Vibing With Sleezy: The Podcast 2026 MLB Season Preview Episode

0:01 Hey, what's up, everybody? Welcome to Viving with Sleazy the Podcast. This is season seven, episode five. I want to thank everybody for listening, tuning in, and downloading. It's been a fun season so far. And today I got another solo episode for you. It's going to be the MLB preview for the 2026 MLB season coming up. I am releasing a March Madness episode, which I did on episode four, and I'm going to release this MLB episode, episode five, on the same day. These sports episodes always uh bring in great downloads, and I love talking sports. Uh, it's gonna be a fun season upcoming for baseball. So, what I'm gonna do, I'm gonna talk about some key players, talk about some key talking points uh regarding each team, and then give you my prediction on how each division will uh finalize and then who will win the World Series, in my opinion.

0:51 Um, it's gonna be fun this year because the World Baseball Classics started before um the season, and it's been a big highlight. A lot of people have been tuned in. Uh, Japan got upset. Uh USA is actually in the championship game. Uh Paul Skins has been pitching uh tremendously. So uh they'll be playing either Italy or Venezuela. So didn't see all that coming, but with the USA making it, a lot of people were you know shocked because uh they they almost had a scare there in the the beginning because they ended up being three and one, and the way the points were played out, Italy had to play Mexico and the run deficit and all that played into the factor of who advanced, and USA uh did it, and now they're playing Italy or Venezuela for the championship.

1:45 Um, so the World Baseball Classic has been a great start to get everybody into baseball, and I think it's very important because people are taking it very seriously. Uh players are representing it, coaches are representing it more, uh, viewing it like an Olympics. Uh, a lot of these international tournaments, they're either viewed very highly or they're viewed more of just entertainment, making money, that kind of deal. So uh it's it's very exciting to see that the world baseball classic has been taken a lot more seriously this season, and uh it's been a lot of fun. So a few uh key talking points about this upcoming season that I want to discuss for the uh 2026 MLB season is uh first, robot umpires.

2:33 Um it's aka called the ABS Challenge System. Uh, it's actually going to be the debut uh of that this season. So this will be the first MLB season where technology directly helps review balls and strikes, which could dramatically affect late game situations. So this is a big deal. This has been in talks for a long time. Um, here are uh some of the biggest changes to the ABS challenge system that has already been a little bit of a factor in baseball, but but now with this robot umpire debut, this is gonna be taken a little more seriously. Teams will get two challenges per game for ball or strike calls.

3:16 Pitchers, catchers, or batters can challenge by tapping their helmet. If the challenge is correct, they keep the challenge. Extra innings guarantee at least one challenge is remaining. So that is how the ABS challenge system will work. That is robot umpire debuts. So that's something to look forward to. That is something also it's controversial because people still want manual umps, but some people think manual umps fuck up the game and it needs to go to a digital vein where uh uh it's almost error proof, but you kind of got to see how it plays out. So that's something to look forward to uh this season, uh for sure.

3:57 Um, my next thing I want to discuss is the opening series. So the 2026 season opener is scheduled for March 25th. It's gonna be the New York Yankees versus San Francisco Giants. Um, and here's a big thing that's gonna happen for the 2026 MLB season. There will actually be games streamed on the platform like Netflix. Um, I think this is big for baseball. Everyone loves Netflix, everyone loves streaming. So this gets more eyes and views on it. The season's so long, you can't watch every game, or you and you might be able to if you if you if you have the time, but but Netflix kind of gets your eyes on some probably these core games.

4:40 I'm excited to see who they're actually going to stream on those platforms, where sometimes games are hard to access, especially on the West Coast, but this will be cool to see. Also, I uh saw that they did some changes for the Cincinnati Reds uh season um with their MLB TV, and that that stuff switches all the time. You know, it's like MLBE's PM Bally rallies. It's like it's like who has it, who who doesn't have it? But um I know they're keeping some announcements the same in the Cincinnati Reds situation, but there will be, I think, new ownership and new who's actually producing it. But but overall, that is it, that's a big thing.

