It’s that time of year. Your intrepid Covering the Corner staff will provide their predictions for the 2026 MLB season below.
Last year, the CTC staff, as a whole, predicted the Guardians would finish 88-74. As you may remember, the Guardians did, in fact, finish 88-74. So, I wouldn’t want to say we are clairvoyant… but let’s just say some orbs are being pondered over here. We also did have one person predict the Blue Jays would make the World Series (impressive!) and several predict the Dodgers (astounding!).
So, Emmanuel and Luis, place your bets, the info you need for a windfall is obviously forthcoming.*
*I assume a lawyer wants me to say here that these predictions are provided for fun and should not be considered as gambling advice.
Nicholas Karavolos:
Guardians Predictions –
Record: 82-80
MVP: Jose (obviously)
Best Rookie: Parker Messick
Breakout Player: George Valera
Key Acquisition (if any): Ian Happ, but most likely a midseason Bazzana call-up
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season?
Seeing our outfield with Valera, DeLauter, and even Halpin all playing. And, of course, Kwan if he makes it past the trade deadline.
MLB predictions:
AL East Winner: Red Sox
AL Central Winner: Royals
AL West Winner: Mariners
Three AL Wildcard Teams: Blue Jays, Yankees, Tigers
AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr.
AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet
AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGoingle
NL East Winner: Mets
NL Central Winner: Brewers
NL West Winner: Dodgers
Three NL Wildcard Teams: Giants, Braves, Cubs
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes
NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean
World Series Matchup and Winner:
Red Sox over Dodgers in 6
Deborah Williams:
Guardians Predictions
Record: 90-72
MVP: José Ramírez
Best Rookie: CDL
Breakout Player: CJ Kayfus
Key Acquisition (if any): Mason Miller
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season? Letting the kids actually play!!!!
MLB predictions:
AL East Winner: Blue Jays
AL Central Winner: Guardians
AL West Winner: Mariners
Three AL Wildcard Teams: Tigers, Orioles, Yankees
AL MVP: José (It’s his year, dang it)
AL Cy Young: Skubal 3-peat, but Gavin gives him a run for his money
AL Rookie of the Year: CDL
NL East Winner: Mets
NL Central Winner: Brewers
NL West Winner: Dodgers
Three NL Wildcard Teams: Giants, Braves, Phillies
NL MVP: Ohtani, again
NL Cy Young: Skenes
NL Rookie of the Year: JJ Weatherholt
World Series Matchup and Winner: Guardians v Dodgers, Bazzana walks it off in game 7
Madelyn Novak:
Guardians Predictions – Record: 91-71
MVP: José Ramírez
Best Rookie: Chase DeLauter
Breakout Player: Chase DeLauter
Key Acquisition (if any): The Guardians could use one more arm in the outfield. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is expected to be moved by the deadline, and I feel he’d be a good fit in Cleveland’s lineup.
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season? It feels like the team is confident and loose this year. I think they may have a rough beginning of the season, but the summer will be extremely productive for them, especially if they continue to call up deserving prospects. I am extremely excited to watch those prospects, especially if Ralphy Velazquez has a chance to contribute.
MLB predictions:
AL East Winner: New York Yankees
AL Central Winner: Cleveland Guardians
AL West Winner: Seattle Mariners
Three AL Wildcard Teams: Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, Toronto Blue Jays
AL MVP: Cal Raleigh
AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet
AL Rookie of the Year: Chase DeLauter
NL East Winner: Atlanta Braves
NL Central Winner: St. Louis Cardinals
NL West Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers
Three NL Wildcard Teams: Chicago Cubs, New York Mets, Philadelphia Phillies
NL MVP: Juan Soto
NL Cy Young: Yoshinobu Yamamoto
NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean
World Series Matchup and Winner: Seattle Mariners beat Los Angeles Dodgers
Tommy Pecoraro
Guardians Predictions – Record: 91-71
MVP: Ramirez
Best Rookie: DeLauter
Breakout Player: Angel Martinez
Key Acquisition (if any): A reliever that doesn’t exist yet, signed in May
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season? (Tommy didn’t say but I know he has been a huge believer in both Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana for a long time, so I’m sure he’s looking forward to them getting their shots).
MLB predictions:
AL East Winner: Yankees
AL Central Winner: Guardians
AL West Winner: Mariners
Three AL Wildcard Teams: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Astros
AL MVP: Witt Jr
AL Cy Young: Skubal
AL Rookie of the Year: DeLauter
NL East Winner: Phillies
NL Central Winner: Brewers
NL West Winner: Dodgers
Three NL Wildcard Teams: Mets, Padres, Cubs
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
NL Cy Young: Ohtani
NL Rookie of the Year: Carson Benge
World Series Matchup and Winner: Red Sox 4-3 Dodgers
Zach F.
