With major league teams reporting to Spring Training this week, it\u2019s a good time to ask the biggest questions for postseason contenders in 2026.<\/p>\n
Toronto Blue Jays<\/h3>\n
Can Trey Yesavage be that effective again over the entire season?<\/strong><\/p>\n Yesavage famously shot up the Jays\u2019 minor-league system in 2025, ascending from Class A to the World Series. He had an 11-strikeout and a 12-strikeout performance in the postseason, but he\u2019s still just nine appearances into his major league career.<\/p>\n Toronto has significant question marks across the rest of the pitching staff, but many of them can be papered over if Yesavage delivers a great first full season.<\/p>\n Will ace Gerrit Cole regain his Cy Young form?<\/strong><\/p>\n They have one of the deeper starting rotations in the league \u2014 one that can override questions about their position players and bullpen.<\/p>\n But the only way they\u2019ll win the World Series for the first time in 17 years is if Cole is pitching like an ace in October at age 35, coming off Tommy John surgery.<\/p>\n Will the offense score enough runs to make this a playoff team?<\/strong><\/p>\n The front office had a tough offseason, letting go of Alex Bregman and adding more starting pitching when bolstering the lineup seemed prudent.<\/p>\n They will have Roman Anthony for a full season<\/a>, and Willson Contreras will help. But they\u2019ll also need Trevor Story to repeat his renaissance season and several other hitters to perform at higher percentiles than they did in \u201925.<\/p>\n Did they add enough pitching?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/section>\n Pete Alonso and Taylor Ward can slug, but the O\u2019s had deeper needs on the pitching staff, particularly in the rotation.<\/p>\n They flirted with free-agent left-hander Framber Vald\u00e9z but bowed out of the bidding. They did make an intriguing trade for right-hander Shane Baz, though he\u2019s still a reclamation project.<\/p>\n Otherwise, the Orioles are rolling with the starters they had at the end of \u201925. It\u2019s all too risky.<\/p>\n Are they still a hitter or two short?<\/strong><\/p>\n They added Brendan Donovan to play third base (or possibly second), which is fine \u2014 but still leaves something to be desired for an offense that finished 10th in runs scored.<\/p>\n The M\u2019s should make the playoffs again if the starting pitchers repeat their \u201925 performance, but they won\u2019t make the World Series without better batting.<\/p>\n Was not addressing the lineup an offseason mistake?<\/strong><\/p>\n They waited out Vald\u00e9z and old pal Justin Verlander before making late moves to improve the rotation.<\/p>\n But everyone remembers Detroit\u2019s infuriating inability to score runs in the postseason.<\/p>\n They essentially have the same lineup again.<\/p>\n Who is the real Pete Crow-Armstrong?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/section>\n <\/p>\n A fantastic breakout season faded late when he hit .216\/.262\/.372 in the second half, followed by 12 strikeouts in 29 postseason plate appearances.<\/p>\n What if Crow-Armstrong\u2019s fade is a harbinger of bigger struggles?<\/p>\n Can Shohei Ohtani win NL MVP and Cy Young in the same season?<\/strong><\/p>\n Being the best hitter and pitcher in the league simultaneously is about the only thing Ohtani hasn\u2019t accomplished yet.<\/p>\n He\u2019s far enough removed from Tommy John surgery<\/a> that he won\u2019t be restricted in his innings.<\/p>\n This may be his best chance to do it.<\/p>\n Even with so many new faces, did they change enough of them?<\/strong><\/p>\n They have at least five new hitters in the lineup: Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert and rookie Carson Benge.<\/p>\n Freddy Peralta joins the starting rotation, and Devin Williams plus Luke Weaver headline a revamped bullpen.<\/p>\n But with Alonso gone and Francisco Lindor now dealing with a hamate injury, the Mets don\u2019t feel like locks to make the playoffs coming off 83 wins.<\/p>\n How much better can Jackson Chourio get?<\/strong><\/p>\n They proved they can make the postseason with a deep roster of solid players.<\/p>\n But to become true World Series contenders \u2014 assuming that\u2019s ownership\u2019s goal \u2014 someone like Chourio needs to make the leap from good to great.<\/p>\n He may have the best chance on the roster to become a postseason difference-maker, along with right-hander Jacob Misiorowski.<\/p>\n Will they hit enough after the top of the order?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/section>\n Team president Dave Dombrowski irritated Bryce Harper by implying he was diminished as a hitter \u2014 and it wasn\u2019t Harper\u2019s best season.<\/p>\n But he was still one of the three best bats in the lineup, along with Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner.<\/p>\n The real issue was the rest of the lineup, and aside from adding Adolis Garc\u00eda, it wasn\u2019t significantly addressed.<\/p>\n Are they about to tear up the roster?<\/strong><\/p>\n Manny Machado\u2019s salary is set to spike, and Fernando Tat\u00eds Jr.\u2019s production hasn\u2019t fully rebounded since his PED suspension in \u201922.<\/p>\n That\u2019s a lot of resources tied to two players on a roster that may have already peaked.<\/p>\n They\u2019ve also struggled to find managerial stability, and it\u2019s the final season of A.J. Preller\u2019s contract.<\/p>\n Can Su\u00e1rez hit 60 home runs playing 81 games in Cincy?<\/strong><\/p>\n He finished with 49 in \u201925 and now returns to one of the most homer-friendly parks in baseball.<\/p>\n Why does anybody pitch to Jos\u00e9 Ram\u00edrez?<\/strong><\/p>\n A couple of young hitters appear to be developing, but no one else in the lineup is particularly menacing.<\/p>\nNew York Yankees<\/h3>\n
Boston Red Sox<\/h3>\n
Baltimore Orioles<\/h3>\n
Sep 27, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA; New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso (20) celebrates his solo home run against the Miami Marlins in the third inning at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Seattle Mariners<\/h3>\n
Detroit Tigers<\/h3>\n
Chicago Cubs<\/h3>\n
Aug 28, 2025; San Francisco, California, USA; Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) reacts after striking out during the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Los Angeles Dodgers<\/h3>\n
New York Mets<\/h3>\n
Milwaukee Brewers<\/h3>\n
Philadelphia Phillies<\/h3>\n
Jul 30, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (3) at bat during a game against the Chicago White Sox at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Patrick Gorski-Imagn Images <\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
San Diego Padres<\/h3>\n
Cincinnati Reds<\/h3>\n
Cleveland Guardians<\/h3>\n