In the tradition of the late, great MLB opening day parties once hosted by The Library Bar and The Bier Stube, Pencilstorm invites all baseball fans to join us at the new 14 Twenty Bar for drinks and free chilli dogs. The Reds are on at 4 pm and Guards at 10 pm. It all happens on Thursday, March 26th. 14 Twenty Bar is located near Grandview and was once the legendary Black Horse Inn.
Happy opening day! Here is a collection of my thoughts on each major league team. Mostly I'm just naming some guys I find interesting in one way or another. At the end see my postseason picks.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs
If he can stay healthy... and that is a big if, former Marlin Edward Cabrera will be a solid addition to the Cubbie staff.
Cincinnati Reds
I like the addition of Nathaniel Lowe. He had a forgettable 2025 for the Nats and Red Sox, but this guy knows how to get on base and has some pop.
Milwaukee Brewers
He's on the IL now, but I'm intrigued by what the Brewers got out of Pirates castoff Quinn Priester last season. The WHIP is still too high, but they may have found a serviceable arm in a guy who was a gas-can in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Pirates
There are few players more baffling than Oneil Cruz. Last May one of his dingers was clocked at over 122 miles per hour. That marks the hardest hit ball in the Statcast era. And yet.... His power numbers are as a whole are underwhelming to say the least. At age 27 and on an expiring deal he needs to crank it up. If it comes to that I can see the Pirates trading him.
St. Louis Cardinals
Strange to see the Cards in full rebuilding mode, but here we are. As I look at the roster, I find it difficult to find the player they're building around. If you're a fantasy player and find yourself lacking at catcher Ivan Herrera is a guy to keep an eye on. In some leagues including mine he's not eligible there yet. He's a good hitter though so if he can gain that position, he becomes way more valuable. That said, St. Louis sees his abilities behind the plate as very limited.
NL East
Atlanta Braves
Injuries destroyed their 2025, but I expect them to at least compete this season. A fun player to watch is 20-year-old pitcher Didier Fuentes. This kid throws gas and has no idea where the ball is going. That's always fun! He will start the year in the pen despite Spencer Strider's new injury.
Miami Marlins
Young catcher Agustin Ramirez hits the snot out of the ball and he'll be in the line up every day whether behind the plate (where perhaps he is ill-suited) and at DH (where he is very suited.) With a full season I'd expect 35 plus homers.
New York Mets
We're going to find out if Luis Robert was just bored playing on a terrible White Sox club, or if he still has something. With the loss of Pete Alonso, the Mets need the latter.
Philadelphia Phillies
Adolis Garcia looked washed in Texas with his power numbers taking a plunge in 24 and 25. If that pop is still in there somewhere the Phils will have gotten themselves a bargain. One thing we know about Garcia is he has a hose for an arm. Buyer beware though... what once were solid defensive metrics eroded the past two seasons as well.
Washington Nationals
CJ Abrams isn't a kid any longer. He's 25. The centerpiece of the Juan Soto deal with San Diego four years ago has a decent bat, but more was expected. His defense stinks so he needs to really start adding at the plate.
NL West
Arizona Diamondbacks
I caution against falling for spring training stats, but if there's one guy on this club that needed to show something it was former sixth overall pick Jordan Lawler. He has shown no pop... until this spring when he hit four home runs, upped his walk rate, and dropped his K rate, both by dramatic margins. I'm not ready to get excited, but I am intrigued.
Colorado Rockies
This is probably the worst team in baseball again. At one point in 2025 they were 9-50. They did improve in the second half, but woof... I don't see a path forward. Their top problem of course is they can't attract good free agent pitchers, and the ones they develop have their careers ruined. It's a mess. Their big free agent signing was utility man Willi Castro. If they win 50 games this year I'll be impressed.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Maybe I'm insane, but anointing the Dodgers as World Champs again is just assuming too much. This is baseball, anything can go wrong in the playoffs. Are they the favorite? Of course. LA is starting the season with a six-man rotation, but will that be enough to keep Tyler Glasnow (glass arm?) healthy? I don't know I'm picking nits here. Adding Kyle Tucker is not even fair.
San Diego Padres
Same old problem for SD. Namely they share a division with the Dodgers. One under the radar signing for the Friars was shellshocked former Rockies starter German Marquez. Not that many years ago he was decent... and that was in Denver. He still throws about as hard as he ever did. I'm curious if he can find something away from Coors.
San Francisco Giants
A full season of Rafael Devers is nice for the Giants. They'll need the best version of him at the plate. This is a middling roster.
