My Picks for the Division Winners

The season is off to somewhat of a difficult start.  First, and foremost, there is a major war going on in the world.  It has the potential to disrupt the season all together.  The conflict in Europe, South America, the Middle East, it can't be assumed that there won't be conflict here in the US.  It isn't the same world as it was in the 1940's.  

If war finds it's way to US soil this summer, the games may stop at some point and the '26 season may be discontinued.  I'm concerned about it but like the teams and the ball players, I am going to play on with the hope that in some way the global conflict is tempered down some, at least until football season.  If we are going to cancel a professional sports season due to global warfare, let it be football season.

Onto my picks for the NL divisions in 2026:

NL West - Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers enter the season as heavy favorites to win the NL West after repeating as World Series Champions in 2025. They spent a ridiculous number to sign free agent Kyle Tucker in the off season and are set to get a full season of starts from Shoehei Ohtani at the top of the rotation.  Edwin Diaz joins a stacked bullpen as a lock down closer.  At (-750) it's a bad bet but the Dodgers should win this division.  It won't be that easy, the Giants have a good team, and the Padres could once again challenge for the crown but I like the Dodgers to win while posting the best record in the National League, earning a first round bye in the playoffs.

NL Central - Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers won the division easily last season but for one reason or another entered the spring playing second fiddle to the Chicago Cubs.  Most outlets had the Cubs as favorites to win the division all off season.  Those numbers have already changed as we enter the second week of April, with the Cubs struggling some and the Reds, Pirates and the Brewers all out to fast starts.  I like the Brewers to win the division despite trading ace Freddy Peralta this off season.  The rotation isn't without it's issues.  There is a lot of risk in the pitching department but they have a great bullpen with some good arms in long relief.  They also added a pair of good young starters in Brandon Sproat and Kyle Harrison.  They have prospects to trade should they need to add at the trade deadline.  Offensively, this team can hit and manufacture runs as good as any team in MLB and they play excellent defense too.  It's a difficult division to win this season, the Pirates, Cubs and Reds are all playing to win in '26 but I like the Brewers as one of the best run teams in all of MLB.  

NL East - New York Mets

This division is sort of a mess.  The Braves are a steaming group with the Ronald Acuna Jr. contract issues and Jurickson Profar having been suspended for the entire regular season.  The Marlins traded away two of their starting pitchers before the season started and didn't get much in return.  The Nationals are currently 30th out of 30 teams in my power rankings and the Phillies have a very precarious pitching staff, lacking depth in both the rotation and the bullpen.  The Mets, by default to some degree, are the favorites.  They seemingly have the least issues and added substantially to last season's team this off season.  Impact bats Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr. and Marcus Semien all will start this year in Flushing Meadows.  They lost Edwin Diaz to free agency but they stacked the bullpen in retaliation and have good depth in the rotation, adding ace Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Brewers.  The Mets are loaded.  I like the Mets to win the NL East.

I wouldn't bet any of those teams.  I don't like the number on any team in the NL enough to make a futures bet but those are the teams I believe are the most likely to win their respective divisions this season.

Onto my picks for the AL divisions in 2026:

AL West - Seattle Mariners

This could be a tight race between the Seattle Mariners and the Houston Astros but the Astros have some weaknesses in the rotation and the Mariners have one of the best rotations in MLB.  That is what separates these two teams heading into the season and why I picked Seattle to win the AL West.  Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, Luis Castillo and George Kirby all could be recognized as aces and with the way Emerson Hancock has pitched early, you could say that the Mariners have five aces.  Injuries could derail them, they dont have signficant depth behind Hancock in the five but they do have a very good bullpen and its the best offensive group the Mariners have fielded in a decade.  I like Seattle to win and it is the only bet I like at (-105).

AL Central - Cleveland Guardians

Detroit is the favorite after adding ace Framber Valdez and Hall of Famer Justin Verlander in the off season to a pitching staff that returns aces Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize.  It is a formidable front four.  A good bullpen and a lineup that returns most everybody from the '25 team, the Tigers are in a good position this season but I like the Guardians.  The Guards won it last season with good pitching and this season, second year starters Slade Cecconi and Parker Messick join Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams and Joey Cantillo on a permanent basis.  Cecconi and Messick are the reasons I like Cleveland.  I think both are potential top of the rotation starters.  Logan Allen and Daniel Espino offer good depth behind their starting group.  The Guards have a good bullpen despite losing Emmanuel Clase and offensively, they added a pair of big boppers in veteran 1B Rhys Hoskins and rookie OF Chase DeLauter.  This kid has been mashing all spring and already has five homers on the season.  It's an offense that should score runs with Kyle Manzardo and Jose Rodriguez in the middle and one of the leagues best table setters, Stephen Kwan, leading off and playing centerfield.

