Featured Image-Aaron Judge celebrates with his fellow New York Yankees. Photo Credit to Darrren Yamashita-Imagn Images
The flowers are blooming, the sun is shining and hot dog vendors are yelling. Baseball season is officially underway, and this season is set to be a fun one despite a tedious lockout looming.
The implementation of ABS (Automatic Ball-Strike system) has already proved to be a game changer for the sport, one loved by new and younger fans, and one that still needs some convincing for the old heads.
For those unfamiliar, the system allows pitchers, batters and catchers to challenge the umpire’s ball or strike call via tracking technology. Each team is allowed two challenges per game, with the sustaining of the challenge if it is successful. The system will take some getting used to, as players are still attempting to figure out when it is the best time to challenge a call, how aggressive to be with a challenge, etc.
In terms of actual competitive teams this season, it’s the usual suspects.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Shohei Ohtani (17) of the Los Angeles Dodgers delivers a pitch at Dodger Stadium. Photo Credit to Ronaldo Bolanos-Los Angeles Times
It is not a shock that the back to back World Series champions are back at the top of the NL West. The team is continuing the dominance that the baseball world has gotten used to in the past two years. In his 2026 pitching debut against the Cleveland Guardians, Dodgers Pitcher Shohei Ohtani feared no man on the mound, only allowing one hit through six scoreless innings. At the plate he drew two walks and a hit a single, helping the Dodgers to a 4-1 win.
The Dodgers are looking to three-peat this year, and there is a very real chance that their wish will come true in October.
New York Yankees
Cam Schlittler for the New York Yankees deals against the Seattle Mariners. Photo Credit to AP Photo-Lindsey Watson.
The historic New York Yankees are currently standing at the top of the AL East, with a record of 5-1.
The Yankees starting rotation is looking solid, with Cam Schlittler pitching a shutout heading into the seventh against the Seattle Mariners. Max Fried also looked solid in a 5-0 win over the Mariners only allowing three hits in seven innings played, punching out six batters.
However the captain and reigning AL MVP, Aaron Judge is currently struggling behind the plate, only batting .125i n 24 at-bats. The right fielder has only recorded three hits, with two of them being home runs.
Giancarlo Stanton however has been stellar, with ten hits in 20 at-bats, batting .500.
Miami Marlins
Owen Caissie celebrates in the dugout with his Miami Marlins teammates after a walk off home run against the Colorado Rockies. Photo Credit to Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
This one is an actual surprise. The Miami Marlins currently sit atop of the NL East at 5-1, standing above the stacked New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies. Granted, the Marlins have only played against the struggling Colorado Rockies and Chicago White Sox, yet the large run margin in these games has still been impressive.
On April 1st, the Marlins utterly embarrassed the Southsiders in a 10-0 win. Sandy Alcantara threw the first complete game of the season with only 93 pitches, as the White Sox just couldn’t find a run. The day before, the Marlins beat the Sox 9-2.
This is a team that could shock some people, and maybe manage to sneak their way into the playoffs. However, October is still a long ways away from today.
