There’s been a plethora of thrilling baseball action already, just one week into the 2026 MLB season.
Newcomers are commanding the conversation around the sport, having enjoyed outstanding inaugurations to their major league careers. Chase DeLauter and Munetaka Murakami etched their names in history by homering in each of their initial trio of major league games, making them merely the third and fourth rookies to ever achieve such a feat. Kevin McGonigle delivered an inaugural game with four hits, and JJ Wetherholt launched his initial big league long ball during his first appearance.
We’ve also observed reliever worries in the opening stages (particularly in Kansas City), an exhilarating first start on the mound from Shohei Ohtani, and an unexpected squad leading the standings in Miami; notably, no clubs have remained unvanquished in the first week of on-field action.
Is your preferred team experiencing a commanding beginning — and more significantly, can it endure? Or are you hoping the initial week’s outcomes don’t foreshadow what’s to come?
Our panel of specialists has categorized every team, drawing upon a blend of current observations and prior knowledge gleaned from the arduous 162-game campaign that defines a full baseball season. We also invited ESPN MLB experts Buster Olney, Alden Gonzalez and Bradford Doolittle to contribute an insight for all 30 teams.
Prior-to-season standings
Record: 4-2
Preseason ranking: 1
Roki Sasaki proved to be a catastrophe during spring practice, permitting 26 of the 52 opposing hitters he faced to get on base, 15 of whom achieved this through a base on balls. When he stepped onto the pitching rubber for his season opener Monday, numerous observers anticipated a dreadful performance. Yet, his performance was … adequate. Sasaki threw until the fifth frame and conceded only a single run and a pair of walks. It was by no means overpowering, but it was evidently a foundational step — an exceptionally crucial element, considering Sasaki’s admission of having “zero self-assurance” going into that start. The Dodgers have stated unequivocally that they’re going to afford Sasaki every chance to be a starter for them, but he must persist in demonstrating improvement. — Gonzalez
Record: 5-1
Preseason ranking: 3
The mound corps, with a 1.01 ERA across six games, possesses the capacity to become formidable by the conclusion of the campaign, provided the Yankees maintain favorable fortune regarding player health. They conceded only three scores in the initial four games, and Carlos Rodon and Gerrit Cole are steadily advancing in their recuperation processes following limb operations. Cole is slated to return early in June, and Rodon is expected back within the coming months (although he might be impeded by a degree of thigh muscle discomfort encountered recently). Luis Gil will assume the fifth position in the starting pitching lineup on April 10. The Yankees’ relief corps could be strengthened later in the year by surplus from the starting staff. — Olney
Record: 3-4
Preseason ranking: 2
The Mariners had earlier managed to conclude extended agreements with their two foundational players, center fielder Julio Rodriguez and catcher Cal Raleigh. Now they’ve enlisted an individual they anticipate will ascend to the major leagues shortly, inking a much-praised infield player, Colt Emerson, to an eight-year deal valued at least $95 million. Emerson, the Mariners’ first-round pick in 2023, has rapidly ascended through their farm system, attaining Triple-A status in the previous year. Sometime during the current campaign, he is expected to be their regular second or third baseman. In the ensuing year, he will likely take the place of J.P. Crawford at shortstop. More significantly, the Mariners persist in recruiting athletes who are projected to aid in prolonging their period of competitiveness. — Gonzalez
Record: 4-2
Preseason ranking: 4
The Blue Jays’ 2026 iteration is anticipated to exhibit enhanced defensive capabilities and greater adaptability than the 2025 team. Following the exit of Bo Bichette, Andres Gimenez is now firmly established as Toronto’s shortstop, with Ernie Clement at second — a pair of elite defensive players. The abundance of players for the outfield enables the 36-year-old George Springer to transition to nearly a full-time role as a designated hitter, with Daulton Varsho, Addison Barger, Jesus Sanchez, Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw handling the play in center field, right field, and left field. — Olney
Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: 6
The commencement of the previous season presented challenges intermittently for Juan Soto, following his unprecedented $765 million contract with the Mets. He had a positive tenure during his preceding single season with the Yankees, but at times with the Mets in 2025, he appeared to lack the usual enthusiasm witnessed in his initial seasons of play. But thus far in his second year, Soto appears utterly at ease and is performing characteristic Soto feats: He began the campaign by collecting nine base hits across his initial 26 plate appearances, for a .346 average and .414 on-base percentage. The 27-year-old requires merely five additional long balls to attain 250 for his professional journey. — Olney
