Compare and Contrast: 2026 MLB Division Winner Predictions
Comparing Division winners using FanGraphs
In my previous story, I shared my predictions with everyone on which teams will clinch playoff berths in 2026 and highlighted what Fangraphs has chosen. I'll have a link to that story at the end of this story. Right now, I'll be going over what Fangraphs and I have chosen as division winners. The following odds by percentages that Fangraphs provided are as of February 3, 2026. Then, I'll offer a summary of our picks.
Wesley's Division Picks
- Toronto Blue Jays
- Detroit Tigers
- Seattle Mariners
- New York Mets
- Milwaukee Brewers
- San Diego Padres
Fangraphs Division Picks
- New York Yankees (30.8%)
- Detroit Tigers (46%)
- Seattle Mariners (59%)
- Atlanta Braves (47.1%)
- Chicago Cubs (44.3%)
- The Team That Will Not Be Mentioned (94.1%)
Wesley's Division Picks Summary
The Blue Jays, Mariners, and Tigers definitely have Postseason potential. After a spectacular 2025 season, the Mariners are eager to repeat as American West champions, despite Cal Raleigh being robbed of the AL MVP award from Aaron Judge, completely overlooking the kind of season he had last season. More on the Yankees in a bit. Despite their questionable, controversial offseason moves, I believe that the Mets will win the National League East, despite their second half collapse in 2025 after leading the division at the beginning of the season. As crazy as it sounds, the Mets deserve to try again to maintain and actually hold the division lead. Finally, the San Diego Padres will need to do everything to finally snap the decade-long division streak of "The Team That Will Not Be Mentioned." Many people know who I'm referring to. I'll explain that part right now.
Fangraphs Division Picks Summary
If you've been reading my stories on Vocal about a specific team that I heavily have a huge dislike of, you know exactly who I'm talking about. For those that don't know, it's not the Yankees. It's a team that I've been writing stories about on here for the past year. Let's just say that they're a yearly nuisance and the most hated team and will be for a long time. I would mention them by name, but it would be impolite for me to do so. The 94% chance to win their division says a lot about their selfish, entitled behavior. Also, it shows that they're preventing other teams in the National League West to win the division. There's nothing wrong with winning. It's the selfish mindset behind it. The gatekeeping of Japanese players from other teams, their toxic fanbase, and unwillingness to tone down their entitled behavior are some of the reasons why I dislike this team. Last I checked, there are 29 other teams in MLB. It's not just them and everything doesn't revolve around them. Also, everything doesn't revolve around that player from that team, whom I won't name, but y'all know who I'm referring to. If a lockout were to occur, this team would be to blame for their excessive spending on players and ruining baseball. I've also accused MLB of being heavily biased towards them and making 90-95% of their social media posts about them or them being mentioned in any capacity. They're not building a legacy; they're buying one and I see through the BS. We don't need them pushing their agenda (not a political one) on everyone. Going back to the Yankees: I've accused MLB of also making their social media posts all about them. Just what I've said about that other team: it's not always about them. The Yankees will never win a World Series, as long as Boone is manager. Aaron Judge will never win a ring and will end up becoming the Dan Marino of baseball. He's overrated, entitled, a joke, and also stole an award from Cal Raleigh. Those are the reasons why I hate him for the second time, but this time, it was for good. The Yankees are always one and done in the playoffs and people still believe in them. It's both laughable and ridiculous. Just like the team I've mentioned earlier, the Yankees are and will always be a joke. We also don't want the Yankees to push their unnecessary agenda (again, not political) down everyone's throats.
In closing, there's definitely a lot of East Coast-West Coast bias in Major League Baseball and MLB's social media posts says it all. This league plays favorites and whoever is managing their social media pages should be fired. I also accused the All-Star Game of showing favoritism towards certain players instead of selecting them based on their individual stats. The voting process needs to be changed to avoid any unfair bias. In the American League West, I have no problem with the Mariners for having a 59% chance to win the division again, because I enjoyed watching them last season, especially Cal Raleigh's record-breaking year. However, I need to call out Fangraphs for giving my beloved Rangers low percentages. I called them out soon after the Rangers won their first World Series title, ranking them the 12th best team in the league and ninth in the American League, which caused major backlash. The Rangers worked their asses off for that World Series title and yet, they were still disrespected. As far as Fangraphs prediction for the Rangers for the 2026 season, they have the Rangers finishing third yet again. Fangraphs has always been anti-Rangers and pro-Astros. Why are they constantly giving the Rangers most hated rival such high marks? I'll continue to use Fangraphs every year to compare my predictions to theirs, but they're not completely innocent. I see through their BS and will call them out if needed.
We need new teams in the 2026 MLB Postseason and also someone new to win the World Series. That team from California can't have everything and be on top of the world forever. I miss baseball when it wasn't full of entitled, overpaid, and egotistical jerks. Well, not all of them are. When it was actually enjoyable without full of advertisements everywhere, especially inside a ballpark. Baseball from the 80s and 90s were actually enjoyable to watch than today's game. Today's players are so entitled, have inflated egos, and overpaid. Plus, there's ads everywhere, from the player's jerseys to social media. Again, we need new teams to be in the playoffs this year and someone or more than one team who's bold enough to stop the team from California dead in their tracks, hoping that they'll finally shut their toxic fanbase up for once.
About the Creator
Mark Wesley Pritchard
You can call me Wesley. Former cosplayer, retro gaming fanatic, die-hard Texas Rangers fan, and nostalgic freak. Need I say more?
Threads: @misterwesleysworld
Instagram: @misterwesleysworld
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