Predicting Every MLB Team's 2026 Opening Day Lineup, Version 3.0
Almost a month has passed since we last updated our Opening Day lineup predictions, and several of the top names available in free agency have since found a new home.
Kyle Tucker (Dodgers), Alex Bregman (Cubs), Bo Bichette (Mets), Cody Bellinger (Yankees), Kazuma Okamoto (Blue Jays) and Harrison Bader (Giants) are all now signed, while Nolan Arenado (D-backs) and Luis Robert Jr. (Mets) also found new homes via trade.
That leaves Eugenio Suárez and Luis Arraez as the top bats left in free agency, while Marcell Ozuna, Miguel Andujar, Austin Hays, Paul Goldschmidt, Rhys Hoskins and Jonah Heim are also available.
Lineup data from Baseball Reference, roster data from FanGraphs and a healthy amount of speculation on where those remaining free agents will sign went into compiling each team's projected batting order.
Note: Names in bold indicate a projected signing or trade pickup.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Projected Lineup
SS Geraldo Perdomo
2B Ketel Marte
RF Corbin Carroll
3B Nolan Arenado
DH Pavin Smith
C Gabriel Moreno
1B Paul Goldschmidt
CF Alek Thomas
LF Jordan Lawlar
Quick Thoughts: The addition of Nolan Arenado likely means Jordan Lawlar is headed to the outfield this spring, and he could battle with Blaze Alexander for the open left field job while Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is sidelined. A reunion with Paul Goldschmidt still makes a ton of sense, and after posting a .981 OPS in 168 plate appearances against lefties last year, he still has plenty left in the tank.
Athletics
2 of 30
Projected Lineup
2B Jeff McNeil
SS Jacob Wilson
1B Nick Kurtz
DH Brent Rooker
LF Tyler Soderstrom
C Shea Langeliers
RF Lawrence Butler
3B Max Muncy
CF Denzel Clarke
Quick Thoughts: The biggest question mark for the Athletics heading into spring training is who is going to play third base, with Max Muncy and Zack Gelof expected to battle it out for the starting job. It will be interesting to see who they decide to use in the leadoff spot, as Lawrence Butler (99 games), Jacob Wilson (20), Nick Kurtz (18) and Shea Langeliers (15) all saw time there last year.
Atlanta Braves
3 of 30
Projected Lineup
DH Jurickson Profar
1B Matt Olson
RF Ronald Acuña Jr.
C Drake Baldwin
3B Austin Riley
CF Michael Harris II
2B Ozzie Albies
LF Mike Yastrzemski
SS Mauricio Dubón
Quick Thoughts: With Sean Murphy (hip surgery) and Ha-Seong Kim (torn finger tendon) both expected to start the year on the injured list, there's not much to sort out in the Braves lineup. Once Murphy returns, it will be interesting to see how often they try to get him and Drake Baldwin in the starting lineup, which in turn causes a logjam in the outfield. For now, this should be the go-to starting nine, with Jorge Mateo also an option at shortstop.
Baltimore Orioles
4 of 30
Projected Lineup
2B Jackson Holliday
3B Jordan Westburg
SS Gunnar Henderson
1B Pete Alonso
C Adley Rutschman
LF Taylor Ward
CF Colton Cowser
RF Tyler O'Neill
DH Samuel Basallo (R)
Quick Thoughts: With a $16.5 million salary, Tyler O'Neill is set to be the second-highest paid player on the Orioles roster in 2026, and that likely means he will be given every opportunity to win a starting job in the outfield. That said, don't be surprised if Dylan Beavers gives him a serious run for his money, while Heston Kjerstad is also lurking as a post-hype sleeper.
Boston Red Sox
5 of 30
Projected Lineup
LF Roman Anthony
SS Trevor Story
DH Jarren Duran
1B Willson Contreras
RF Wilyer Abreu
C Carlos Narváez
3B Marcelo Mayer
2B Romy González
CF Ceddanne Rafaela
Quick Thoughts: There is still a chance the Red Sox will pivot to Eugenio Suárez after failing to re-sign Alex Bregman, but he has other suitors, and steering clear would allow Marcelo Mayer to remain at the hot corner where he fits best defensively. Assuming they stick to wanting to use Ceddanne Rafaela exclusively in the outfield, that leaves Romy González as the leading candidate for second base duties.
