The 2026 Major League Baseball season is nearing the halfway point, with several teams emerging as surprising overachievers. But as the season heats up, there are plenty of bold predictions for the month ahead.
With the season beginning to take shape across the league, analysts are starting to separate the contenders from the pretenders. During MLB on FOX, Eric Karros and Dontrelle Willis revealed their biggest surprises from May and their bold predictions for June.
Biggest Surprises In May
Chicago White Sox have been Karros’ biggest surprise over the past month. The White Sox entered June red-hot, sitting just one game behind the Cleveland Guardians in the American League Central with a 32-27 record after going 18-10 in May.
“I’m going to the South Side of Chicago in the White Sox,” Karros said. “If the season ended right now, they would be a playoff team. I don’t think anybody thought that was going to happen. How are they doing it? The power has been crazy.”
Chicago’s offense has been one of the biggest reasons behind its turnaround, consistently producing timely hits and home run power throughout May. Several young players have also stepped into bigger roles, helping the White Sox produce one of the more balanced lineups in baseball.
Before his recent injury, Japanese sensation Munetaka Murakami has put together an impressive rookie season, batting .240 with 20 home runs, tied for the American League lead and second-most in all of Major League Baseball.
“Obviously, you knew [Munetaka] Murakami was going to be completely excellent as soon as he bought going with the house runs,” Karros mentioned. “However [Miguel] Vargas has been unbelievable after being traded from the Dodgers just a few years in the past.”
That younger core has rapidly turn into one of many driving forces behind Chicago’s stunning rise within the American League standings.
“The vitality you’re speaking about with Chase Meidroth at second, [Colson] Montgomery at quick with the youth of those guys,” Karros mentioned. “The factor about it’s, they’re assured. They’re beginning to consider and so they bought just a little little bit of vanity too and that might be harmful.”
Relating to Willis’ greatest shock, he pointed to the San Diego Padres’ extra unconventional case. Regardless of underwhelming offensive numbers on the stat sheet, the Padres entered June with a 32-26 file.
They sit simply 5.5 video games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers within the Nationwide League West whereas presently holding the highest Wild Card spot.
“For me, it’s the San Diego Padres,” Willis mentioned. “Fernando Tatis hit his first house run just a few days in the past and Manny Machado is hitting .170. You’d suppose if that occurred, they’d be 10 video games out of it proper now. If the season ended, they’re within the postseason.”
The energy of their supporting forged has allowed San Diego to remain afloat even whereas key stars have but to totally discover their rhythm on the plate.
“The supporting forged has been completely phenomenal and that’s what’s scary in regards to the San Diego Padres,” Willis mentioned. “In the event that they get two of these horses [Tatis and Machado] stepping into the fitting route, it’s going to be scary hours within the West.”
Daring Predictions For June
After opening the season as one in every of baseball’s hottest groups, the Chicago Cubs hit a tough patch in Might, ending 13-16. Additionally they dropped the Crosstown Basic to the Chicago White Sox through the month.
Nonetheless, Willis stays assured within the Cubs, believing one other profitable streak might be on the horizon given their favorable upcoming schedule.
“The Chicago Cubs are going to go on one other win streak,” Willis mentioned. “They’ve one thing favorable of their schedule. They must play the A’s, Giants and the Rockies. They’re going to win numerous ball video games.”
One of many greatest disappointments in baseball this season has been the Texas Rangers, who sit in third place within the American League West with a 28-32 file. Accidents have performed a significant function of their struggles, as they’ve had issue protecting their key gamers on the sphere.
Even with these points, Karros nonetheless views them as a group to look at as soon as they get wholesome and regain full energy.
“I’m going to go to the Texas Rangers,” Karros mentioned. “They’re going to get [Corey] Seager and [Wyatt] Langford again. Then you definately’ve bought that pitching employees with [Jacob] deGrom and [Nathan] Eovaldi. I feel Texas goes to be an issue for lots of groups.”
If the Rangers can piece issues collectively down the stretch, Karros believes their expertise nonetheless makes them a harmful postseason match-up in any collection.
“In the event that they get into the postseason, you don’t need to face these guys,” Karros mentioned. “They’re going to get wholesome. I just like the Rangers.”
