As we enter another week of the 2026 Major League Baseball season, all 30 clubs have now played at least 20 games. A lot of teams are in a hot spot at the moment and one club in particular is very cold. As the weekend action approaches its conclusion, we'll try and project what will happen on the MLB schedule this week.
Let's take a look at our bold MLB predictions for the upcoming games this week.
Carson Benz hits first HR since Opening Day
This prediction is definitely not about numbers. After all, the New York Mets entered Sunday on a 10-game losing streak, and rookie outfielder Carson Benz has made 68 plate appearances since last homering on Opening Day. Of particular concern is that he has collected only one extra-base hit (double) in his last 62 plate appearances and has put up an abysmal .140/.210/.158 triple-slash line over that span. However, we're here to say that Benz's power drought will end at some point this week with a home run against Simeon Woods Richardson (Wednesday) at Citi Field or a three-game homestand against the Colorado Rockies. The Mets would win that game as well.
Shota Imanaga gets 10+ Ks in consecutive starts
With the Chicago Cubs without three starters – Justin Steele, Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton, there is even more pressure on Shota Imanaga's shoulders. Last week, he was lights-out against the Philadelphia Phillies with 11 strikeouts and only 3 hits allowed in 6 innings. Facing the same team in consecutive starts isn't ideal, but the Phillies' lineup has the fifth-highest strikeout rate in MLB (24.3 percent) since April 5. We think we have another gem coming from Imanaga this week.
Shohei Ohtani homers 5 hitless innings
In his major-league career, Shohei Ohtani has boasted a .930 OPS with 10 home runs against the San Francisco Giants, and he has hit 4 home runs in 58 career at-bats at Oracle Park. Not only are we seeing the Los Angeles Dodgers' two-way star pitching deep this week in San Francisco, but we also think he'll make it through 5 hitless innings against the Giants' lineup.
READ MORE: SF Giants high on top MLB draft prospect
Cleveland Guardians lead 5-1
Starting pitching has carried the Cleveland Guardians this season, demonstrated by the fact that the team entered Sunday with the third-lowest rotation ERA (3.00) in baseball. Fortunately for the Guardians lineup, there is a "Be Right" series this month to start the week against the Houston Astros pitching staff, which has an ERA of 6.80 (worst in MLB). We believe Cleveland beats the Astros at home and then goes to Toronto to take a three-game series, and solidify their position at the top of the AL Central by coming out of the week with a 5-1 record.
Aaron Judge Homers Twice vs. Boston Red Sox
Aaron Judge is going to have some fun at Fenway Park this week. They get a three-game series against a Boston Red Sox pitching staff that has allowed the fifth-most home runs (26) in baseball this season, tied with the Colorado Rockies (25). Although he has not had a high average at Fenway (.217) in his career, he still has 12 homers in this ballpark, 3 of which came last season. It may have been a two-homer game, but we're inclined to say Judge homers in two of the three games at Fenway.