Chicago Cubs
6 of 30
Projected Lineup
1B Michael Busch
3B Alex Bregman
LF Ian Happ
RF Seiya Suzuki
CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
2B Nico Hoerner
C Carson Kelly
DH Moisés Ballesteros (R)
SS Dansby Swanson
Quick Thoughts: The addition of Alex Bregman pushes Matt Shaw into a super-utility role, and that could mean a revolving door at designated hitter to help keep everyone fresh. For now, Moisés Ballesteros is penciled in as the starter there, and he has earned an extended look after hitting .333/.435/.564 over 46 plate appearances in September.
Chicago White Sox
7 of 30
Projected Lineup
2B Chase Meidroth
C Kyle Teel
SS Colson Montgomery
3B Miguel Vargas
1B Munetaka Murakami (R)
DH Lenyn Sosa
LF Andrew Benintendi
CF Luisangel Acuña
RF Everson Pereira
Quick Thoughts: The outfield will be a focal point for the White Sox this spring. Luisangel Acuña is the favorite to replace Luis Robert Jr. in center field, while Everson Pereira and Derek Hill are both out of minor league options and will try to edge out Brooks Baldwin for the right field job. Former top prospect Jarred Kelenic is also in camp on a minor league deal looking to jump start his career.
Cincinnati Reds
8 of 30
Projected Lineup
CF TJ Friedl
RF Noelvi Marte
SS Elly De La Cruz
1B Spencer Steer
DH Sal Stewart (R)
C Tyler Stephenson
LF JJ Bleday
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
2B Matt McLain
Quick Thoughts: A reunion with Miguel Andujar is still a possibility for the Reds, which would add to a left field situation currently headlined by offseason pickups JJ Bleday and Dane Myers. The Gavin Lux trade opens the door for Sal Stewart to see everyday playing time after he posted a 121 OPS+ with five home runs in 58 plate appearances as a September call-up.
Cleveland Guardians
9 of 30
Projected Lineup
LF Steven Kwan
RF George Valera
3B José Ramírez
1B Kyle Manzardo
CF Chase DeLauter (R)
2B Travis Bazzana (R)
DH C.J. Kayfus
C Bo Naylor
SS Gabriel Arias
Quick Thoughts: Ideally, the Guardians would not enter camp relying on Chase DeLauter, C.J. Kayfus and George Valera to all handle starting jobs given their lack of experience, but their penny pinching means a significant focus on in-house contributions. Can Travis Bazzana make a play for an Opening Day roster spot while also suiting up for Team Australia in the World Baseball Classic?
Colorado Rockies
10 of 30
Projected Lineup
SS Ezequiel Tovar
DH Mickey Moniak
C Hunter Goodman
LF Jordan Beck
1B Edouard Julien
CF Brenton Doyle
3B Willi Castro
2B Ryan Ritter
RF Jake McCarthy
Quick Thoughts: It's been a busy offseason by Rockies standards, with Willi Castro signed to a two-year, $12.8 million deal, while Jake McCarthy and Edouard Julien were both acquired in buy-low trades. Assuming Julien is going to fill the hole at first base, that leaves an open battle at second base between Ryan Ritter, Adael Amador, Tyler Freeman and non-roster invitee Nicky Lopez.
Detroit Tigers
11 of 30
Projected Lineup
3B Colt Keith
2B Gleyber Torres
DH Kerry Carpenter
LF Riley Greene
1B Spencer Torkelson
RF Wenceel Pérez
C Dillon Dingler
SS Kevin McGonigle (R)
CF Parker Meadows
Quick Thoughts: After hitting .362/.500/.710 with 12 extra-base hits in 90 plate appearances to win Arizona Fall League MVP honors, Kevin McGonigle will get a long look for the starting shortstop job. Javier Báez, Zach McKinstry and Trey Sweeney are also options, but none of them are going to stand in the way of arguably the No. 1 prospect in baseball if he looks ready this spring.
