We’re approaching a month into the 2026 MLB season and to say the beginning stretch has been a rollercoaster is an understatement. Slow starts in baseball are expected no matter the year, but the number of projected good teams that haven’t been able to put it together so far is astounding. As the weeks go by, there is no doubt that we will see many of these teams climb back up the standings and regain their form, but as of now, it’s interesting to see which teams got the jump on some others and began the season on a good note.
Let’s look at seven of the best teams in baseball right now and see who has been leading them along the way.
7 – Philadelphia Phillies
Both Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber haven’t yet gotten their feet under them in the batter’s box, hitting .222 and .195, respectively. While both men have had individual moments so far, there hasn’t been enough consistency to warrant great team success, hence their 8-10 record to begin the year.
The rest of the lineup has been performing below average to just fine, not really being able to string together any clutch hits daily. In the games they’ve won, things have looked smooth, with great power coming from the top of the lineup. It’s the losses that have tarnished their reputation so far, with some awful pitching and hitting performances that left them out of games early on.
On the pitching end, it’s been a tale of two sides. A mixed bag of starters and relievers has had some of the best outings out of any team so far, while others have done the exact opposite. Christopher Sanchez and Tim Mayza have looked stellar so far, but Jesus Luzardo and Taijuan Walker have struggled mightily.
Give it a few more weeks and this team will more than likely be near the top of the division. It’s the Phillies after all; they always find a way into the playoff picture.
6 – Cincinnati Reds
The most polarizing team in baseball so far, the Reds have impressed the entire league in ways that nobody expected.
With young players down the lineup, it was expected for Cinci to produce offence at a higher rate than they have been. They’ve fallen around the bottom of the league for almost every offensive stat, but where they’ve been winning games has been on the other side of the ball.
What they lack in offence is made up for in the league’s best defence. The Reds have held teams to just 3.3 runs per game, which is tied for fourth in the majors.
Their pitching hasn’t even been outstanding; it’s just been the way they’ve been able to get guys out that has gotten them through games thus far.
Sal Stewart has been on a tear to open the season, hitting .366 with a 1.154 OPS. It’s he and Ellie De La Cruz who are tied for most home runs and stolen bases on the team, carrying the offence along the way to some wins.
5 – Milwaukee Brewers
It’s looking more likely that this Brewers team will dominate the regular season the same way they did last year. The offence is like clockwork again, ranking amongst the top of the league in runs, hits, stolen bases, OBP and slugging. While the other side of the ball has a hit to be desired, there aren’t any real glaring issues on defence that need to be fixed at the moment.
Unfortunately, this team lacks a real sense of threat against the other powerhouses in the National League, especially after last year’s collapse in the playoffs against the Dodgers. However, we aren’t even a month into the season, so for now, they remain a top dog in all of baseball and a team nobody wants to see coming up on their schedules.
4 – New York Mets
It’s no secret the Mets have had some of the lowest lights this season, but besides some player mishaps and bat hitting from Bo Bichette, they’ve still been winning games.
Their overall team stats are relatively high, with an above-average offence that is sure to slowly improve as the season progresses, accompanied by an underrated defence.
The team hasn’t hit many home runs at all, but they’ve been one of the best teams in terms of average, putting bat to ball at a consistent rate.
Aside from David Peterson, who’s got off to a horrendous start, the rest of the pitching staff has been very consistent. Clay Holmes has been almost untouchable in his outings, dicing up hitters with ease.
The lack of power in the offence is what’s holding them back for now but look out for this Mets team a month down the line as they could be the team to beat if everything clicks.
3 – Cleveland Guardians
Talk about being thrown into the fire.
The Guardians opened the 2026 season with the toughest schedule in baseball, facing the Mariners, Dodgers, Cubs, Royals and Diamondbacks.
In those series, the pitching and defence were out of this world. Down the lineup, their arms were unhittable for a stretch against some of the most dangerous offences on paper. When the other teams did manage to put the ball in play, the Guardians had no trouble getting outs.
The bats have left a lot to be desired, especially with Jose Ramirez starting off the season on a cold streak.
They rank so high on the list based on their ability to handle great teams so far, and if their top players can figure a way out of this offensive struggle, there’s no telling what kind of damage this team will do.
2 – New York Yankees
It looks like the Yankees took the playoff loss to the Blue Jays to heart.
Although the numbers might not show it, the offence has looked pretty stellar so far, thanks to all their best players showing up at the plate. The pitching has also been great and overall, the vibes are those of a warrior seeking revenge.
There isn’t much to say about this team other than: they are the Yankees and have a ton of great hitters and one of the best pitching staffs in the league.
It’s whether the other teams in the American League East can step up and give them any competition moving ahead.
1 – Los Angeles Dodgers
No surprise here. The Dodgers have been shining the brightest so far amidst a potential dynasty run off the heels of their back-to-back World Series titles. Like the Yankees, there really isn’t much to say about this team.
The bats have been hot, the pitching has been great and when they lose, it feels like a call for celebration. That’s how you know when a team is better than everyone.