The 2026 Major League Baseball season is underway, and it brings one question: Will anyone be able to dethrone the back-to-back champion Los Angeles Dodgers? The Scout sports staff has made their picks on who they think will win this year’s World Series.
Seattle Mariners
By Ethan Diamond
The Mariners enter 2026 as the clear favorites to win the American League. If not for manager Dan Wilson turning to Eduard Bazardo over one of the two best relievers in baseball in Andres Munoz, it would’ve been Seattle playing for the World Series last year, not the Blue Jays.
This team is loaded with pitching talent. Bryan Woo and Logan Gilbert are two bonafide aces. George Kirby, Bryce Miller and Luis Castillo complete what might be the best rotation in baseball when all are healthy and playing at their best. The lineup is formidable as well, with superstar center fielder Julio Rodriguez leading the way. Cal Raleigh hit 60 home runs last season and finished as the runner-up for AL MVP. The offseason addition of Brendan Donovan fills the second base void that was left by Jorge Polanco’s departure, and shortstop prospect Colt Emerson should find his way on the big league roster soon.
This team has all the talent in the world to prevent the Dodgers from three-peating; they just have to get over the hump. The Mariners have never made the World Series, but this is setting up to be the year Seattle finally lifts the Commissioner’s Trophy.
Toronto Blue Jays
By Jake Aimone
The 2026 World Series will look very familiar to the previous fall classic with one major difference: the Blue Jays will beat the Dodgers. Toronto was an inning away from dethroning the reigning champs but could not pull it out.
One of the biggest reasons why they reached that spot was their pitching staff. Nine times out of 10, good pitching beats good hitting in Major League Baseball.
So, what did the Blue Jays do in free agency? They added superstar pitcher Dylan Cease to their already stacked rotation, a staff that already includes veterans Kevin Gausman and Max Scherzer.
The Jays are also waiting on Trey Yesavage, Shane Bieber and Jose Berrios to return from injury to complete the crew. Once Toronto’s pitching staff reaches full strength, they easily have the ability to run the table once postseason play begins.
Not to mention, their offense is perfectly capable of backing up the defense on any given night. Sure, they lost Bo Bichette in free agency, but a trade deadline deal can instantly add another impact bat to their batting lineup putting this team over the top.
Los Angeles Dodgers
By Jaylen Harris
The Dodgers are probably winning the World Series again because, honestly, their team is just unfair. Their lineup is stacked top to bottom with stars who can hit for power, get on base and show up in big moments. On top of that, they always seem to have one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, which is huge when the playoffs come around.Former MVPs like Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman make them scary because they can completely take over a game at any moment. But what really separates the Dodgers is that they expect to win every year, they’ve built that kind of championship mindset and reputation. If they stay healthy and don’t beat themselves, it’s hard to see anyone stopping them. At this point, a Dodgers three-peat honestly wouldn’t even be surprising, it would just feel expected.
New York Yankees
By Cristina Solano
The New York Yankees have a strong case to win the World Series thanks to a powerful combination of elite talent and depth across their roster. Aaron Judge’s MVP level power and leadership anchors the lineup. Max Fried anchors the pitching staff as a dominant ace, while players like Anthony Volpe provide both production and defensive stability. With the combination of star power and depth, the Yankees are built for a deep post season run.
New York Mets
By Mark Wagner
When talking about groups with a plethora of talent, it’s hard to look past the New York Mets. Even after losing Edwin Diaz, Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo in the offseason, they still have a decent chance of winning the World Series.
On the batting side of things, Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor still play at such a high level. Bo Bichette was one of the most hyped free agents in the 2026 class and other additions like Luis Robert Jr. and Marcus Semien could thrive in the Mets’ system.
Their pitching isn’t anything to sniff at either with Freddy Peralta spearheading the rotation and Devin Williams adding a complimentary bullpen piece to the squad. And with prospects on both sides of the ball such as Carson Benge and Jonah Tong, the future is bright for baseball in the Big Apple, and it could lead to their first Commissioner’s Trophy in 40 years.