Houston Astros
12 of 30
Projected Lineup
SS Jeremy Peña
LF Yordan Alvarez
2B Jose Altuve
3B Carlos Correa
DH Isaac Paredes
1B Christian Walker
C Yainer Díaz
RF Cam Smith
CF Jake Meyers
Quick Thoughts: The deal to re-acquire Carlos Correa created a lot of moving parts on the Astros roster. Isaac Paredes gets pushed off third base and now figures to see the bulk of his time at designated hitter or possibly second base, which in turn means Yordan Alvarez or Jose Altuve will need to see more time in left field. Meanwhile, the other two outfield spots are wide open, with Cam Smith, Jake Meyers, Jesús Sánchez and Zach Cole the leading candidates, though all four are a solid bet to crack the 26-man roster.
Kansas City Royals
13 of 30
Projected Lineup
3B Maikel García
SS Bobby Witt Jr.
1B Vinnie Pasquantino
C Salvador Perez
RF Jac Caglianone
2B Jonathan India
DH Carter Jensen (R)
LF Isaac Collins
CF Kyle Isbel
Quick Thoughts: Will the Royals want to use their backup catcher as their primary designated hitter? If the answer is no, they could make a run at signing Marcell Ozuna or Miguel Andujar before the offseason winds to a close, but either way, Carter Jensen showed enough in September to warrant regular playing time. If Lane Thomas rebounds, it could push glove-first Kyle Isbel into the fourth outfielder role.
Los Angeles Angels
14 of 30
Projected Lineup
SS Zach Neto
1B Nolan Schanuel
DH Mike Trout
LF Jorge Soler
CF Josh Lowe
RF Jo Adell
3B Yoán Moncada
C Logan O'Hoppe
2B Christian Moore
Quick Thoughts: Bringing back Yoán Moncada on a one-year, $4 million deal to serve as the starting third baseman means Christian Moore, Vaughn Grissom, Oswald Peraza, Kyren Paris and non-roster invitee Nick Madrigal will all be competing for playing time at second base. Expect to see Josh Lowe in center field after Jo Adell posted some of the worst defensive metrics (-13 DRS, -8 OAA) in baseball at the position in 2025.
Los Angeles Dodgers
15 of 30
Projected Lineup
DH Shohei Ohtani
SS Mookie Betts
1B Freddie Freeman
C Will Smith
RF Kyle Tucker
LF Teoscar Hernandez
3B Max Muncy
CF Andy Pages
2B Miguel Rojas
Quick Thoughts: With Tommy Edman recovering from ankle surgery, the Dodgers will use some combination of Miguel Rojas, Hyeseong Kim and perhaps Alex Freeland if he plays his way onto the Opening Day roster at second base to start the year. Andy Ibáñez is a career .280/.327/.452 hitter against left-handed pitching, so he could see some platoon work at third base to help keep Max Muncy fresh.
Miami Marlins
16 of 30
Projected Lineup
2B Xavier Edwards
CF Jakob Marsee
LF Kyle Stowers
DH Agustín Ramírez
RF Owen Caissie (R)
SS Otto Lopez
1B Nathaniel Lowe
C Joe Mack (R)
3B Connor Norby
Quick Thoughts: Agustín Ramírez was bad enough defensively behind the plate last season that he could already be a DH-only option going forward, which would in turn open the door for top prospect Joe Mack to push for the starting catcher job this spring. A buy-low first base option like Nathaniel Lowe or Ty France makes sense, though Christopher Morel is an intriguing reclamation project who could also plug in there to start the year.
Milwaukee Brewers
17 of 30
Projected Lineup
LF Jackson Chourio
2B Brice Turang
C William Contreras
DH Christian Yelich
1B Andrew Vaughn
RF Sal Frelick
3B Caleb Durbin
CF Garrett Mitchell
SS Joey Ortiz
Quick Thoughts: The biggest question for the Brewers is how they will line up defensively in the outfield, with Jackson Chourio and Sal Frelick locked into two starting spots, while oft-injured Garret Mitchell, Blake Perkins and Jake Bauers are the leading candidates to join them in the starting lineup. All three will likely be part of the Opening Day roster, so it could come down to who has the hot hand to close out spring training.
