The 2026 Major League Baseball season is just getting started, and already a few teams have separated themselves from the pack with impressive early-season performances. The New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers — the sport’s two glamour franchises — are among the early pace-setters, both sitting at 3-0 after the opening days of play. Here’s a full breakdown of where every team stands and which early stories are worth watching as the season develops.
American League Standings (Early Season 2026)
AL East
The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays are tied at the top of the AL East, both sitting at 3-0. It is early days, but both teams come into 2026 with genuine World Series aspirations, and a divisional rivalry that starts at full intensity bodes well for the season ahead. Baltimore is close behind at 2-1, while Boston and Tampa Bay sit at 1-2 apiece and will need to find some consistency quickly.
AL Central
Detroit leads the AL Central at 2-1, with Cleveland one game back at 2-2. Kansas City and Minnesota are struggling out of the gate at 1-2 each, and the Chicago White Sox are still seeking their first win of the season after an 0-3 start — a difficult continuation of what has been a challenging period for the franchise.
AL West
Texas leads the AL West at 2-1, with Seattle and Houston both sitting at 2-2. The Angels are also at 2-2, making the division tightly bunched at the top. The Oakland Athletics, meanwhile, have begun the season 0-3, continuing their recent pattern of difficult early-season starts.
National League Standings (Early Season 2026)
NL West
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the class of the NL West through the first week, sitting at 3-0. The reigning World Series champions look as formidable as ever, and their pitching rotation has been particularly impressive in the early going. San Diego is already 1-2, while San Francisco, Arizona, and Colorado are all 0-3 — a rough start for those three franchises.
NL East
Miami is the early surprise of the NL East, sitting at 3-0 alongside the Marlins’ best early-season start in recent memory. Atlanta, the New York Mets, and Washington are all at 2-1, making the division a tight race behind Miami. Philadelphia sits at 1-2 and will need to get going quickly in what is expected to be a highly competitive division all season.
NL Central
Milwaukee has begun the season in dominant fashion, sitting at a perfect 3-0. Cincinnati and St. Louis are close behind at 2-1 each, while the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh are at 1-2. The NL Central looks like it will be a highly competitive division throughout the summer.
Early Stars of the 2026 Season
Across both leagues, several players have made early impressions. Pitchers who dominated in spring training have been delivering on their promise in regular season action, and a number of high-profile free agent signings from the off-season have hit the ground running. The full picture will take weeks and months to develop, but the early signs are encouraging for several rebuilding franchises.
Key Series to Watch This Week
With the season barely a week old, there are already some intriguing divisional matchups on the schedule. Yankees-Blue Jays, Dodgers-Padres, and Brewers-Cardinals are three series that merit close attention in the coming days. Divisional rivalries this early can set the tone for the entire season, establishing psychological edges that prove surprisingly durable as the 162-game marathon unfolds.
The Long View
It is, of course, worth keeping the early standings in perspective. The history of baseball is full of teams that began the season 3-0 and finished in last place — and of teams that started 0-3 before turning their season around completely. In a 162-game season, the first week represents less than five per cent of the schedule. What the standings tell us right now is more about matchups and early-season momentum than they do about where teams will finish in October.
That said, there is genuine excitement around the 2026 season. Several franchises have made significant roster moves over the winter, the talent level across both leagues is high, and with Artemis II launching tonight, it seems even the cosmos is aligned for something historic. Check back regularly for updated standings and analysis as the season develops.