Record: 5-1
Preseason ranking: 11
The media converged in advance on a chilly, overcast morning prior to the Brewers’ inaugural game to alarming information: Prominent outfielder Jackson Chourio was moved to the injured list after an MRI scan that showed a minor bone crack in his hand, sustained from being struck by a thrown ball during the World Baseball Classic. Undoubtedly unwelcome tidings, but not only is Chourio’s time away not anticipated to be lengthy, the Brewers, even in his absence, managed to achieve MLB-best offensive outputs across their initial handful of contests. Yet again, physical prowess appears to be central to Milwaukee’s offensive strategy, as the Brewers registered an average of over two stolen bases per match during the opening week. — Doolittle
Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: 5
Andrew Painter’s inaugural performance was nothing short of exceptional, with the towering right-handed pitcher clocking nearly 97 mph in his debut and precisely locating his off-speed offerings. Similar to other first-year players throughout the league, he performed with notable self-possession. “That is him,” texted David Dombrowski, the Phillies’ head of baseball operations. “He appears unflustered. However, an extremely competitive person. He internalizes that.” Painter might aid in prolonging the Phillies’ opportunity for a title. — Olney
Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: 7
A notable point of the Cubs’ inconsistent beginning was the inaugural appearance of the fresh right-handed pitcher, Edward Cabrera, at Wrigley Field. Cabrera stifled the Angels for half a dozen frames, keeping a rather potent lineup from scoring while allowing merely a single hit and registering five Ks. His four-seamer registered an average of 96.5 mph during his appearances and reached 98.1 mph, a vivid illustration of the type of essential supremacy Cabrera can bring to Chicago’s pitching corps. His performance rating of 74 stood as the sixth best
of his career. The Cubs are hoping for about 20-25 more performances of that caliber from Cabrera before the conclusion of the season. — Doolittle
Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: 8
In a season distinguished by thrilling new player introductions, the Tigers have already observed indications that their choice to include Kevin McGonigle from the start of camp was well-founded. Detroit fans have witnessed a player who, at a minimum, controls the strike area adeptly, battles through plate appearances, and exhibits a seasoned demeanor in critical situations. He also appeared just as at ease at shortstop, his primary position during his minor league tenure, and third base, where he had seldom featured prior to his major league call-up. Though merely a week has passed, yet McGonigle has shown why his arrival with the Tigers incited such considerable anticipation. — Doolittle
Record: 4-2
Preseason ranking: 10
Over the forthcoming weeks and months, Spencer Strider, Spencer Schwellenbach, and Hurston Waldrep might return to the Atlanta rotation. Until such time, the Braves will endeavor to manage with their current roster, hence the strong displays from Reynaldo Lopez and Bryce Elder were deemed highly significant. Lopez regained his pitching speed following a modification to his throwing motion, and Elder persists in pitching with greater force, a trend he exhibited towards the close of the prior season. The Braves anticipate Strider’s return from his abdominal strain in three to four weeks. — Olney
Record: 4-2
Preseason ranking: 14
The Rangers’ inaugural campaign with new skipper Skip Schumaker has commenced auspiciously. They have secured victory in four of their initial six contests, with veterans Jake Burger, Corey Seager, and Brandon Nimmo demonstrating proficiency at the plate, and two young pitchers in MacKenzie Gore and Jack Leiter delivering strong initial outings during their initial appearances in the pitching rotation. Though it’s still early, the atmosphere is positive. “We are enjoying ourselves,” Jacob deGrom told local reporters. “Skip has excelled in directing affairs thus far, and the players have been experiencing an enjoyable period. … One must appear daily prepared for play, yet also find enjoyment in the game.” — Gonzalez
Record: 1-5
Preseason ranking: 9
Boston manager Alex Cora has stated he will manage the abundance of outfielders and designated hitters he has, yet it will present challenges. Masataka Yoshida started at DH on Tuesday but has only accumulated eight plate appearances and remains without a hit across five contests. During Yoshida’s inclusion in the initial lineup, Jarren Duran was absent from play. Roman Anthony, who could be the top offensive performer for Boston, has participated in every match, as has Wilyer Abreu — a standout performer in this year’s global baseball tournament — and Ceddanne Rafaela, considered potentially the finest defensive center fielder in baseball. Provided this ensemble maintains its health, difficult decisions will be incumbent upon Cora. — Olney
Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: 12
Adley Rutschman’s batting output experienced a sharp downturn over the preceding two seasons, his OPS decreased from .809 in 2023 to .709 in 2024, followed by a further dip to .673 in the most recent season. Nevertheless, he has commenced 2026 with an impressive surge, an encouraging indicator for the Orioles, given he has gotten on base in six of his initial thirteen turns at bat. Initial indications suggest that the fresh manager Craig Albernaz intends to utilize Rutschman in a fashion akin to the Mariners’ deployment of Cal Raleigh, positioning him as catcher in the majority of contests — he commenced four of the Orioles’ initial five matches in the catching role — and as designated hitter on days when he is not catching. — Olney
Record: 5-2
Preseason ranking: 13
Lance McCullers Jr.’s inaugural outing of 2026 witnessed him pitch seven frames for the first time since September 2022, thereby ranking among the more remarkable narratives of the season’s initial week. McCullers was absent for the entirety of the 2023 and 2024 campaigns, subsequently managed a 6.51 ERA over 55⅓ frames — concurrently enduring four distinct periods on the disabled list — in 2025. Anticipating any significant contribution from him entering this year was challenging — yet, in his debut against the Red Sox, he registered 21 outs, conceded merely a single run, and fanned nine hitters. The Astros’ batting lineup has demonstrated strong performance recently. Should the Astros receive additional performances of this nature from McCullers, they could indeed contend for a postseason berth. — Gonzalez
Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: 18
Should the initial week serve as any barometer, Sal Stewart appears determined to demonstrate that his late-campaign display of power following his major league debut last season merely provided a glimpse of future prospects. He hit two home runs across the Reds’ initial several matches, yet more compelling was the comprehensiveness of a batting line that secured him the inaugural National League Player of the Week accolade for the season. Stewart compiled nine base hits across his initial five contests, coupled with six free passes, with both figures topping the NL within that timeframe. His free passes were counterbalanced by merely three swings and misses, indicating Stewart’s commencement is as much attributable to his strategy as it is to a period of strong performance. Similar to all rapidly emerging newcomers this season, the data set is limited. However, Stewart appears positioned to establish himself as the Reds’ primary first baseman for both current and future campaigns. — Doolittle
Record: 3-2
Preseason ranking: 15
Commend the Royals for not adhering rigidly to predetermined notions regarding the structure of their relief pitching staff, although the indicators concerning Carlos Estevez perhaps proved too concerning to disregard. Estevez maintained an average velocity of 96 mph with his four-seam fastball concurrently leading the American League with 42 saves during the prior season.
This spring, his pitches were registering within the 89-91 mph bracket, and during his initial regular-season outing, a chance to secure a save in Atlanta, he averaged 91, exhibited no control, and surrendered six runs, featuring a walk-off grand slam courtesy of Dominic Smith. At first, Estevez stayed on the active
roster in hopes of rebuilding his lost velocity, likely in a low-leverage role. Nevertheless, by Wednesday, a contused foot sent him to the injured list. Perhaps this hiatus will prove beneficial for him. — Doolittle
Record: 4-3
Preseason ranking: 20
The concise description for newcomer Chase DeLauter has consistently been along the lines of “sophisticated technique, excellent hitting abilities, thrilling potential for power, yet hampered by persistent ailments.” In his inaugural week of the MLB regular season, much of this has been evident, predominantly in a positive light. DeLauter blasted four home runs across Cleveland’s initial three contests, achieving this in a challenging stadium (T-Mobile Park) versus one of baseball’s premier pitching rotations (Seattle). Regrettably, the persistent injury issue resurfaced once more when DeLauter was forced to exit a game at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday, having fouled a ball against his foot. Radiographs returned clear, so there’s hope this won’t be a lasting concern. — Doolittle
Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: 21
In its initial matchups, Tampa Bay showcased a potentially formidable offensive unit, with Yandy Diaz, Jonathan Aranda, and Junior Caminero spearheading the effort as the Rays collectively hit .274. However, a particular worry is the early tactic by opposing teams to avoid Caminero, who slugged 45 home runs and recorded only 41 walks the previous season. Across his initial 19 plate appearances, merely 34.8% of pitches thrown to Caminero were within the strike zone, ranking him tied for the second-lowest proportion in the major leagues at that juncture. — Olney
Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: 19
The D-backs commenced their season with a sweep at the hands of the defending-champion Dodgers, which further underscored worries regarding their roster’s depth as the season approached. Nevertheless, they subsequently swept the Tigers, delivering a few encouraging displays. The initial one originated from Michael Soroka, the frequently-injured pitcher, who tallied 10 strikeouts over five shutout innings facing the Tigers on Monday. The second unfolded a day later, when Jose Fernandez was summoned from the minor leagues to replace an injured Pavin Smith, began at third base, and delivered a monumental performance, achieving 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and four RBIs, igniting the D-backs’ significant comeback victory. Prior to Fernandez, merely six players had ever hit two home runs in their major league inaugural games. — Gonzalez
Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: 16
The Padres commenced this season harboring significant worries about their starting rotation, and this initial week has done little to ease those anxieties. Nick Pivetta surrendered six runs on Opening Day; Walker Buehler, who exhibited considerable potential during spring training, managed to pitch only four innings; and German Marquez, acquired with the expectation of thriving outside Coors Field, registered only nine outs against a Giants lineup that had been struggling. The Padres possess one of baseball’s premier and most extensive bullpens, yet they cannot overburden it this early in the season. Pivetta is expected to be satisfactory, as demonstrated by his strong outing on Wednesday, and eventually Griffin Canning and Joe Musgrove will be able to join the pitching corps. However, Marquez and Buehler must find their form in the interim. — Gonzalez
Record: 5-1
Preseason ranking: 25
Prior to last year’s trade cut-off, several teams hesitated to commit substantial resources in acquiring Sandy Alcantara, uncertain if he would ever reclaim the Cy Young-level prowess he displayed earlier in his career. Yet, he pitched more effectively towards the close of last season, and his initial two starts this year proved stellar: Against the Rockies, Alcantara conceded only one unearned run through seven innings, and based on Statcast metrics, no batter made solid contact with a ball he threw. He then proceeded to hurl the season’s first complete game versus the White Sox, giving up merely three hits and fanning seven batters. — Olney
Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: 22
Although numerous teams, even those in a rebuilding phase, opted to commence the season with top-tier prospects on their squad, the Pirates chose to initiate Konnor Griffin’s journey with his inaugural experience in Triple-A. This choice garnered little debate, considering he is merely 19 years old and batted only .171 this spring, despite possessing formidable power. Indeed, Griffin seems resolute in ensuring his Triple-A stint is short-lived. Across his initial five contests for Indianapolis, Griffin boasts a 7-for-16 record, including five walks, three doubles, and three stolen bases. He likely won’t sustain an OPS of 1.196, but for how long can the Pirates delay calling him up if this pace continues? Speculation regarding a potential premature contract extension for Griffin could indicate a different outcome. — Doolittle
Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: 17
Anticipations for Tony Vitello’s transition from college coach to major league manager were unclear, yet we were certain it would be captivating. And this inaugural week unequivocally lived up to expectations. It commenced with the Giants tallying a single run over their initial three matchups versus the Yankees, a period during which Vitello, remarkably, attributed the struggles to his passionate address. It concluded with his squad securing two out of three victories against the divisional adversary Padres, a stretch where Vitello, for inexplicable reasons, invoked Kanye West. The paramount concern, however, is that the Giants’ offensive unit finally ignited on Tuesday, accumulating nine runs from 16 hits, and that Vitello appears to have established some stability. — Gonzalez
Record: 4-2
Preseason ranking: 26
Behold, another franchise whose initial week was largely consumed by enthusiasm for a fresh talent. For the Cardinals, the focus is JJ Wetherholt, who accounted for four runs batted in across his first five games, recorded merely three strikeouts in 23 plate appearances prior to two misses on Wednesday, and spearheaded all St. Louis batters in terms of win probability contribution. Wetherholt spearheaded an unexpected offensive unit that averaged almost five runs per contest during the Redbirds’ initial home series, achieving this with the second-lowest average age of hitters in baseball, trailing only Washington. The preliminary outcomes for the offensive aspect of St. Louis’s youth initiative are promising, and