AL Central
Chicago White Sox
Some interesting young talent on this team. Of course, the last time we said that about the Pale Hose all those guys flamed out. One name I like is starter Sean Burke. He's a big kid at 6'6" 240. He's not yet a finished product but has decent stuff and averaged a strikeout per inning in 2025.
Cleveland Guardians
Certainly impressive that the Guards came from way back to win the division last year. They did that with a very weak offense. Cleveland is hoping for big things from rookie Chase DeLauter who surfaced for the wild card series. He's a top prospect, but his injury history is of great concern. If they can keep him upright who knows. He did have a big spring.
Detroit Tigers
After last year's collapse to finish as a wild card the Tigers really didn't do anything to improve themselves. I mean what does Justin Verlander have left? They did add former Astro Framber Valdez. He's good, but also a big-time red ass. Detroit is banking on guys like Colt Keith, Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson to take steps forward. Tarek Skubal can't pitch every day after all.
Kansas City Royals
KC I think is a dark horse to win the division. Cole Reagans is going to have to stay healthy. They showed great patience with starter Kris Bubic and that's starting to pay off. Bobby Witt Jr could well be the MVP this year.
Minnesota Twins
Let's be clear. The Twins are not trying to win. Their best players Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis have terrible injury histories and that's being kind.
AL East
Baltimore Orioles
2025 was a huge disappointment for the O's. They certainly had some bad injury luck. Adding Pete Alonso is obviously huge. The young guys are going to have to improve. Jackson Holiday is one guy that comes to mind. He's still very young though. I feel like Baltimore's range of outcomes is somewhere between 78 wins and 93 wins. That's a pretty wide gap.
Boston Red Sox
The Sox will be competitive, but their outfield situation is a bit confusing. There's talk Jaren Duran is going to sit at least against some lefties. The problem is they have three other left-handed bats out there. If they are looking to platoon, Ceddanne Rafaela is going to get a lot of playing time.
New York Yankees
It feels like Aaron Boone needs to win it all this year. Of course, we've been saying that every year for quite some time. The biggest surprise of 2025 was Trent Grisham suddenly becoming a power hitter. I remain a skeptic there. Strangely his defense, which kept him on the roster in San Diego, was by measure not good at all last season.
Tampa Bay Rays
After a season away the Rays return to the pitcher friendly Trop. One guy I'll be watching is pitcher Joe Boyle. He throws hard and has been showing flashes. Will he be a difference maker? I'll just say there may be a dude in there somewhere.
Toronto Blue Jays
So close... so very close. Losing Bo Bichette to the Mets is not optimal. If he can stay healthy, I like Daulton Varsho to have huge power numbers this season. He has poor on base skills, but in 71 games last year he hit 20 home runs and his isolated power skyrocketed to .310 (that's really good). He is also a plus outfielder. The ceiling is all-star.
AL West
Athletics
Another year in Sacramento means huge power numbers and an unhappy Luis Severino. A fun player on this entertaining team is center fielder Denzel Clarke. Clarke is a freak athlete and has the best outfield glove in the game and it ain't even close. Can he hit? Not really, but man can he go get it.
Houston Astros
The Astros are sliding slowly into a rebuild. They couldn't get anyone to take Christian Walker. Jose Altuve is getting old. If they do anything more than .500 this year, it'll be because by some miracle Yordan Alvarez stays healthy.
Los Angeles Angels
Seeing the decline of Mike Trout is just sad. They wasted this man's prime. It'll be another piddling year though I like shortstop Zach Neto. 70 wins? Yeah, that sounds about right.
Seattle Mariners
As I lifelong Mariner fan I don't say this lightly; The M's are legit World Series contenders. Bringing back Josh Naylor was huge. Cal Raleigh probably won't hit 60 something home runs this year, but 45 plus is a lock. Further down the roster I love the addition of Rob Refsnyder in the outfield. That guy kills left-handed pitching and is a nice platoon mate with former Buckeye Dominic Canzone (of team Italy!) Ceiling? 100 wins. The AL West is really not very good.
Texas Rangers
The Rangers are probably good enough for second in the division. I love the addition of MacKenzie Gore from the Nats. He's ready for a step forward. Kumar Rocker is intriguing though very raw. Ditto for Jack Leiter. I'm failing to understand why Joc Peterson and Jake Burger are still on this roster. Yes, they have power, but man do you have to wait for it.
Division Champs:
Cubs, Phillies, Dodgers, Royals, Yankees, Mariners.
Wild Cards
Brewers, Mets, Braves, Blue Jays, Orioles, Red Sox.
World Champs: THE SEATTLE MARINERS!
Brian Phillips is the former morning host at CD101/CD929/CD102.5 and today hosts content on buymeacoffee.com/brianphillps and on www.radiounbound.com Fridays from 4 to 7pm.