Surprising 2026 World Series Matchups That Could Become Reality

The article explores five writers’ wild 2026 World Series predictions. Each features teams that missed the 2025 postseason but could claw back with smart off-season moves, healthier stars, and young talent stepping up.

This blog pulls together those scenarios. Who could surge back into contention by 2026? What would it take for them to reach the Fall Classic?

2026 World Series hopefuls after the 2025 season

From bold retooling in Baltimore to a roster shakeup in New York, these clubs are leaning on depth, better health, and a few gutsy signings to flip the script.

They’re banking on a mix of proven stars and up-and-comers to raise the ceiling for each franchise over the next couple years. It’s a gamble, but isn’t that what baseball’s about?

Baltimore Orioles: A bold 2026 reboot could power a title run

The Orioles stumbled in 2025. Pitching fell apart (fifth-worst ERA), injuries piled up, and the offense just didn’t click.

Now, the front office is rolling the dice: Pete Alonso, Taylor Ward, Shane Baz, and Ryan Helsley join the mix. Add in a healthy Kyle Bradish and continued growth from Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, and Jackson Holliday, and suddenly there’s real hope.

• Pete Alonso
• Taylor Ward
• Shane Baz
• Ryan Helsley

If that group clicks and the young core keeps improving, Baltimore fans could see a 2026 squad that’s actually in the mix—assuming the rotation holds up and injuries don’t wreck things again.

New York Mets: From fade to formidable with explosive overhaul

The Mets started hot in 2025 (62-47), then just collapsed as the pitching unraveled. Now, they’re going for broke: Bo Bichette, Freddy Peralta, Marcus Semien, Luis Robert Jr., and more join Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor.

That’s a ton of power, contact, speed, and defense in one clubhouse. The front office clearly hopes this new blend snaps the club back into postseason relevance in 2026.

Big names signal a culture shift and an attempt to balance the roster. The Mets want a pitching staff that can go the distance and a lineup that won’t vanish in August.

Houston Astros: Injury-hampered year could fuel a steady rebound

The Astros never got going in 2025. Injuries and slumps—Yordan Alvarez missed months, others underperformed—left the team flat.

They responded by adding Tatsuya Imai and Mike Burrows to the rotation, hoping for more reliability. If Alvarez is healthy, the lineup could be dangerous again.

It all comes down to whether the pitching staff can hold up for a full season. That’s the big question, and honestly, your guess is as good as mine.

Atlanta Braves: Health and offense could push them back to the Fall Classic

The Braves battled injuries and a streaky offense in 2025, which tanked their title hopes. Still, projections by WAR look good, and if Ronald Acuña Jr. is back to his best, Atlanta’s ceiling is ridiculously high.

The pitching is there, the lineup can mash, and if Acuña gets rolling, they might just remind everyone why their championship window isn’t closing anytime soon.

Texas Rangers: Offense returns with a revamped rotation

The Rangers saw their bats go cold in 2025, even with a +79 run differential. The front office wasted no time: Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, Jack Leiter, and MacKenzie Gore all step in to stabilize the rotation.

The big mystery is whether the lineup can wake up and support that pitching. If they do, Texas could claw right back into the AL race.

Strong pitching, timely hits, and a deeper bullpen—that’s the recipe. Will it work? Maybe, maybe not, but it’s worth watching.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Rebound with healthy arms and explosive lineup

The D-backs got sunk by pitching problems, plain and simple. But if the rotation gets healthy and the lineup keeps raking, there’s a clear path forward.

Re-signing Zac Gallen and getting Corbin Burnes back would change everything. With those arms and a lineup that can score in bunches, Arizona could be right back in the hunt.

Oakland Athletics and Pittsburgh Pirates: balancing offense and pitching with late-season momentum

Oakland had plenty of offense in 2025 but couldn’t stop anyone. Pittsburgh had the arms but couldn’t score.

Both teams finished strong and made smart lineup tweaks. If they can find some balance—better run production for the Pirates, tighter pitching for Oakland—maybe they snag a Wild Card spot in 2026.

Kansas City Royals: power unlock through in-stadium changes

The Royals had elite pitching in 2025 but almost no offense. Moving in Kauffman Stadium’s walls and adding bats like Isaac Collins could finally spark some power.

If the offense wakes up and the bullpen holds, Kansas City could surprise a lot of people in the AL. Stranger things have happened, right?

San Francisco Giants: a new direction could nudge them back toward contention

Giants have hovered around mediocrity since 2021. Their unconventional hire of Tony Vitello as manager and some modest offseason additions—like Luis Arraez and Harrison Bader—hint at a shift.

Young bats such as Bryce Eldridge might spark a revival. San Francisco looks ready to lean on a mix of offense and pitching depth, hoping to claw back into playoff contention in 2026.

 
Here is the source article for this story: These potential World Series matchups aren’t as unlikely as they seem