Ranking the Top 5 Best Lineups as the MLB Season Starts

As the MLB opening day finally comes around, it is time to rank the top five lineups heading into the season. This can definitely change during the season, but based on the last few seasons, these five lineups should definitely be good, if not elite. A lineup won’t single-handedly drag a team into the playoffs, but it can and will help a team into the playoffs. Here are some lineups that will be very awesome to see in 2026:

Best Lineups in Heading Into the 2026 Season

5. Athletics (2025: 76-86)

The Athletics simply surprised a lot of people last season after only going 76-86. For a team that consistently losses over 90-100 games a year, the A’s were both surprising and fun to watch in 2025. This was mainly because of their exciting offense. In 2026, the A’s are in a likeliness a long-shot for a playoff position, mainly because their rotation is among the worst in the MLB. However, their lineup remains among the best:
1. Nick Kurtz, 1B
2. Shea Langeliers, C
3. Tyler Soderstrom, LF
4. Brent Rooker, DH
5. Jacob Wilson, SS
6. Lawrence Butler, RF
7. Max Muncy, 3B
8. Jeff McNeil, 2B
9. Denzel Clarke, CF

Kurtz hit .290 with 36 homers in just 117 games last season, and he is capable of putting up unbelievable numbers in 2025. This doesn’t take into account some players that are amazing as well, such as Langeliers, who himself hit 31 home runs with a .277 average last season. Meanwhile, Rooker has had three straight 30 homer seasons, with 39 in 2024 and 30 in 23 and 25. The youngster Soderstrom had 25 HR’s last season with again a good .276 average. Wilson hit .311 last season. Butler had a great 2024 and an okay 2025.

The bottom three of the order causes the lineup to fall off dramatically, but that doesn’t mean much with the power and hitting of the top six. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the A’s have the best lineup in baseball in 2026, especially with such youth. This lineup is nothing short of scary.

4. New York Yankees (2025: 94-68)

The New York Yankees have pretty much built a really good lineup that has balance. So much so that many young stars are backed up in the minor leagues because of the skill of the outfield. As almost every season, the Yankees are a playoff team with an remarkably powerful lineup. The good thing as well is the Yankees rotation shouldn’t cost them many wins at all. At the end of the season, the Yank’s could very well have the best lineup in baseball (as everyone else on the list). Here is what it looks like in 2026:

1. Trent Grisham, CF
2. Aaron Judge, RF
3. Cody Bellinger, LF
4. Ben Rice, 1B
5. Giancarlo Stanton, DH
6. Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B
7. Ryan McMahon, 3B
8. José Caballero, SS
9. Austin Wells, C

Judge is well – Judge, a guaranteed 50 homer, over 100 RBI, season. It will be interesting to see if Grisham can continue his success, after having an breakout season that saw him hit 34 HR’s last season. Grisham remains a huge “what if”. Bellinger meanwhile could be the man that could replace Juan Soto, at least mostly, as being the elite hitter next to Judge. After his MLB career almost died, Bellinger revived it with the Cubs and broke out with the Yank’s hitting 29 HR’s with a good .272 average and 98 RBIs. Rice is another pretty big “what if” for the Yankees after a nice 25-homer campaign.

Stanton remained last season a very good hitter, as he hit 24 homers in 77 games, which is eventually 50 in a full season. The big question for him is can he stay healthy? Chisholm Jr. can be the best power hitting 2B in the MLB after smashing 31 HR’s in just 130 games last season. Again. the bottom three of the order does feel like it hurts the Yankees. Even then though, McMahon and Wells are two power hitters, while Caballero offers good defense and stolen bases. In other words, this lineup is seriously good.

3. Seattle Mariners (2025: 90-72)

This Seattle Mariner team will come into 2026 hungry after losing in Game 7 against the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2025 NLCS. The team already has an amazing rotation, but the lineup, especially after some trades, is very good. There only major loss is Jorge Polanco, but even then they still added Brendan Donovan.

1. Brendan Donovan, 3B
2. Cal Raleigh, C
3. Julio Rodríguez, CF
4. Josh Naylor, 1B
5. Randy Arozarena, LF
6. Dominic Canzone / Rob Refsnyder, DH
7. Luke Raley / Victor Robles, RF
8. Cole Young, 2B
9. J.P. Crawford, SS

The lineup is led off by great contact hitter Donovan, who hit .287 last season. Then, Raleigh, who shocked the world with 60 HR’s last season after averaging 30, he may not repeat such a season, but he remains a great power hitter. Rodriguez is ultimately just a great hitter, as he again went for 30+ HR’s in 2025. Naylor lacked power with only 20 shots last season, but still hit .295 and somehow got himself a 20/20 season.

Arozarena still feels like a hitter that leaves much to be desired, as he has only hit 27 HR’s as his career high in a year, which was actually last season, but even then he remains a good hitter. The lineup does fall off a bit in lower part of the order, but Canzone hit .300 last season, and Robles is a good hitter.

Cole Young is young, being only 22 years old, while Crawford is just a good contact hitter, hitting .265 with 12 shots in 2026. For the lineup to reach its full potential this season, the bottom of the order needs to perform. But even then, this team remains elite with such a top five.

2. New York Mets (2025: 83-79)

The New York Mets didn’t do much with their top heavy lineup in 2025. However, this season is definitely different, as New York’s lineup feels much more balanced and strong. In fact, out all lineups in the MLB, the Mets may have the one with most power hitters, as everyone except the newly announced RF Carson Benge is a power hitter. The rotation and bullpen look good, and with this lineup, the Mets look prime to take on the Los Angles Dodgers for the top team in the NL.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (2025: 93-69)

Can the Dodgers go for a three-peat? That is main question for LA this season. The team has an amazing rotation when healthy, but really, the lineup feels even better, at least the top of it:
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Kyle Tucker, RF
3. Mookie Betts, SS
4. Freddie Freeman, 1B
5. Will Smith, C
6. Teoscar Hernández, LF
7. Max Muncy, 3B
8. Andy Pages, CF
9. Miguel Rojas, 2B

The lineup is led by Ohtani, who obviously will be one of the best hitters in the sport again. Tucker’s addition is both good and bad, bad for money because he just isn’t worth 60 million a year, but good overall for the lineup. Tucker at the very least has a great eye with some good power.

Betts didn’t have a very good year last season, but he lost 20 pound from illness in 2025 and still did okay, he too should be great. Freeman is Freeman, he will likely have an elite BA. with some good power. Smith is a good catcher for both average and power. Hernandez is likely to start fading this season, but as a six hitter he isn’t at all bad.

Muncy is a player who’s health is a big concern, and he is 35. However, even then, if healthy he could be a very elite hitter. Pages remains a young hitter who is also good, especially after a 25 homer campaign last season. Finally, Rojas is definitely a hitter that won’t scare anyone, but he can be good at times. Overall though, this lineup really comes into the season the best in baseball.

Main Image: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Image