The 2026 MLB season is just around the corner, and with the start of a new campaign come exciting new storylines. Which players will breakthrough onto the national stage, and who will stumble into regression? Only time will tell, but for the time being, we look ahead to forecast how this season will shape up.
#1. Nick Lodolo receives Cy Young votes
In the wake of Hunter Greene’s recent injury news, Cincinnati is searching for a new anchor in the rotation. My pick to fill that void and truly burst onto the national scene is Nick Lodolo.
The southpaw hasn’t always been considered elite; he struggled through 2023 and 2024, posting a 6.29 and 4.76 ERA, respectively. However, context is key—injuries limited him to just seven starts in 2023. Last year, the narrative finally shifted. Lodolo adjusted his mechanics and began to showcase the frontline talent he’s always possessed. After surpassing his career high with 156.2 innings in 2025, he recorded a stellar 3.33 ERA with an impressive 137 ERA+.
His early-career frustrations likely boiled down to bad luck. Excluding 2023, his FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) has consistently stayed below 4.00, suggesting that his results were often worse than his actual performance. I anticipate 2026 will be the year Lodolo fully breaks out and earns himself some serious Cy Young consideration.
#2. Ernie Clement’s clock strikes midnight
The 2025 postseason was one to remember for Ernie Clement. He was sensational throughout the Blue Jays’ World Series run, shattering the all-time postseason hits record with 30. On the field, he looked calm, poised, and perfectly at home in the heat of the moment. But as we look toward 2026, it’s important to remember who Ernie Clement actually is.
Clement made his debut back in 2021 with Cleveland, and if we exclude last season’s unexpected heroics, he has been a replacement-level player at best. There is a reason he has never completed a full 162-game season. His .977 OPS in October was more than 300 points above his career average—a massive outlier.
Furthermore, his .420 BABIP (Batting Average on Balls In Play) during that stretch confirms that he was incredibly lucky. While it was a joy to watch his incredible performance, history suggests we may never see a heater like that from him again.
#3. Mets miss the playoffs again
They have to be cursed, right?
The New York Mets seemed destined for their most successful season ever after breaking the bank for Juan Soto in 2025. By the midway point, they were the class of the league, cruising with a 45-24 record. But in typical Mets fashion, the floor didn’t just creak—it gave way. A disastrous 38-55 finish in the second half erased them from the playoff picture entirely.
As we look to 2026, the Mets are trying to amend for that collapse, but it won’t come easy. The clubhouse lost its heartbeat this winter as Edwin Díaz (Dodgers) and Pete Alonso (Orioles) walked in free agency. To fill the void, New York brought in Devin Williams and Jorge Polanco. While Williams was elite in Milwaukee, his recent struggles in the Bronx suggest he may not be the “sure thing” New York needs in the ninth. Likewise, Polanco’s revitalizing year in Seattle smells like a “contract year” fluke rather than a sustainable trend.
Then there’s Bo Bichette. Queens committed a staggering 3-year, $126M to move him to third base, yet he has looked uncomfortable and overmatched to begin Spring Training. In a division where the Phillies and Braves looked poised to compete, and a National League Wild Card race that is deeper than ever, I expect October baseball to once again skip New York.
#4. Mike Trout stays healthy and he shows out
Oh, how I wish I’m right with this one.
Mike Trout is widely considered one of the greatest to ever play the game. His only true weakness? Staying on the field. The Angels’ superstar hasn’t eclipsed 140 games in a season since 2017, and it’s even more depressing to realize he has failed to reach the 82-game mark in four separate seasons since then. But in 2026, I believe that trend finally breaks.
Trout managed to stay relatively active in 2025, appearing in 130 games—his most in six years. However, something looked off. The numbers tell the story of a player suffering with age and injuries: a .232/.359/.439 slash line with a .797 OPS. While those are “average” numbers by league standards, they were career lows for Trout. Yet, there is a silver lining—he proved his body could handle a starter’s workload again.
If Trout can stay healthy in 2026, I anticipate his production will skyrocket as his timing returns. We are undoubtedly witnessing the sunset of a generational legend, but one more elite, “vintage” Trout season is something the entire baseball world would cherish.
#5. Edward Cabrera will be Cubs ace
Get ready to know the name of Edward Cabrera in 2026.
Earlier this offseason, the Chicago Cubs announced a trade in which they were acquiring Edward Cabrera from the Marlins. While parting with a power prospect like Owen Caissie is a hard pill to swallow, the Cubs are betting that they’ve just landed a future ace.
A former top-100 prospect, Cabrera has always possessed elite velocity, but his command has remained the ultimate “if” factor. Since his debut in 2021, the scouting report has played out as expected: flashes of utter dominance overshadowed by a lack of control. A career 4.07 ERA and 4.45 FIP don’t usually inspire Cy Young talk, but a change of scenery—and coaching—could be just what he needs.
Enter Tommy Hottovy. Chicago’s pitching coach is now tasked with refining Cabrera’s mechanics and harnessing that triple-digit heat. If Hottovy can fix the control issues, we are looking at a pitcher with the raw talent to be one of the most dominant forces in the National League. In 2026, Edward Cabrera will be a household name.
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