Guardians Predictions – Record: 90-72
MVP: José Ramírez
Best Rookie: Chase DeLauter
Breakout Player: Bo Naylor
Key Acquisition (if any): N/A
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season? I am most looking forward to seeing the young players that we have developed start to contribute to winning
MLB predictions:
AL East Winner: Blue Jays
AL Central Winner: Guardians
AL West Winner: Mariners
Three AL Wildcard Teams: Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers
AL MVP: Aaron Judge
AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet
AL Rookie of the Year: Chase DeLauter
NL East Winner: Mets
NL Central Winner: Cubs
NL West Winner: Dodgers
Three NL Wildcard Teams: Phillies, Padres, Brewers
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes
NL Rookie of the Year: Konnor Griffin
World Series Matchup and Winner: Dodgers over Mariners in 6
westbrook
Guardians Predictions – Record: 80-82
MVP: Ramirez
Best Rookie: DeLauter
Breakout Player: Cecconi
Key Acquisition (if any): None
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season? DeLauter and Valera
MLB predictions:
AL East Winner: Blue Jays
AL Central Winner: Tigers
AL West Winner: Mariners
Three AL Wildcard Teams: Red Sox, Yankees, A’s
AL MVP: Skubal
AL Cy Young: Skubal
AL Rookie of the Year: if he plays >120 games, DeLauter
NL East Winner: Phillies
NL Central Winner: Cubs
NL West Winner: Dodgers
Three NL Wildcard Teams: Mets, Braves, Padres
NL MVP: Ohtani
NL Cy Young: Skenes
NL Rookie of the Year: McLean
World Series Matchup and Winner: Jays over Dodgers
Matt Seese
Guardians Predictions
Record: 78-84
MVP: Jose Ramirez
Best Rookie: Chase DeLauter
Breakout Player: Slade Cecconi
Key Acquisition (if any): Dax Kilby in trade for Steven Kwan
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season? I’m most looking forward to getting real answers about the future of this rotation. Bibee is getting the Opening Day nod, but Williams is the presumptive SP1. Can he take his 2025 momentum and run with it and become an ace? Can Slade Cecconi or Parker Messick become legit 3-4 options, or is this rotation doomed to have 3 options that would merely be SP5’s for other teams?
MLB predictions
AL East Winner: Yankees
AL Central Winner: Tigers
AL West Winner: Mariners
Three AL Wildcard Teams: Red Sox/Blue Jays/Rangers
AL MVP: Bobby Witt
AL Cy Young: Garrett Crochet
AL Rookie of the Year: Chase DeLauter
NL East Winner: Mets
NL Central Winner: Cubs
NL West Winner: Dodgers
Three NL Wildcard Teams: Phillies/Padres/Pirates
NL MVP: Ohtani
NL Cy Young: Ohtani
NL Rookie of the Year: Nolan McLean
World Series Matchup and Winner: Red Sox over Mets in 6 games
Mario Crescibene
Guardians Predictions – Record: 92-70
MVP: José Ramírez
Best Rookie: Chase DeLauter
Breakout Player: Bo Naylor
Key Acquisition: None — built from within
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season? Seeing which Guardians step up and prove they’re part of the future — that they’re the guy.
AL East Winner: New York Yankees
AL Central Winner: Cleveland Guardians
AL West Winner: Seattle Mariners
Three AL Wildcard Teams: Houston Astros, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins
AL MVP: Aaron Judge
AL Cy Young: Tarik Skubal
NL East Winner: Philadelphia Phillies
NL Central Winner: Chicago Cubs
NL West Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers
Three NL Wildcard Teams: San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes
World Series Matchup and Winner: Cleveland Guardians over Los Angeles Dodgers
Brian Hemminger:
Guardians Predictions – Record: 86-76
MVP: Jose Ramirez
Best Rookie: Chase DeLauter
Breakout Player: Bo Naylor
Key Acquisition (if any): Jojo Romero
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season?
Watching the amazing young talent on the squad (hopefully) seize the opportunity they’ve been given this year.
MLB predictions:
AL East Winner: Red Sox
AL Central Winner: Tigers
AL West Winner: Astros
Three AL Wildcard Teams: Mariners, Yankees, Rays
AL MVP: Aaron Judge
AL Cy Young: Hunter Brown
AL Rookie of the Year: Chase DeLauter
NL East Winner: Mets
NL Central Winner: Brewers
NL West Winner: Dodgers
Three NL Wildcard Teams: Cubs, Phillies, Padres
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes
NL Rookie of the Year: JJ Weatherholt
World Series Matchup and Winner: Dodgers vs Tigers, Dodgers win
Quincy Wheeler
Guardians Predictions – Record: 83-79
MVP: Jose Ramirez
Best Rookie: Chase DeLauter
Breakout Player: Peyton Pallette
Key Acquisition (if any): I’m sure they’ll add a pitcher or two.
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season? Now that they added Rhys Hoskins and moved Steven Kwan to centerfield, I feel a ton better about this team. My primary concern is if the starting pitching can reach their potential and avoid injuries… and if Chase DeLauter can maintain some semblance of health. I am looking forward to rooting for these young players to shock the world and won’t be surprised by a playoff run or a year of growing pains. I’m also looking forward to Jose Ramirez continuing to add to his Hall of Fame resume.
MLB predictions:
AL East Winner: Orioles
AL Central Winner: Tigers
AL West Winner: Mariners
Three AL Wildcard Teams: Yankees, Blue Jays, Royals
AL MVP: Gunnar Henderson
AL Cy Young: Trevor Rogers
AL Rookie of the Year: Kevin McGonigle
NL East Winner: Phillies
NL Central Winner: Cubs
NL West Winner: Dodgers
Three NL Wildcard Teams: Mets, Reds, Brewers
NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani
NL Cy Young: Shohei Ohtani
NL Rookie of the Year: Cade Horton
World Series Matchup and Winner: Phillies over Orioles
Staff Composite Guardians’ Record Prediction: 86-76
Now, it’s your turn! Copy and paste below and let us know your predictions in the comments!
Guardians Predictions – Record:
MVP:
Best Rookie:
Breakout Player:
Key Acquisition (if any):
What are you most looking forward to in the 2025 Cleveland Guardians season?
MLB predictions:
AL East Winner:
AL Central Winner:
AL West Winner:
Three AL Wildcard Teams:
AL MVP:
AL Cy Young:
AL Rookie of the Year:
NL East Winner:
NL Central Winner:
NL West Winner:
Three NL Wildcard Teams:
NL MVP:
NL Cy Young:
NL Rookie of the Year:
World Series Matchup and Winner:
