The Seattle Mariners were the clearest consensus in the AL West. They received 23 division votes and appeared on all 25 playoff ballots.
The Detroit Tigers dominated the AL Central vote with 18 division selections. The AL East was split among the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Yankees.
- AL West: Mariners (23 division votes), Rangers (1), Athletics (1).
- AL Central: Tigers (18), Royals (6), Guardians (1).
- AL East: Blue Jays (9), Red Sox (9), Yankees (6), Orioles (1).
National League
The Los Angeles Dodgers were nearly unanimous in the NL West. They earned 24 division votes and appeared on every playoff ballot.
The NL East favored the New York Mets, who collected 17 division votes. The NL Central split between the Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers.
- NL West: Dodgers (24), Padres (1).
- NL Central: Cubs (14), Brewers (9), Pirates (2).
- NL East: Mets (17), Phillies (8).
Seed and pennant snapshots
Staffers cast separate votes for the No. 1 and No. 2 playoff seeds in each league. The Dodgers and Mariners led the seed races.
| League | No. 1 Seed Votes | No. 2 Seed Votes |
|---|---|---|
| American League | Mariners 10; Tigers 5; Blue Jays 4; Red Sox 4; Orioles 1; Yankees 1 | Mariners 8; Yankees 5; Blue Jays 4; Red Sox 4; Tigers 4 |
| National League | Dodgers 23; Mets 1; Cubs 1 | Mets 12; Phillies 5; Cubs 4; Brewers 2; Padres 1; Dodgers 1 |
Pennant and World Series picks
For the American League pennant, the Mariners led with 10 votes. The Detroit Tigers followed with five.
In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers received 15 pennant votes. The New York Mets were second with five.
The most common World Series pairing was Seattle versus Los Angeles. Six writers favored that matchup.
| Outcome | Top Votes |
|---|---|
| AL Pennant | Mariners 10; Tigers 5; Blue Jays 4; Red Sox 4 |
| NL Pennant | Dodgers 15; Mets 5; Cubs 2; Phillies 2 |
| World Series Winner | Dodgers 9; Mariners 6; Blue Jays 3; Mets 3; Tigers 2 |
Individual award trends
Writers also submitted MVP, Cy Young, and Rookie of the Year ballots. Several names recurred across many ballots.
- American League MVP: Aaron Judge received strong support from multiple writers.
- American League Cy Young: Tarik Skubal emerged as a frequent top pick.
- National League MVP: Shohei Ohtani led many ballots in the NL category.
- National League Cy Young: Paul Skenes was a common choice among voters.
Rookie watch
Rookie ballots were dispersed among several prospects. Names that appeared multiple times included Nolan McLean and JJ Wetherholt. Kevin McGonigle also gained notable attention.
Filmogaz.com Releases 2026 Staff Predictions drew a mix of consensus and divided opinions. The poll provides a snapshot of early expectations for the season. Readers can compare these ballots to the unfolding results on the field.
