MLB 2026 Season Preview: World Series Favorites, Biggest Offseason Moves and Rule Changes
Written by: Danny Burke
Last Update: Tue Mar 24, 2026, 6:56 pm ET
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Opening Day in Major League Baseball is here and there is plenty to get ready for.
With a new season comes new contenders, star players changing teams, and even a few tweaks to the rulebook.
MLB 2026 Season Preview: World Series Favorites, Biggest Offseason Moves and Rule Changes
World Series Odds
Odds via Lucky Rebel
| Team | World Series Odds |
|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | +210 |
| New York Yankees | +1000 |
| Seattle Mariners | +1100 |
| New York Mets | +1250 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | +1300 |
| Boston Red Sox | +1600 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | +1600 |
| Atlanta Braves | +1900 |
| Chicago Cubs | +2000 |
| Baltimore Orioles | +2100 |
| Detroit Tigers | +2300 |
| Houston Astros | +2300 |
| San Diego Padres | +2800 |
| Texas Rangers | +2800 |
| Milwaukee Brewers | +3300 |
| Kansas City Royals | +3800 |
To no one's surprise, the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers are once again the clear favorites to win another ring. They return just about the same lineup from last year, but now add another stud in Kyle Tucker. He's coming off a great year on the North Side of Chicago and looks to help the Dodgers in their quest to go back-to-back.
A number of teams made impactful moves this offseason, with several contenders reshaping their rosters in a big way.
The Toronto Blue Jays made one of the biggest splashes, signing SP Dylan Cease to a seven-year deal, but lost key pieces in SS Bo Bichette (Mets) and SP Chris Bassitt (Orioles).
The Baltimore Orioles bolstered their lineup by signing 1B Pete Alonso to a five-year deal, while the Boston Red Sox added SP Ranger Suárez on a five-year contract and 3B Eugenio Suárez on a one-year deal, though they did lose 3B Alex Bregman to the Cubs.
Chicago was aggressive this offseason, landing 3B Alex Bregman on a five-year deal while also trading for SP Edward Cabrera and loading up the bullpen with multiple additions, including RPs Hunter Harvey, Shelby Miller and Jacob Webb.
The New York Mets were among the busiest teams, adding SS Bo Bichette (3-year deal), SP Freddy Peralta (trade), RP Devin Williams (3-year deal), OF Luis Robert Jr. (trade) and 2B Marcus Semien (trade). They also moved on from several notable pieces, including 1B Pete Alonso (Orioles) and RP Edwin Díaz (Dodgers).
Elsewhere, the Detroit Tigers signed SP Framber Valdez to a three-year deal, while the Philadelphia Phillies added OF Adolis García and RP Brad Keller, but lost SP Ranger Suárez, OF Harrison Bader and OF Nick Castellanos.
The Texas Rangers saw a significant roster shakeup, losing 2B Marcus Semien (Mets), OF Adolis García (Phillies) and SP Merrill Kelly (Diamondbacks), while the Atlanta Braves parted ways with DH Marcell Ozuna.
Other notable moves include the White Sox trading OF Luis Robert Jr. to the Mets, the Cardinals dealing multiple key players including 3B Nolan Arenado and SP Sonny Gray, and the Giants adding OF Harrison Bader, infielfer Luis Arraez, and starting pitchers Tyler Mahle and Adrian Houser.
MLB 2026 Rules Changes
MLB will introduce a new challenge system for balls and strikes during the 2026 season, giving players a limited ability to dispute calls at the plate.
Each team will begin the game with two challenges, and only the pitcher, catcher or hitter can initiate one immediately after a pitch by tapping their helmet or cap. The call is then reviewed in real time using a replay system, with the result shown on the broadcast and in the stadium.
If a team wins a challenge, it keeps it. Once it loses two, it's out of challenges for the rest of the game.
The system has been tested in the minors and during spring training, where results showed it's not as easy as it sounds. Just over half of all challenges were successful, with hitters getting calls overturned less often than pitchers and catchers.
This new challenge system will be fascinating to watch unfold and should help clean up some of the egregious calls we see so often behind the plate.
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Danny Burke is a betting analyst with a decade of sports media experience. He got his start at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sharing picks on the local ESPN affiliate. After college, he hosted shows for VSiN in Las Vegas before returning to Chicago to launch 'Rush Hour', the first daily sports betting show from an Illinois casino. He also co-hosted 'Props and Locks' on Fox32’s Bears pregame show and ran 'Bet On, Chicago' on WLS-AM 890.
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