MLB 2026 Picks & Predictions
Major League Baseball Regular Season 2026 - MLB Picks & Betting Predictions
It was another long offseason, but spring training and the World Baseball Classic are behind us, which means the new MLB regular season is here. Last year ended with the Los Angeles Dodgers winning their second straight World Series. However, every team started opening day in 2026 with a clean slate, so anything can happen.
Stake is among the top platforms for betting on baseball throughout the entire season. However, to make sure you’re ready for all of the baseball action, we recommend you learn how to bet on baseball and check out our sports betting guide first.
What is the MLB?
Baseball is America’s pastime, and it’s been played professionally since 1876, with the creation of the National League. In 1903, the National League and the American League combined to create Major League Baseball, which is the oldest professional sports league in North America. Since then, the culmination of every MLB season has been the World Series, a best-of-seven series that decides the best team.
Format and Structure
MLB currently has 30 baseball teams, 15 in the National League and 15 in the American League. Each league is split into three divisions of five teams each. During the regular season, each team plays 162 games. The 6 division winners and the top 3 non-division winners from each league qualify for the playoffs.
In each league, the three wild-card sides face off against each other and the lowest-performing division winner in the Wild Card Series. The winners of these fixtures will then face off against the two best division winners in the Division Series, before the two winners of these will compete for a pennant in the Championship Series, clinching their places in the World Series.
The World Series is the official name of the final of the MLB postseason. It is a best-of-four series of games between the two teams that qualify from the League Championships that decide the winner of each league.
History of MLB
The MLB is the oldest major professional sports league in North America and the pinnacle of baseball in the US. The sport of baseball expanded across the US during the 1860s due to soldiers playing the game in camps during the Civil War. The National Association of Base Ball Players (NABBP) was founded, and by 1967, it included more than 400 clubs, many of which were based in the Northeastern United States.
The first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings, was founded in 1869, but it wasn’t until 1876 that the first professional league was established. The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs, which would later become the National League, allowed professional teams to enforce player contracts. In addition, it meant that teams were required to play their full schedule rather than simply forfeiting games once they were no longer in the running of the league championship.
The early years of professional baseball were a difficult time, with rebellions from players and threats from rival leagues. This included the formation of the American League, which led to multiple legal disputes over player contracts.
However, in 1901, leaders of the National League and American League formed an agreement that would see the two leagues cooperate. The first-ever World Series, featuring the American League champions versus the National League champions, was held in 1903.
Past World Series Winners
There have been 25 different teams to win the World Series, with the New York Yankees the most successful side with 27 wins. The Los Angeles Dodgers are the reigning champs, winning the title in both 2024 and 2025. They will also be a strong choice to win for the third straight year in 2026. Here are the winners and losers of the last 10 editions, with the winner listed first.
2025: LA Dodgers 4 - 3 Toronto Blue Jays
2024: LA Dodgers 4 - 1 New York Yankees
2023: Texas Rangers 4 - 1 Arizona Diamondbacks
2022: Houston Astros 4 - 2 Philadelphia Phillies
2021: Atlanta Braves 4 - 2 Houston Astros
2020: LA Dodgers 4 - 2 Tampa Bay Rays
2019: Washington Nationals 4 - 3 Houston Astros
2018: Boston Red Sox 4 - 1 LA Dodgers
2017: Houston Astros 4 - 3 LA Dodgers
2016: Chicago Cubs 4 - 3 Cleveland Indians
MLB 2025 Season Recap
The 2025 MLB season featured some exceptional performances across both leagues and all six divisions. The regular season was incredibly balanced, as no team won more than 97 games. That was the Milwaukee Brewers’ win total, giving them the best record in baseball. Joining the Brewers in the National playoffs were the Phillies and Dodgers, who won the NL East and NL West, respectively, while the Cubs, Padres, and Reds qualified in a tight wild-card race.
In the American League, Canada’s Toronto Blue Jays, the Cleveland Guardians, and the Seattle Mariners topped the AL East, AL Central, and AL West, respectively. The Yankees, the Red Sox, and the Detroit Tigers qualified for the postseason as the best of the rest.
In terms of individual achievements, Shohei Ohtani won the National League MVP yet again, giving him four MVPs in his career. In the American League race, Aaron Judge edged out Cal Raleigh for MVP honors. The Cy Young was won by Paul Skenes in the National League, as he cemented himself as one of the game’s elite pitchers, and Tarik Skubal in the American League. Nick Kurtz also put his place in the history books by becoming the first rookie to hit four home runs in one game.
2025 World Series Recap
The 2025 World Series was among the most entertaining in recent memory. The Dodgers were heavily favored over the Blue Jays going into the series. But Toronto flipped the script by winning Game 1 at home and then taking 2 of the 3 games played at Dodger Stadium, giving the Blue Jays a 3-2 series lead.
