The Chicago Cubs will enter the 2026 season with a solid all-around lineup.

They have a nice mixture of contact and power hitters and are a dangerous group from top to bottom. This Cubs lineup in 2026 is also not much different from last year’s.

Advertisement

Last season, the North Siders had one of the best offenses in baseball. They ranked fifth in runs scored, eighth in doubles, sixth in home runs, tied for third in RBI, seventh in walks, and 13th in batting average. So, it’s safe to say the Cubs had a top 10 offense in 2025.

However, one sportsbook believes Chicago is not a top-10 offense entering this season. Bet MGM recently ranked every MLB lineup ahead of Opening Day, and the Cubs came in at #12 on that list.

It is a bit surprising to see the Cubs come in outside the top-12. They come in behind the Orioles (#1), Yankees (#2), Braves (#3), Dodgers (#4), Mets (#5), Mariners (#6), Astros (#7), Phillies (#8), Blue Jays (#9), Padres (#10), and Athletics (#11).

Now, there is a lot wrong with this list. Seeing the Dodgers not in the #1 spot or inside the top-3 feels wrong, and the Orioles being ranked as the #1 offense in baseball is somewhat questionable.

Advertisement

In terms of the Cubs’ spot on this list, they should not be behind the A’s, Astros, or Padres. Chicago has a very well-rounded lineup, and all three of those teams have question marks toward the bottom of the order.

The Athletics have a very solid up-and-coming young group, but this team also has players like Jeff McNeil, Denzel Clarke, and Max Muncy hitting toward the bottom of the lineup. Those three hitters severely bring down that lineup.

The Padres have a really well-rounded lineup as well. However, outside of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, they don’t have another game-changer at the plate. Jackson Merrill is coming off a sophomore slump, and Gavin Sheets is the team’s third-best power hitter.

Then, there’s the Astros. While they have some stars like Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Carlos Correa, the rest of their lineup is filled with hitters like Zach Cole, Cam Smith, and Jake Meyers.

Advertisement

On the other hand, the Cubs are well-rounded from top to bottom.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, Michael Busch, and Seiya Suzuki all have 30-home run potential, Nico Hoerner will maintain a high batting average, and Dansby Swanson, Ian Happ, and Alex Bregman are all established veterans.

The Cubs should be closer to #5 on this ranking than #15.