5:22 And MLB has a huge push, like their business model right now is to expand that digital broadcast and global reach. So they want baseball to be like the NBA. MBA is worldwide, that's how they want to make baseball. Even though baseball is played worldwide, they want people engaged with MLB. Um, some of the teams that are going to be contending for the World Series this season that I think a lot of people need to keep uh their eyes out for are the Los Angeles Dodgers. Uh always the favorite. Powerhouse, big bucks, um, always have a very strong team. The Atlanta Braves, uh, they can have a really good year.

6:04 Players stay healthy. That's that's a big, big key. Players got to stay healthy. The Baltimore Orioles, uh, what a young core. Uh bunch of stars. I think they win 100 games this season. The AL East is gonna be tough, but Baltimore is gonna bring it this season. And then, of course, the New York Yankees, Aaron Judge. Uh, Yankees have a very strong team, great pitching. Uh, I think they're gonna be in the mix. Uh, that AL East, like I said, it's so tough, you know, and that's something that people are really gonna have to watch for and see how that that plays out. Um, the AL West could be wild overall.

6:46 Um, and the reason I say that, the Seattle Mariners are actually projected to lead the AL West while trying to win back-to-back division titles. So I think some key storylines in that division discussing the American League West is Seattle trying to establish its dominance. Houston trying to attempt a bounce back season, uh, Texas Rangers retooling its roster. And I think Young Talent emerging in Oakland slash Vegas, you know, whatever you want to call the athletics nowadays. But I think those are some key storylines. And I think all four teams in the American League West are gonna be very strong and are gonna be competitive. Um huge rookie and uh prospect impact, I think, for this season.

7:30 I think they're that 2026 could be a major prospect wave year. So look out for those elite pitching prospects, young hitters that are entering the league. Um, you know, what's always funny, it's like the the people that collect uh baseball cards and are into memorabilia, they they usually know who is that key player to uh to look out for each year, you know. And we've all been blessed with players like I mentioned, Paul Schienge, you know, a young prospect that everyone was just super hyped on. Same thing with Lie De La Cruz. I mean, list goes on and on. Um, and then also you know, with the world baseball classic, me mentioning that, just take a look and think about, and in the way I pretty much want to say is like think about how the Olympics, like when the NBA players go from the Olympics to the season, same thing with world baseball classic, going from that to a baseball uh season, not tons of games, not dwelling, but very drawn out, very competitive.

8:39 So you want to see what injuries have affected, how players are maybe they'll play better because they've already got that rhythm. So you want to really see how that plays out. Spring training's still going on, but with opening day coming up here at the end of March, the world baseball classic being there right before that season starts. It's gonna be interesting and exciting to see what effects it helps. And hopefully it just gets you know players really pitching and hitting it. And again, you know, the biggest thing with baseball is getting in that rhythm. So just making sure that rhythm is uh is is moving in the right direction. But there's gonna be a lot of exciting things, um, uh a lot of players to look out for this 2026 MLB season.

9:19 Uh Shohei Otani, of course, um, you know, the best baseball player in the entire world. Uh always exciting to watch for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Uh Aaron Judge, the New York Yankees, of course, uh, MVP caliber player. Bobby Wood Jr. for the Kansas City Royals, uh, awesome shortstop. Juan Soda of the New York Mets, uh, Ronald Akuna Jr. for the Atlanta Braves. Uh he needs to definitely stay healthy, but he can always be explosive. Um, a lot of young players that are gonna be exciting to watch this season. Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners, uh, Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles, uh Corbin Carroll of the Arizona Diamondbacks, uh, and LA De La Cruz of the Cincinnati Reds.

