3 bold predictions for New York Yankees’ 2026 MLB season originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The New York Yankees are in the midst of a drought that isn’t befitting of the pinstripes.

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The Yanks last won the World Series in 2009. It’s been a while. And as 2026 Opening Day is set to arrive on Wednesday night for the Yankees, there’s plenty still to be figured out.

Is the pitching depth better? Does the lineup have too many left-handed hitters? Can they finally end the drought?

There are plenty of reasons for optimism with this Yankees team. There are also reasons for doubt.

Here, we’ve got three bold predictions, based in fact but with some heightened thoughts about what could happen in certain scenarios.

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Yankees bold predictions for 2026 MLB season1. Ben Rice leads the Yankees in home runs

This is incredibly bold on a team with Aaron Judge, but hear us out.

Judge isn’t getting any younger, and his body showed a bit of struggle last season when he dealt with an injury to his throwing elbow. All it would take is an injury absence for someone to leapfrog Judge.

Rice is capable. He had an average exit velocity last season of more than 93 miles per hour, and this season, he’s more of a surefire starter from Opening Day onward, rather than having to prove himself.

There could be 40 homers in Rice’s bat. And if Judge does indeed miss time, the Yankees will need Rice to step up.

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2. Luis Gil starts a playoff game

Gil appears to be the odd man out as Opening Day arrives. He’s not going to be in the pitching rotation to begin the season.

He still is one of the most talented pitchers in the organization, though, and at times this spring, he appeared to be taking steps back in the right direction.

Don’t count out Gil’s chances of mattering at the end of the year, even if he doesn’t at the start.

3. Yankees win the World Series

They were the favorites for a long time. These days, they aren’t even necessarily the best team in New York City — the Mets would certainly have a compelling argument.

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Despite that, the Yankees are due. They do have better pitching depth this season, if they stay healthy. They have impact prospects on their way, like Spencer Jones and George Lombard Jr.

There is enough in the Yankees’ organization to win the whole thing.

The Los Angeles Dodgers will always be formidable, and there’s so much talent all around baseball, including throughout the AL East.

But this could really happen. It might be bold, but it’s not crazy.

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