Minnesota Twins
18 of 30
Projected Lineup
CF Byron Buxton
2B Luke Keaschall
1B Josh Bell
RF Matt Wallner
3B Royce Lewis
LF Trevor Larnach
DH Marcell Ozuna
C Ryan Jeffers
SS Brooks Lee
Quick Thoughts: Ideally, the Twins would use one of Matt Wallner or Trevor Larnach at designated hitter, but the opportunity to buy low on Marcell Ozuna and potentially flip him at the trade deadline could become an appealing option for a team clearly focused on retooling. Likewise, there is a good chance Josh Bell will be on the move this summer if he is swinging it well after signing a one-year, $7 million deal.
New York Mets
19 of 30
Projected Lineup
SS Francisco Lindor
RF Juan Soto
3B Bo Bichette
1B Jorge Polanco
2B Marcus Semien
LF Brett Baty
CF Luis Robert Jr.
DH Mark Vientos
C Francisco Álvarez
Quick Thoughts: Bo Bichette (SS to 3B) and Jorge Polanco (2B to 1B) are both set to line up at new positions in 2026, and Brett Baty will likely also be part of that list as the leading in-house candidate for a wide open left field job. Top prospect Carson Benge could also force his way into the picture with a strong spring, which would likely mean Baty is the primary DH and Mark Vientos settles for a bench role.
New York Yankees
20 of 30
Projected Lineup
CF Trent Grisham
RF Aaron Judge
LF Cody Bellinger
DH Giancarlo Stanton
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
1B Ben Rice
3B Ryan McMahon
SS José Caballero
C Austin Wells
Quick Thoughts: With Anthony Volpe (shoulder surgery) expected to start the season on the injured list, some combination of José Caballero, Amed Rosario and Oswaldo Cabrera will be tasked with holding down the fort at shortstop. Ben Rice hit just .208 in 119 plate appearances against left-handed pitching last year, so a right-handed hitting platoon partner like Paul Goldschmidt or Rhys Hoskins could make sense as a late addition.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Projected Lineup
DH Kyle Schwarber
SS Trea Turner
1B Bryce Harper
3B Alec Bohm
LF Brandon Marsh
RF Adolis García
2B Bryson Stott
C J.T. Realmuto
CF Justin Crawford (R)
Quick Thoughts: With J.T. Realmuto re-signed and Justin Crawford set to be turned loose as the everyday center fielder, the Phillies starting lineup appears to be as set as any in baseball. Assuming the plan is still to cut ties with Nick Castellanos, they could look to add some outfield depth, though Johan Rojas and non-roster invitee Bryan De La Cruz are candidates to fill that void.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Projected Lineup
1B Spencer Horwitz
2B Brandon Lowe
RF Bryan Reynolds
3B Eugenio Suárez
DH Ryan O'Hearn
SS Nick Gonzales
CF Oneil Cruz
C Joey Bart
LF Jake Mangum
Quick Thoughts: Given their recent handling of Paul Skenes, the odds that top prospect Konnor Griffin is part of the Opening Day roster are likely lower than fellow top prospects like Kevin McGonigle (DET), Travis Bazzana (CLE) and JJ Wetherholt (STL). That said, Nick Gonzales is simply keeping the shortstop position warm for him given his precipitous rise through the Pittsburgh system. Meanwhile, closing out a busy offseason with a short-term deal for slugger Eugenio Suárez would be a nice final piece of the lineup puzzle to start the year.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Projected Lineup
RF Fernando Tatis Jr.
