Milan, 25 March 2026 – The night between today and tomorrow marks the beginning of a new Major League Baseball season, the most iconic championship in world baseball. As per tradition, there will be 162 games for each team, an exhausting journey that will cross spring and summer until arriving at the World Series in the autumn.
The Protagonists: Dodgers Always Favorites
The World Baseball Classic, the World Cup organized by MLB itself, was recently won by Venezuela. The tournament saw Italy, led by Francisco Cervelli, amaze the world, reaching the semi-final for the first time in its history, after defeating the United States and Mexico, before being stopped by Venezuela. These performances sparked increased media attention to the sport in Italy. This wave of enthusiasm accompanies the start of MLB, where the spotlight is inevitably on the Los Angeles Dodgers, the reigning two-time champions. The 2025 World Series saw a 4-3 victory for the Dodgers against the Toronto Blue Jays. The team, managed by Dave Roberts, aims for a three-peat, a feat last achieved by the New York Yankees from 1998-2000.
Leading the charge is global star Shohei Ohtani, considered the most complete player in the league. Ohtani is supported by a talented roster including compatriot Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the MVP of the last World Series, catcher Will Smith, first baseman Freddie Freeman and outfielders Kyle Tucker and Mookie Betts. Completing the stellar team is Puerto Rican Edwin Diaz, considered the best closer in MLB.
The Pursuers: Toronto, Philadelphia, and Seattle
However, several teams will challenge the Dodgers, starting with the Toronto Blue Jays, the 2025 World Series runners-up. Led by Dominican first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. And reinforced by the additions of starter Dylan Cease and Japanese star Kazuma Okamoto, the Blue Jays are determined to return stronger than ever. In the American League, the Seattle Mariners, featuring catcher Cal Raleigh, last season’s home run leader for a catcher, and the Detroit Tigers, led by pitcher Tarik Skubal, are also contenders.
In the National League, alongside the Dodgers, division rivals San Diego Padres, with stars Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., and the Chicago Cubs, featuring new arrival Alex Bregman, pose a threat. The East Coast will see a classic challenge between the Philadelphia Phillies, led by Bryce Harper, and the New York Mets, featuring Juan Soto. The New York Yankees will open their season tonight against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, with the game broadcast live on Netflix, led by Aaron Judge, considered the best power hitter in the league.
The Novelty: The ABS System
Baseball has traditionally been a sport resistant to change. However, in recent years, the game has evolved to increase entertainment and meet television needs, such as the introduction of the pitch clock. The 2026 season marks a further technological step with the debut of the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) in “challenge” version. Already tested in the Minor Leagues and during Spring Training, ABS uses advanced technology (Hawk-Eye and T-Mobile’s 5G network) to correct incorrect calls on balls and strikes, without completely eliminating the human umpire. Teams can contest calls via challenge, with each team starting with two challenges per game. A successful challenge preserves the remaining challenges, while a failed challenge results in a loss. Only the batter, pitcher, or catcher may request a challenge immediately after the call, without assistance from the bench. This represents a revolution for a sport steeped in tradition.