AL East - New York Yankees

The Blue Jays did everything but resign Bo Bichette this off season.  The Orioles added Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward and three starting pitchers, the Red Sox made a plethora of trades to acquire pitchers and bats and the Yankees, they didn't do all that much but resign the guys they had on the team last season but I still like the Yanks to win a competitive AL East.  When Garrett Cole and Carlos Rodon return, they will have one of the best rotations in MLB.  They have the best OF in MLB with Judge, Grisham and Bellinger.  Ben Rice has turned into a really good hitter and Paul Goldschmidt is back to rake against lefties (and righties).  Volpe, Chisolm, McMahon and Wells offer some relief to opposing pitchers at the bottom of the Yankees lineup but its a good group top to bottom and the bullpen looked good this spring.  I like the Yankees to win the AL East.

Those are my picks.  The only bet I would make is Seattle to win the AL West at (-105).  All the other bets I have no interest in.  I think Seattle offers the best odds and is most likely to win their division.  They are the only team going off as true favorites, the only team at (-105) or better.  

I'm currently without a steady office and without internet so my posts aren't as consistent as Id like them to be but I get to a wifi connection once in a while and will be back later this week with my wild card picks and my World Series winner.  I also would like to put together a short post on my picks for Rookie of the Year, MVP and Cy Young.  

That's what I have planned for this week.  Next week, I'll try and post my updated power rankings and I have an idea for a new nightly article this season.  In addition to Today's Pick and the Postgame Report, I'd like to put together a nightly recap of the days games, highlighting outstanding player performances and trends across the league.  It is a tall order for a guy who doesn't have an office but I'll figure something out.

What is most important is the daily picks and developing my baseball wagering system somewhat further.  My primary goal is to make a pick everyday and to have a winning season in terms of my bankroll.  I'd like to double my bankroll.  Winning 25 units (+50%) would be nice (I won 29 units in '21).  If I win ten units, I'd be happy, a 20% return on my investment.  If I win one unit on the season, it's better than losing and I'll have gained another year of experience writing the game reports.  That is what makes it a winning season no matter how I fare with the bets, so it's a winning proposition for me just putting in the work and the effort.  

That's it for today.  I put in my work and made a plan and I'll hopefully be back with my World Series winner later this week.  

May the global warfare cease and peace prevail with a full season of MLB games in '26.   Lets go Brew Crew!  Let's go Rays!  Let's go White Sox!  Let's go Astros!  Let's go Yanks!  Let's go A's!  Let's go Rockies!  Let's go Guards!  

(Those are the teams I am rooting for as a fan this season.)  

Popular posts from this blog

Today's Pick: CIN (-165) over MIA

The Reds and the Marlins conclude a four game series at The Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, OH, it's a 4:10 CDT first pitch.  The Marlins took the first two games of the series but the Reds battled back in game three, winning 7-2 on another quality start from lefty Andrew Abbott.   It's lefty Nick Lodolo starting for the Reds this afternoon.  Lodolo has been prone to giving up the long ball and leads the league in hit batsman.  Oddly, he doesn't walk that many hitters.  Strikeouts are his game, he has averaged nearly a strikeout per inning this season.  It's Lodolo's last start before the All Star break, he'll be charged up and should let it rip today.   Cal Quantrill starts for Miami.  I like Cal Quantrill.  He has pitched well this season and should be under consideration for a trade at the end of July.  Miami's management has been closely watching his pitch count and does everything in their power to keep him from get...
Read more

Today's Pick: A 2 Team Parlay

I have 1.56 units in play after yesterday's quasi-disappointment.   I'm going to rack a unit, and play a two team parlay tonight.  I've been stuck on 32 units banked for two weeks now.   I can't stand the number 32.  It has everything to do with Magic Johnson.  I don't like magic and I don't like Johnson.   Anyhow, now that we have 33 units in the bank, I feel better. Jose Canseco wore number 33.  Still one of my favorite players of all time.   No analysis today, I'm just making a pick.  My season for the most part is over.  I have 0.56 units in play, 4.0 units in my account, and 33 units in the bank.   The pick is a parlay on the Astros (-350) ML / Blue Jays (-175) ML for a (+105) payout. I like the pick.  Im happy with the plus money.  Have to win them both to cash a ticket but I like the play.   Today's Pick:  PAR:  TOR (-180) ML / HOU (-350) ML over Units in Play:  0.56...
Read more

Wednesday, August 6th: No Pick Today

No pick today, there isn't much on the board that I liked.  I didn't dig into any games but the Giants and the Pirates early this morning.  I liked the Giants but they don't hit left handed pitching all that well and Pirates had a well rested bullpen.  The Giants won that game 4-2.   I had thought about putting on my three dogs play with the Rangers, Reds and the Royals.  The Reds are down 6-0.  That would have been a loser.   There are some games later this afternoon and some late games too but I am going to take a pass on the action today and see if I can find a good spot tomorrow.   I'm sitting at 5.36 units in play and have a four game Pickstreak on the line.  We'll look to make it five in a row tomorrow.  
Read more