CF Jackson Merrill
3B Manny Machado
1B Gavin Sheets
LF Ramón Laureano
SS Xander Bogaerts
DH Miguel Andujar
2B Jake Cronenworth
C Freddy Fermin
Quick Thoughts: Starting pitching is the most pressing need for the Padres, but there is also a hole to fill somewhere at first base, second base or designated hitter, depending on where Jake Cronenworth and Gavin Sheets line up. Marcell Ozuna and Miguel Andujar are both logical targets to fill the DH role, while a reunion with Luis Arraez is also an increasing possibility as his free agency drags into the waning weeks of the offseason.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Projected Lineup
RF Jung Hoo Lee
SS Willy Adames
1B Rafael Devers
3B Matt Chapman
LF Heliot Ramos
CF Harrison Bader
DH Bryce Eldridge (R)
2B Casey Schmitt
C Patrick Bailey
Quick Thoughts: With Harrison Bader signed to address a clear hole in the outfield and a glaring need for better defense alongside Jung Hoo Lee (-18 DRS, -5 OAA) and Heliot Ramos (-6 DRS, -9 OAA), the Giants lineup is likely set. Tyler Fitzgerald is one player to monitor this spring, as he could make a run at the second base job with a bounce-back performance.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Projected Lineup
2B Luis Arraez
CF Julio Rodríguez
C Cal Raleigh
1B Josh Naylor
LF Randy Arozarena
DH Dominic Canzone
SS J.P. Crawford
RF Victor Robles
3B Ben Williamson
Quick Thoughts: If the season started today, it would be some combination of Cole Young, Ben Williamson and top prospect Colt Emerson handling second base and third base. A reunion with Eugenio Suárez remains a possibility, but after they ranked sixth in the majors with 1,446 strikeouts last year, Luis Arraez might be the better late-offseason target. His defense at second base leaves something to be desired, but it might be worth the trade-off for his contact skills atop the lineup.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Projected Lineup
SS Masyn Winn
2B Brendan Donovan
1B Alec Burleson
C Iván Herrera
DH Nolan Gorman
LF Lars Nootbaar
RF Jordan Walker
3B JJ Wetherholt (R)
CF Victor Scott II
Quick Thoughts: With Nolan Arenado finally offloaded in a trade with the D-backs, the path is clear for top prospect JJ Wetherholt to win the starting third base job this spring. The No. 7 overall pick in the 2024 draft hit .306/.421/.510 with 47 extra-base hits in 109 games in the upper levels of the minors last year, but is blocked by Masyn Winn at his natural shortstop spot. If a Brendan Donovan trade happens in the late stages of the spring, pencil in Thomas Saggese at second base.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Projected Lineup
2B Gavin Lux
DH Yandy Díaz
1B Jonathan Aranda
3B Junior Caminero
CF Cedric Mullins
RF Jake Fraley
SS Carson Williams (R)
C Jonah Heim
LF Chandler Simpson
Quick Thoughts: Will it be up-and-coming Carson Williams at shortstop to start the year for the Rays, or will he return to Triple-A for more seasoning while defensive standout Taylor Walls handles the position? With Nick Fortes and Hunter Feduccia the only catchers on the 40-man roster aside from prospect Dominic Keegan, an outside addition remains a distinct possibility.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Projected Lineup
RF Brandon Nimmo
LF Wyatt Langford
SS Corey Seager
1B Jake Burger
DH Joc Pederson
3B Josh Jung
2B Josh Smith
C Danny Jansen
CF Evan Carter
Quick Thoughts: The Marcus Semien-for-Brandon Nimmo swap gives the Rangers some much-needed OBP at the top of the lineup, but this is largely the same group that finished 22nd in the majors in runs scored in 2025. That said, with better healthy from Corey Seager and a return to form from Jake Burger and Josh Jung in run production roles, there is ample room for in-house improvement.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Projected Lineup
DH George Springer
RF Addison Barger
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
CF Daulton Varsho
C Alejandro Kirk
LF Anthony Santander
3B Kazuma Okamoto (R)
2B Ernie Clement
SS Andrés Giménez
Quick Thoughts: The Blue Jays lost Bo Bichette and whiffed in their pursuit of Kyle Tucker, yet this still feels like a lineup capable of being one of the most potent offenses in baseball. Addison Barger, Ernie Clement and a healthy Daulton Varsho all have clear up arrows, while Kazuma Okamoto could be a huge addition with six 30-homer seasons under his belt in Japan.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Projected Lineup
SS CJ Abrams
LF Daylen Lile
DH James Wood
1B Rhys Hoskins
2B Luis García Jr.
3B Brady House
C Keibert Ruiz
RF Dylan Crews
CF Jacob Young
Quick Thoughts: The Nationals will almost certainly plug the hole at first base with one of the veterans still left in free agency, but aside from that, they are set to run it back with the group that closed out the 2025 season. Dylan Crews and Brady House both have top prospect pedigrees and significant untapped potential, while Daylen Lile was quietly one of the best hitters in baseball during the second half with a .333/.380/.576 line and 27 extra-base hits in 230 plate appearances.