Wetherholt is setting the pace. — Doolittle
Record: 1-5
Preseason ranking: 23
Undeniably, worries existed regarding their pitching staff, yet the A’s were anticipated to present a formidable, energetic batting order in 2026, a caliber many thought could propel them toward an improbable championship challenge. Given this backdrop, their initial performance was astonishing. Across their opening four matchups—all defeats—the Athletics’ hitting achieved a dismal .170/.222/.289 slash line, accumulating merely 11 runs and suffering an astonishing 57 strikeouts. While this represents an exceptionally limited data set, and a reversal of fortune is highly probable, it proved quite revealing nonetheless. “We won’t activate the alarm bells whatsoever,” stated A’s manager Mark Kotsay at the time. “Such periods are common throughout the season.” — Gonzalez
Record: 3-3
Preseason ranking: 29
Only a week into the season, this offers crucial perspective on the Nationals’ impressive offensive output thus far. To date, merely the Astros and Brewers have amassed more runs than Washington. Yet, what has proven even more astonishing is that the Nationals are accumulating these scores even with comparatively sluggish beginnings from James Wood, widely considered their top batter, who has fanned 12 times in his initial 27 plate appearances. CJ Abrams, across six contests, has recorded four base hits, a long ball, and a walk, while Daylen Lile, a second-round selection by the Nats in 2021, boasts an on-base plus slugging percentage just shy of 1.000. — Olney
Record: 1-4
Preseason ranking: 24
Following the Twins largely depleting their relief pitching staff through last season’s rapid succession of mid-season transactions, the bullpen personnel on this year’s squad was abundant with ambiguity. In the initial stages, it appears a valuable contributor could be a recognizable face: Taylor Rogers. It caused quite a surprise when the Twins traded Rogers and then-unheralded power hitter Brent Rooker to San Diego in exchange for Chris Paddock and Emilio Pagan, now the Reds’ closer, just prior to the 2022 Opening Day. Subsequently, Rogers has moved from San Diego to Milwaukee, then to San Francisco, Cincinnati, and finally to the northern district of Chicago.
Having returned to the Twins, he recorded immaculate frames in two early, less critical appearances. He’s deploying a cutter he had only previously trialed, thus it will be intriguing to observe if Rogers’ importance metric starts to ascend as manager Derek Shelton organizes Minnesota’s revamped relief squad. — Doolittle
Record: 3-4
Preseason ranking: 27
A considerable period has passed since Mike Trout’s peak form was last witnessed, yet the initial segment of this season has offered fleeting views of it. Trout has been swiping bags, earning free passes, launching dingers, and executing spectacular grabs in center field, bearing a strong resemblance to the enduring MVP contender from, indeed, seven years prior. Last season, he participated in 130 contests for the first occasion since 2019, but concluded with a mere .797 OPS and was restricted to being a designated hitter. During the recent offseason, he endeavored to restore his physique to a state suitable for a return to center field without placing undue strain on his knees, anticipating it might also bolster his offensive performance. It is still nascent, but he is observing the outcomes he desired up to this point. — Gonzalez
Record: 1-5
Preseason ranking: 28
As it’s prematurely soon to become alarmed about anything specific, even something as troubling as the abysmal initial statistics of the White Sox’s pitching corps, let us instead concentrate on a positive aspect: the validation of potential evident in Munetaka Murakami’s inaugural games. Murakami launched home runs in his initial three MLB contests, exhibiting the monumental power swing he showcased in Japan. He also garnered a fair number of bases on balls, enhancing his initial on-base percentage. This signifies a promising beginning for the focus of Chicago’s unexpected offseason spending spree. The imperative remains to observe how Murakami responds to the alterations hurlers will undoubtedly employ against him, yet he has demonstrated thus far that his potency is genuine. — Doolittle
Record: 2-4
Preseason ranking: 30
This might not be an entirely new notion, yet Paul DePodesta, the fresh president of baseball operations, holds the conviction that for the Rockies to harbor any prospect of competing, their offensive output must be exceptional – at least numerically, considering their home stadium’s characteristics. To date, this has occurred on a solitary occasion. The Rockies erupted for 14 scores in their fourth match of the campaign held in Toronto. However, in their remaining four contests, they have managed an average of merely two runs on seven base hits**. The initial home series of the season for the Rockies is approaching, where they will welcome the Phillies and Astros. Should their hitting prowess fail to revive, this campaign will rapidly become dismal. — Gonzalez