10:01 And then I think the top three pitchers across the board in the MLB that everyone's gonna look out for. I think Paul Skeens wins the Side Young again for the Pirates in the NL, and I think uh Scuble will win it for Detroit and the AL. But yeah, Paul Skins, Tariq Skoobel, and uh Zach Wheeler out of the Philadelphia Phillies organization. I think those are your key pitchers to look out for. Uh, mentioned the Philadelphia Phillies. The 96th MLB All-Star game will be uh this upcoming season, and that will be played in Philadelphia, uh, where the Phillies get to host this season. And overall, I want to kind of go down the divisions and talk about what I see and how it's gonna play out, and kind of give you a little bit of fact for each team that maybe a little key factor, key prediction to look forward to for the 2026 season.

10:57 So the way, real quick to kind of read it to you, the way that baseball America, which is um you know a big baseball media company, the way they look at the way that the league's gonna play out this year, they got the uh Dodgers and Blue Jays in the World Series again. They're really pushing it. And if you if you look at the actual standings that they predicted, they got the AL East, they got it Blue Jays, Yankees, Red Sox, Orioles, Race, they got NL East, Mets, Billys, Braves, Marlins, Nationals, AL Central, they got Tigers, Royals, Guardians, um, twins, and white socks. Uh, for the NL Central, they got it Brewers, Cubs, Reds, Pirates, Cardinals, and then they got ALS, Mariners, Athletics, Astros, Rangers, Angels.

11:46 And then for the NL West, they got Dodgers, Padres, Giants, Diamondbacks, Rockies. So very interesting how they had it predicted. Um, I'm a little bit definitely, I say, different from what some of their predictions are. Some of them I agree, some of them I don't. But we'll talk about the AL East, the American League East. It consists of the Baltimore Orioles, the New York Yankees, the Toronto Blue Jays, the Tampa Bay Rays, and the Boston Red Sox. And the way I see this division playing out, I'm saying it's going to be the Baltimore Orioles first. Uh, they're just going to be strong this year, young, powerful, and will really, really be a force in the American League.

12:28 I think after Baltimore, you got the New York Yankees that'll be there number two. I think the Toronto Blue Jays will be third. I think overall it's going to be the Boston Red Sox fourth, and the Tampa Bay Rays uh fifth there in that division. Um, some key facts to kind of think about for each team. You know, Baltimore Orioles, one of the best young cores in baseball, could push them to over 100 wins. The Yankees got a power hitting lineup, and they'll chase again to have that American League home run lead that they had last season. Uh the Blue Jays, their core players must finally really translating the talent into the playoff success. That's what's really gonna be the key factor for them to get back to have the season they had last year, which was awesome.

13:13 And then the Rays, you know, they got some breakout pitching, but they're really, really going to have to hit the ball. And their their whole organization is very, very backed on and very focused on analytic-driven baseball system, you know, of using analytics to manage the game. The Boston Red Sox have tons of young prospects. It's going to shape the future. They've also had tons of representation, just like the Seattle Mariners have in the WBC. So I think that's going to be a factor uh for sure. But that's how I see that division playing out. I think uh out of that division, I think that the Baltimore Orioles will actually be our World Series representer for the American League.

14:00 But I want to break down the other uh division of the American League, and then I'll get to that prediction on my uh uh World Series winner. But AL Central, the American League Central, it consists of the Minnesota Twins, the Cleveland Guardians, the Detroit Tigers, the Kansas City Royals, and the Chicago White Sox. And the way I see that playing out, I got the Detroit Tigers, I got the Kansas City Royals, I got the Cleveland Guardians, I got the Minnesota Twins, and then I got the Chicago White Sox. Um, I just think that the Detroit Tigers are bringing it this year. They have spent the money, they're ready to win a championship, and their pitching is just fucking dominant.

