Newsday's 2026 MLB season preview: Mets, Yankees and more

Key Points:

• Newsday's annual baseball preview features a unique link between baseball and The Beatles, including Beatles-themed Easter eggs throughout the 48-page e-edition, alongside in-depth coverage of the Mets and Yankees as both teams gear up for playoff runs.
• Mets president David Stearns has taken an unorthodox approach to rebuilding the team after their 2025 collapse, while new pitcher Freddy Peralta shares his journey of overcoming early challenges to become a key player for the Mets this season.
• The Yankees face early pitching challenges with key starters sidelined but remain optimistic about their rotation, and star Aaron Judge continues to pursue the ultimate goal of leading New York to a championship despite his impressive individual accolades.
• MLB introduces several key rule changes in 2026, including the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, new base coach positioning rules, and tweaks to obstruction and stolen base rules, aiming to improve fairness and accuracy in the game.
• David Lennon’s 2026 MLB predictions highlight top players like Aaron Judge and Juan Soto, project playoff wins for the Yankees (91) and Mets (90), and spotlight new Hall of Fame inductees Carlos Beltran, Andruw Jones, and Jeff Kent, while also celebrating Long Island’s contribution to Major League Baseball.