Memorial Day 2026 Ft. City Big League Update 

Current Standings (as of May 25)

AL East

• Toronto (TOR) – 31-22
• Chicago (AL) (CHA) – 26-27
• Atlanta (ATL) – 23-30
• St. Louis (STL) – 22-31

AL Central

• Boston (BOS) – 32-21
• Philadelphia (PHN) – 29-24
• Tampa Bay (TBA) – 20-33
• Cincinnati (CIN) – 19-34

AL Midwest

• Chicago (NL) (CHN) – 34-19
• Los Angeles (NL) (LAD) – 29-24
• Texas (TEX) – 27-26
• Cleveland (CLE) – 18-35

AL West

• Kansas City (KCR) – 34-19
• Detroit (DET) – 30-23
• Baltimore (BAL) – 30-23
• Montreal (MON) – 20-33

CHN and KCR are tied for the best record in the league at 34-19 (.642). BOS (32-21) and TOR (31-22) are right behind them.

Offensive & Pitching Leaders

• Batting Average: Luis Arraez (PHN) .315
• Home Runs: Byron Buxton (TEX) 22, Aaron Judge (MON) 21
• RBIs: Aaron Judge (MON) 47
• ERA: Paul Skenes (BAL) 0.77
• Wins: Skenes & Andrew Abbott (CHA) with 7 each

Surprises of the Season So Far 

Preseason projections had Baltimore as a 102-win juggernaut, LAD as a 108-win super team, Atlanta winning the East at 95 wins, and Toronto buried at the bottom with a projected 72-90 record. Reality has been very different:

• Biggest Surprise – Toronto Blue Jays (31-22): Preseason pick to finish last in the East at 72-90. They are currently leading the division and playing like a legitimate contender. Shota Imanaga (6-1) and a balanced lineup have turned the “misfit toys” into a real threat. Kyle, you might want to stop collecting high-OPS guys… because it’s working.
• KCR and CHN exceeding expectations: Both were projected as solid Wild Card teams (KCR 90-72, CHN 94-68). They are now on 107–108 win pace and sitting atop the league. Bobby Witt Jr., Matt Olson, Ketel Marte, and the Cubs’ contact/speed attack have been even better than advertised.
• Detroit’s resurgence (30-23): Projected for 74-88 and a last-place finish. They’re right in the thick of the West race and look dangerous.
• Baltimore and LAD cooling off: BAL was supposed to be the AL’s elite (102 wins). They’re a respectable 30-23 but not the juggernaut many expected. LAD (projected 108-54) is only at .547 pace — the “Super Team” offense hasn’t quite exploded yet.
• Cleveland and Cincinnati struggling: Both are living down to (or below) the lower expectations. CLE at 18-35 and CIN at 19-34 have been the biggest disappointments.

Injuries are also biting hard (Machado, Rutschman, etc.), forcing some creative managing.

Mid-Season Predictions & Bold Calls

We’re only about a third of the way through — here’s how things are shaking out compared to the March preseason forecast:

Division Winners (Updated)

• AL East: Toronto holds the lead and I’m buying them as the favorite. They were projected for 72 wins… they’re already playing like a 98-win team.
• AL Central: Boston stays on top — their veteran core (Betts, Acuna, Wheeler) is delivering exactly as projected.
• AL Midwest: Chicago (NL) keeps rolling — they’re exceeding the 94-win projection and look scary.
• AL West: Kansas City edges it out, but Detroit and Baltimore make this the most competitive division in the league.

Playoff Picture: CHN, KCR, BOS, and TOR look like the top four seeds right now. Dark horses include Detroit (way better than the 74-88 projection) and a potential late surge from LAD once their veteran rotation settles.

MVP Race: Aaron Judge is the clear frontrunner, but Byron Buxton and Ketel Marte are making strong cases. Shohei Ohtani (preseason MVP favorite) has been quieter than expected so far.

Cy Young: Paul Skenes is running away with it — exactly as the preseason bold prediction said (projected 2.15 ERA, 260+ Ks). He’s been even better.

Bold Prediction: Toronto makes a deep playoff run. They were the biggest preseason fade candidate… now they might be the story of the year. Also, watch one of the bottom feeders (maybe Montreal or Cleveland) go on a massive second-half tear once injured players return.