However, the Dodgers won Game 6 to force a Game 7. The Blue Jays led the game late, just two outs from winning the World Series, only for Miguel Rojas to tie the game with a home run and force extra innings. Los Angeles went ahead in the top of the 11th and then forced a game-ending double-play with the potential winning runs on base to eke out a 5-4 win in Game 7, giving the Dodgers back-to-back world championships.
2026 MLB Regular Season Predictions
Over 162 games, anything can happen during the MLB regular season. Nevertheless, the Dodgers opened the 2026 campaign as the heavy favorites to repeat as the World Series champions for the third straight season. The Mariners, Yankees, and Blue Jays are also among the favorites in the American League, while the Phillies and Mets, who are fierce NL East rivals, appear to have the most championship potential in the National League.
Players & Teams to Watch
Heading into 2026, the Mets might be the most intriguing team to watch after undergoing a full overhaul of their lineup. They traded Jeff McNeil and Brandon Nimmo, while allowing Pete Alonso to sign with the Orioles, bringing in Jorge Polanco, Bo Bichette, Marcus Semien, and Luis Robert to replace them. New York also added ace Freddy Peralta in a trade with the Brewers.
The Red Sox also made some big waves, losing Alex Bregman in free agency but adding Sonny Gray and Ranger Suarez to their rotation. That should make the AL East even stronger in 2026, even though the Blue Jays also doubled down by adding Dylan Cease. The Detroit Tigers are also a team to watch, building on last season’s success by acquiring Framber Valdez to pair with Tarik Skubal.
Of course, the Dodgers are still the team to beat. Even with an abundance of talent already, Los Angeles added Kyle Tucker, arguably the best free agent available, and Edwin Diaz, one of MLB’s best closers. They are still the gold standard in baseball and the team to beat in 2026.
Types of Bets & How to Bet on Baseball
Betting on the 2026 MLB season at Stake is easy. All you have to do is make an account and ensure you have funds. From there, select baseball from the list of sports and get started. If you’re new to placing baseball bets, you can learn how to bet on baseball in our guides, including in our sports betting basics.
Once you’re ready to get started, there are a few types of MLB odds to keep in mind. There are betting lines for individual games, as well as futures bets based on win totals, division winners, and the World Series champion. Here are some of the common types of baseball bets you can find at Stake:
Winner/Moneyline Bet (Incl. Extra Innings)
Totals Betting (Incl. Extra Innings)
Handicap (Incl. Extra Innings)
Winner & Total (Incl. Extra Innings)
1st Inning – 1x2
1st Inning – Total
Game prop bets
Player props
MLB Betting Tips, Odds, & Strategies
It can be difficult to predict exactly how any given baseball game will unfold, but we've listed some top tips and tricks that you can use for a better betting experience.
Learn about odds: Understanding the odds of your selection is important when placing a bet on baseball. Check out our guides on reading odds and understanding the differences in American, fractional, and decimal odds to get started.
Use a bankroll strategy: If you’re looking to have a better grasp of your bankroll management, take a look at our guides for information on using strategies like the Kelly Criterion.
Do your research: Look at the stats and consider facts like who has home-field advantage before placing a bet. For example, a formidable team like Los Angeles will always be favoured when playing at Dodger Stadium.
Live Baseball Betting & Free Online Live Streaming
Keep up with all the live baseball betting action right here at Stake, including the MLB regular season, playoffs, and the All-Star Game.
Check out our live events and upcoming fixtures, and see which games are available to watch on our platform by looking for the live stream logo next to your chosen fixture. If you’re new to streaming sports at Stake, check out our guide to our free sports streaming before getting started.
You can then place bets in-match, with our guide to live betting v pre-match betting covering everything you need to know about betting in-play.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods for Betting on Baseball
Once you’re ready to start betting on baseball at Stake, all you need to do is log in to your account securely with a passkey before adding funds to play with. You can make deposits and withdrawals using both local currencies and our accepted cryptocurrencies.
Check out our local currency payment guide to learn how to use Canadian Dollars, Turkish Lira, Vietnamese Dong, Argentine Pesos, Chilean Pesos, Mexican Pesos, USD in Ecuador, Philippine Pesos,Ghanaian Cedi, Nigerian Naira, and Indian Rupees.
If you’re using crypto, you can choose from BTC, ETH, USDT, EOS, Doge, LTC, TRX, SOL, among others. Read our guide to choosing the right coin before selecting your option and buying your crypto at a crypto exchange platform like Moonpay , or Swapped.com . We also recommend using our integrated crypto payment systems such as Swap Connect and Mesh for seamless direct deposits.
Baseball Promotions, Stake VIP Benefits, & Responsible Betting
In addition to the best odds on the World Series, you can find some great sportsbook promotions right here at Stake. If you sign up to join our VIP program, you can find additional rewards and reach reward levels based on your staking history. This can include rakebacks and reloads, as well as access to special VIP hosts. To learn more, check out the VIP FAQs.
It is most important that you remember to always gamble responsibly and play within your means. See our Stake Smart guidelines for information on staying in control. Our monthly budget calculator and betting limit guide are also great tools to support you in creating healthier gambling habits.
