The top 12 storylines for the 2026 MLB season: Skubal’s three-peat try, a looming lockout threat and more

Key Points:

• The Los Angeles Dodgers are favored to win the NL West and potentially secure a third straight World Series title, with strong pitching depth and key free-agent additions, despite a tendency to slow-play the regular season.
• Major League Baseball will debut the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) in 2026, aiming to reduce umpiring errors, though concerns exist about game flow disruptions and players overusing challenges.
• Tarik Skubal, a two-time AL Cy Young winner, is expected to complete his final season with the Detroit Tigers before entering free agency, with potential to win a third straight Cy Young and contribute to a competitive Tigers roster.
• The 2026 season faces the looming threat of a lockout as collective bargaining talks begin, with MLB commissioner Rob Manfred viewing a lockout as a strategic leverage tool in negotiations.
• The American League East remains highly competitive and unpredictable, with all five teams projected closely in standings, while other storylines include new managerial challenges, the Mets’ roster overhaul, and several potential surprise teams like the Marlins and Reds.