In the National, the Dodgers go up another notch… which is frankly worrying for the rest of the circuit. On paper, they have everything to aim for a third consecutive championship. But be careful: the Padres and the Giants are not there to make up the numbers.
In the American, a question comes up: is this finally the year of the Mariners to go all the way? The Rangers won’t do them any favors, and the A’s could surprise. Meanwhile, the Astros are showing signs of running out of steam. Here are my impressions:
National League
Despite two straight titles, the Dodgers still had very specific needs: an impact outfielder and a reliever to close games. They fixed it… straight up. Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz fill these holes with authority. Result: an already dominant formation becomes practically complete. Barring a disaster scenario, Los Angeles should fly over the division.
On the Padres side, I have the feeling that we are about to see a signature season from Fernando Tatis Jr. At 27 years old, he is entering his prime and everything seems in place for an offensive explosion. Manny Machado remains a safe bet, and Jackson Merrill, if he stays healthy, could reach another level. The rotation is not elite, but it holds up. And with Adrián Morejón and Mason Miller to close the books, San Diego has the weapons to win more than 90 games once again.
The Giants began a new era with Buster Posey at the helm. There are positives, but also gray areas. The rotation lacks depth behind Logan Webb and some defensive decisions raise questions. The right side of the infield, with Luis Arraez and Rafael Devers, does not inspire much confidence, unlike the left side where Matt Chapman and Willy Adames form a solid duo. The addition of Harrison Bader to center field is a smart move, however. An intriguing team, but still incomplete.
In Arizona, it’s hard not to like the core formed by Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte. That said, the additions of Carlos Santana and Nolan Arenado are perplexing: they seem like temporary solutions more than real answers. The attack risks lacking power. The rotation is respectable, but the end of the match, with Paul Sewald and Taylor Clarke, is not completely reassuring. In short, a competitive team, but which will have to play almost perfect baseball to exceed 81 victories.
Finally, on the Colorado side, we are still rebuilding and repairing years of bad decisions. The arrival of Édouard Julien represents a great opportunity, both for the player and for the organization. But let’s be realistic: it will take time. The changes in management are encouraging, but the Rockies are off to a distant start. Patience will be key before we see this team play meaningful baseball again.
Projections :
- Dodgers – 96 wins
- Padres – 92 wins
- Giants – 87 wins
- D-Backs – 80 wins
- Rockies – 54 wins
American League
I really like the Mariners construction this year. We feel a team that is reaching maturity at the right time. The addition of Brendan Donovan is particularly interesting: an intelligent, versatile player who fits perfectly with Seattle’s identity. And when we look at the age of the core, it’s hard not to be optimistic. Donovan and Cal Raleigh are 29, Josh Naylor is 28, and Julio Rodríguez, at 25, is quickly approaching his prime.
On the mound, it’s even more convincing. Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo and George Kirby form a trio of starters in their prime. Same thing in relief with Andrés Muñoz and Matt Brash, both at 27 years old. Everything is in place: talent, maturity, stability. Honestly, this could be the year for Seattle.
On the Rangers side, we rely more on experience. The additions of Brandon Nimmo and Danny Jansen bring depth, but also some reliability. Wyatt Langford should continue his progression and produce well. On the other hand, some question marks remain. Are Joc Pederson and Jake Burger still able to produce up to par? And obviously, Corey Seager’s health remains a determining factor.
Same observation on the mound. Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom still have talent to spare, but at 36 and 37 years old, durability becomes a real issue. The Rangers will play clean, structured, very professional baseball. But is it enough to catch up with Seattle? I doubt it.
The A’s represent a fascinating case. A young, imperfect, but extremely entertaining team. Nick Kurtz, at just 23 years old, possesses impressive raw power. Around him, it is the youth who largely dominate. Jeff McNeil, at 34 years old, is almost a mentor in a locker room where the average age of position players is around 24-25 years old.
Obviously, this youth brings its share of inconstancy. And above all, it exposes a major problem: the lack of depth on the mound. Whether among starters or relief players, there are obvious limits. Result? Expect high-scoring games, often spectacular, but not always to the advantage of the A’s. A team that will get people talking, even if it won’t always be for the right reasons.
Among the Astros, we feel that the tide is starting to turn. It must be said frankly: the best years of José Altuve and Carlos Correa are probably behind them. That doesn’t mean they can’t contribute anymore, but they don’t carry the team like they used to.
Everything now rests on Yordan Álvarez. If he is healthy, the attack breathes. Otherwise, it quickly becomes ordinary. Young people like Cam Smith and Joey Loperfido will have a crucial role to play. But it is especially the loss of Framber Valdez which risks hurting. Hunter Brown is solid, but he can’t do everything alone. In relief, Bryan Abreu has talent, but I’m not convinced he’ll be dominant in a late-game role. In short, Houston remains competitive, but no longer has the same aura.
And then there are the Angels. A story that seems to repeat itself year after year. We look at Mike Trout, and we can’t help but wonder what he could accomplish elsewhere, in a more competitive environment. Despite everything, he remains the heart of this team.
There are still some interesting elements. Zach Neto and Logan O’Hoppe represent a young and promising core. The rotation remains similar, without major improvements, and attempts have been made to strengthen the bullpen with veterans like Kirby Yates, Drew Pomeranz and Jordan Romano. There was an urgent need to act, but will it be better than in 2025, with 837 points awarded last year? The Angels were among the worst teams in baseball in this regard.
Projections :
- Mariners – 94
- Rangers – 89
- A’s – 83
- Astros – 81
- Angels -76
Conclusion
These two Western divisions offer an intriguing mix of power and uncertainty. On one side are established powers like the Dodgers and, to some extent, the Mariners, who seem to be coming of age with all the pieces in place to dominate.
In the Nationals, the Padres and the Giants can make life difficult for the Dodgers. In the American, the Rangers remain threatening, while young teams like the A’s could confuse the issue.
And then, there are the teams in transition, Astros, Angels and Rockies which remind us that cycles go up, cycles go down, and yesterday’s decisions always end up catching up with today’s.
In short, even if certain trends are emerging, the West could have more of a turnaround in store for us.