Baseball fans, are many of you losing sleep these days? Honestly, I know I’m not the only one. The 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) season has finally kicked off, and all sorts of drama are already unfolding. What legendary games will be born this year? Who will emerge as a new star? This season truly makes it impossible to manage expectations. Friends who are as passionate about baseball as I am probably already know everything from season predictions to major events, but for those who might not be fully up to speed, I’ll highlight the key points.
2026 MLB: Major Events You’ll Regret Missing!
This year’s MLB regular season runs from March 26 to September 27, with the postseason starting on September 29 and the World Series continuing until late October. The schedule is quite packed, isn’t it? Perhaps that’s why there are already so many unmissable events throughout the season.
- All-Star Game Extravaganza: On July 14, the 96th All-Star Game will be held at Citizens Bank Park, the home stadium of the Philadelphia Phillies. No baseball fan can miss this festival.
- International Big Matches:
- Mexico City Series: On April 25 and 26, the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres will play a two-game series in Mexico City.
- Field of Dreams Game: On August 13, the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies will play a game at the site recreated from the movie ‘Field of Dreams’.
- 9/11 25th Anniversary Subway Series: The Subway Series, a rivalry between the New York Yankees and New York Mets, will take place from September 11 to 13 at Yankee Stadium. It also commemorates the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Unfortunately, the originally scheduled London Series has been canceled due to the 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule, which is a bit disappointing.
Championship Contenders? Dodgers Again? Or a New Powerhouse?
Honestly, it’s undeniable that the LA Dodgers are the top championship contender again this year. MLB.com also ranked the Dodgers #1 in their first power rankings of the season. They achieved back-to-back World Series victories last season, and they’re looking to strengthen their bullpen and outfield, so their determination for a three-peat seems incredible.
However, the Toronto Blue Jays are not to be underestimated. Although they narrowly lost to the Dodgers in the 2025 World Series, they’re aiming for another championship by acquiring top players like Dylan Cease. Early in the season, unexpected results are pouring in, such as the Blue Jays being swept by the White Sox and the Boston Red Sox setting the worst record in MLB. With a continuous string of upsets, it makes me think that baseball is truly a sport you have to watch until the very end.
The Performance of Korean Players and Superstar Ohtani
We can’t leave out news about our Korean players. Both Jung Hoo Lee (San Francisco Giants) and Ha-Seong Kim (Atlanta Braves) are expected to achieve better results in the 2026 season, so there’s much to look forward to. In particular, Jung Hoo Lee has vowed to be more proactive in communicating with outfielders, and Ha-Seong Kim is also expected to show excellent defensive skills once he recovers from his injury.
And of course, we can’t talk about Shohei Ohtani (LA Dodgers). This year, he’s projected to win his 5th MVP award, maintaining his top-tier skills as both a pitcher and a hitter. He’s even successfully returned to the mound as a pitcher, so there’s really nothing more to say than that he’s an all-time great player. Early in the season, Dodgers’ Page is leading the batting leaderboard with a .452 average, and Ohtani is also considered a strong candidate for the National League home run title, so things are already heating up.
The 2026 MLB season truly seems to be full of sights to see and unpredictable fun. I lose track of time watching what games will unfold each day and who will become the hero. Let’s all relieve our stress by watching baseball!