14:42 So with Burlander being back, Scoobyl, I mean, Scoobyl's gonna win a side young again. It's it's just gonna be huge. I think Detroit is gonna have an explosive year uh pitching and hitting. Uh, then I say the Kansas City Royals because of Bobby Whitt Jr. I just think that whole organization, they've been kind of up and down, up and down, but I see Bobby Witt and the Royals this year having a good run. But some facts about this uh teams this year, you know, the Twins, they got a powerful offense, which makes them a division favorite for sure. So you know, they could be up in that running. Um, the Guardians, their pitching development keeps them competitive. But like I said, with this division, they could be anyone's ballgame.

15:24 The Tigers, you know, I already told you what I think about them. The Royals, uh, they could really utilize Bobby Whip being that franchise rising star of just being one of the best players in baseball. You know, he's doing great with the WBC. I think the Royals, you know, really have to utilize having that talent. And then the White Sox, they're really, really developing again. That's just where they're at. It's gonna be a while before the White Sox become a uh main contender in baseball in general. Uh, the American League West is the next one I want to talk about, which is the Texas Rangers, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, and Oakland Athletics.

16:06 Um, the way I see this playing out, I see it being Seattle, Houston, Texas, Oakland, then Los Angeles. Um, yes, Oakland has got a lot more talent. They're young, they've been playing together, but I don't see them making the run like others think. And I think the same thing with um the Angels, I just don't think they're gonna be relevant. I just think the Mariners are just too tough. Kyle Raleigh, uh, everyone they got, it's just Julio Rodriguez, it's just a a powerful team. So look for the Mariners to really make a good run in baseball this year. But a key fact I'd say about um the Rangers, their offense remains one of the most dangerous in baseball.

16:52 So definitely keep an eye out for that Texas Rangers hitting core. The Astros, they're they're gonna have a lot of veterans, um, and they're gonna try to playoff content for those veterans. Uh, the Mariners starting rotation literally could be one of the best in baseball, besides the hitting that I just described. The Angels, can they even be competitive? That's the question. And the athletics, tons of young prospects. Uh, their main storyline is just what this beautiful rebuild could be for them in baseball. But overall, I think in the American League, the Baltimore Orioles are gonna be representing the American League in the World Series.

17:34 Um, let's move on to the National League. Uh, the National League East is the first division I'm gonna focus on. That is the Atlanta Braves, the Philadelphia Phillies, the New York Mets, the Miami Marlins, and the Washington Nationals. Um, interesting division. I don't see the Nationals and Marlins being too competitive, but I think that the way it's gonna play out, I think it's gonna be the Mets, the Phillies, the Braves, the Marlins, the Nationals. Um I think that the Mets just they really need consistency, and if they deliver that, they can be huge. And I think the Phillies, they're just gonna be dominant like they usually are.

18:18 Such an offensive powerhouse. Kyle Squorber's back, big contract. It's gonna be a good year for the Phillies, uh, especially with that all-star theme. You know, every everybody wants the hometown to have the all-star game. So, some predictions on that division. Um, you know, the Braves, one of the most complete rosters in baseball overall. Uh, the Phillies, a strong lineup, which gives them deep potential in the playoffs to make a run. Uh, the Mets, again, high price, big money, big players. Just need to be consistent. Marlins, pitching staff can surprise people. Miami Marlins have always been irrelevant, or they get rid of players that they don't need to get rid of, but it could be uh a surprise with that pitching rotation.

19:00 And then the Nationals, they're gonna again, they're gonna rebuild, they're gonna utilize young players, and that's gonna be their main focus. Um, let's break over the NL Central, my favorite division in baseball, because my Cincinnati Reds are a part of it. Uh, that's part of the Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and of course my Reds. So the way I see this playing out, um, I'm gonna not be a homer, but I'm gonna be for real. I think the Reds win the division. I think that we are for sure. I think Francona's got us locked in. I think pitching and hitting is gonna be great. I think the Reds bring it. Also, I'm gonna really shake it up. I think the Pittsburgh Pirates are second. I think the money they spent, the rookie they got, the Paul Schienes pitching.

