Kansas City Royals
After defeating the New York Mets in five games in 2015, Kansas City secured its second World Series title, ending a 30-year championship drought for the American League Central squad.
Now 11 years later, the Royals currently hold a 3-3 record in 2026, but as the season progresses, will see their name near the top of the standings. Following a bitter end to last season, the Royals look to flip the switch in 2026 with the talent and pitching depth necessary to find themselves hoisting the Commissioner’s Trophy in October.
The Royals may not be the obvious pick to win the World Series, but the MLB season lasts 162 games for each team, so it’s safe to say the Royals have ample time to aim their sights in the right direction.
Heading the pitching staff for the Royals is left-handed Cole Ragans, who is returning from an injury-plagued 2025. Ragans only pitched 61 ⅔ innings last year, ending with a 3-3 record, but aims to be an instrumental part in turning the tide for the Royals this season.
Fans remember his All-Star performance in 2024, where Ragans won 11 games and held a 3.14 earned run average. If Ragans can summon that form again, the pitching staff will have a key cornerstone.
Fellow southpaw Kris Bubic and veteran starter Seth Lugo also look to have strong seasons on the bump. Bubic stands at 6-foot-6 and 230 pounds, dealing 116 strikeouts a season ago with a 2.55 ERA. Lugo tallied an 8-7 record last season with 125 strikeouts.
Young star shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. is coming off consecutive All-Star seasons, including an American League batting title in 2024. Last season, his hitting dropped “only” to .294 as he led the Royals in doubles and singles. First baseman Vinnie Pasquantino returns to add some pop into the lineup, leading the team in home runs last season with 32.
Another bat that can aid the Royals’ lineup this season is former sixth overall pick in the 2024 draft, Jac Caglianone. If Caglianone can make a similar sophomore jump like Witt, the top of the lineup could be dangerous.
The Royals have shocked the baseball world once, and with a multitude of talents this year amid a weak division, they are primed to do it again.
Atlanta Braves
The 2025 season was one to forget for Braves fans. They finished with a disappointing 76-86record and were hampered by injuries to star outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. and ace pitcher Chris Sale.
However, the core that led Atlanta to consecutive 100-plus win seasons in 2023 and 2024 is still intact, and that was enough for me to pick them to win the World Series.
That core features 2023 NL MVP Acuña Jr. and All-Stars Austin Riley, Matt Olson, and Ozzie Albies. The Braves won too many games to not have a World Series in those years. It’s time.
Despite a losing record, the Braves still managed the 13th-best team OPS at .720 in the league last year. That was in spite of Acuña Jr. only playing 95 games. If Acuña can stay injury free this year, his power and speed, with 41 homers and 73 stolen bases in 2023, will pose a danger to opposing pitching staffs.
The Braves’ key to winning a World Series starts with keeping the pitching staff healthy. In 2025, the five starting pitchers on the Opening Day roster were all on the 60-day injured list by the halfway point in the year.
Arguably the biggest loss from injury last year was starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder just one start into 2025. If he can return to his 2024 form, where he posted a 1.99 earned run average in 25 starts, he changes the landscape of the rotation immediately.
One big problem still looms in the Braves’ way even if they can stay healthy. While not in the same division as Atlanta, the Los Angeles Dodgers still run the National League, securing consecutive World Series titles and have one of the most loaded lineups in MLB history.
That lineup is led by former MVPs Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. Not many teams can even come close to competing with that. The Braves are one of those few teams.
While they aren’t the most common World Series pick, the Braves posed enough intrigue that I couldn’t resist picking them.