MLB Risers and Fallers

Risers

Gina’s Pick: New York Mets

New York is coming off one of its most disappointing seasons yet. After signing Juan Soto to the largest contract in professional sports history in free agency last year, the Mets won just 83 games and missed the playoffs in 2025.

What appeared to be a disastrous offseason for the Mets — marked by the losses of fan favorites Pete Alonso, Edwin Díaz and Brandon Nimmo — turned around as the team made several notable acquisitions.

The additions of Bo Bichette on a 3-year, $126 million deal and a trade to send ace Freddy Peralta to Queens were among some of the moves the Mets made to retool their roster.

With a lineup featuring Soto, Bichette, Francisco Lindor and Luis Robert Jr., New York’s offense is stronger than ever.

If everything goes the Mets’ way, they are heavily favored to win the NL East in 2026.

Jack’s Pick: Boston Red Sox

As a Yankees fan, this Boston Red Sox team is terrifying. A fully healthy starting rotation featuring Garrett Crochet, Sonny Gray, Ranger Suarez, Brayan Bello and Connelly Early has the potential to rank among the top tier in ERA leaguewide.

The bullpen is just as strong, led by Greg Weissert, Garrett Whitlock and the ageless Aroldis Chapman, who posted a 1.17 ERA with 32 saves at age 37.

The infield remains the biggest question mark. Marcelo Mayer and Caleb Durbin are entering their second seasons, while veterans Trevor Story and Willson Contreras appear to be nearing the end.

Still, the outfield may be the best in baseball. Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu provide elite production on both sides of the ball, with Roman Anthony adding even more firepower at designated hitter and offering defensive flexibility.

If the infield holds steady and the pitching stays healthy, this is a roster built to contend deep into October and one that could give the Yankees and the rest of the American League East serious problems all season.

Fallers

Gina’s Pick: San Diego Padres

After winning 90 games in 2025 and finishing just behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West, the Padres are projected to decline in 2026.

Roster inconsistencies, limited starting pitching depth and an aging core are factors that could prevent San Diego from matching its previous success.

The Padres had several key departures this offseason, including RHP Dylan Cease to the Toronto Blue Jays and 1B Luis Arraez to division rival the San Francisco Giants.

Despite this, the Padres are expected to have one of the league’s best bullpens, led by coveted closer Mason Miller.

Yet these losses to the Padres’ overall depth will bring struggles in 2026, especially when directly competing with the reigning world champions.

Jack’s Pick: Atlanta Braves

Just when it seemed the Atlanta Braves were positioned to rebound, their season has taken a hit before it even began. The roster was heavily impacted by injuries during spring training.

In the short term, the Braves are without starting pitcher Spencer Strider, shortstop Ha-Seong Kim and designated hitter Sean Murphy, all of whom are expected to be sidelined until May.

The longer-term outlook is just as concerning. Starting pitchers Hurston Waldrep, who posted a 2.88 ERA in his rookie season, and Spencer Schwellenbach, who carried an ERA just above 3.00 before going down in 2025, are both expected to miss significant time into the summer.

Odds are, these pitching injuries will place added strain on the remaining healthy arms, forcing the Braves to rely heavily on limited depth early in the season. That kind of workload can take a toll over time, potentially impacting both effectiveness and durability down the stretch.

In a highly competitive National League East, that concern is amplified. With teams like the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies expected to contend, falling behind early or wearing down late could make it difficult for Atlanta to keep pace in the division race.

Gina Scarpa is a second-year broadcast journalism major. To contact her, please email gfs5427@psu.edu.

Jack Dobbins is a first-year broadcast journalism major. To contact him, please email jwd5889@psu.edu.