19:43 I think the Pirates are for real. New coaching, I think they could be a surprise, and I think a lot of people are gonna be excited to see Pirates baseball. I think third is gonna be the Milwaukee Brewers, always tough, always dominant. I think the Cubs will be fourth, and I think the Cardinals will be fifth. Um, I think the Cardinals are kind of on a rebuild, in my opinion. Uh, the Cubs, though, a lot of people are favored to them, a lot of people are favored to the Brewers. So this division's always up in there and it's always exciting to watch, especially when it gets to August and September uh before the playoffs. But uh some facts about each team. I say elite pitching keeps the Brewers in the division race. I think the Cubs uh could challenge for a division title if they really utilize the roster they got.

20:26 Uh the Cardinals rebuild, um, they really need to get back to that competitiveness. Um, the Reds, young and exciting lineup, tons of speed, tons of power. And Ellie is hitting the ball, lights out spring train. So look forward to that. And then the Pirates, like I said, continued development of young talent is important and they're doing it. And shout out to the Pirates for doing that. Hopefully, the owner will start writing some checks to spend some more bigger bucks. Uh, and then let's get to the NL West. Um, the last division I want to discuss, um, the National League West will have uh the World Series representative. I mean, I'm just gonna tell you the Los Angeles Dodgers.

21:08 Best team in baseball, uh, money well spent, dominant Otani. I don't see anybody stopping them. They will be the favorite, and they will represent the National League against the Baltimore Orioles, in my opinion. But to break down that division, you got the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks of Arizona, San Diego Padres, the San Francisco Giants, and then the Colorado Rockies. Um, the way I think that division is gonna play out, it's gonna be LA, Arizona, San Diego, San Francisco, Colorado. Just how I read you the teams. Um, I think it's very predictable in that division. Um, money is not well spent through that division, except for a couple core teams. So look for the LA Dodgers to be a star studded powerhouse team this season.

21:53 Um, but some facts, you know, LA, all I can say, World Series favorite. Diamondbacks, uh, those. Stay in the playoff hunt. They'll get there somehow. The Padres, they could be the MLB's best offense. They have a lot of star power, but they got to produce. That's the biggest thing. The Padres, excuse me. With the Giants, the team continues to retool around younger players, which that's they're kind of on a rebuild too. You know, that's one of the few organizations I mentioned that's on a rebuild. So, you know, the Dodgers, Dynamebacks, and Padres, they'll be well. And with the Padres have one of the MLB's best offenses, you know, look for a lot of home runs. A lot of those ballparks are smaller than that in O West.

22:34 And then the Rockies, they're just bad. But they'll be better. Hopefully, I mean, they're not afraid to spend money when they can. But again, another team that don't have the big bucks get stuck in that tough division. So hopefully they can make a surprise. Hopefully they can win more ball games than they did last season. But overall, that's my prediction. It's going to be the Baltimore Oriolus the Los Angeles Dodgers. And my championship prediction is going to be six games, four-two. The Los Angeles Dodgers win the World Series. I'm not excited to say that. I've seen them play.

23:15 I just love watching baseball in general. I want the Cincinnati Reds to make it. I want to make the World Series with the Reds and win it. But I just think with the money spent, I think even with the American League being so powerful, especially out of ALE, no one can top the Dodgers. So that's my prediction. Dodgers win it again, but it'll be an exciting year of MLB baseball. But thank you all for listening, tuning, and downloading. Again, this is another solo sports episode. Enjoy the March Madness one. Enjoy this. It's kind of a part one, part two release in two days. Not doing it part one, part two, but you got a great March Madness one, and then you got a great baseball one.

23:58 It's gonna get you ready for uh everything this season and uh in 2026. So thank you all for the support. I love all of you all. Got some great guests coming up. Uh season seven is gonna keep rolling on. And BibinwithSleazy.com is the website, Bibin' with Sleazy, the podcast, Facebook, Instagram. Download, listen, share, and love y'all. Peace.