MLB Power Rankings: What's real after five days? Breaking down baseball's opening week results

A look at the early surprises and disappointments across Major League Baseball

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:50pm

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A fragmented, abstract painting depicting a baseball game or action, with sharp geometric shapes and planes in vibrant colors like blue, red, and yellow, creating a dynamic, multi-perspective visual representation of the sport.The chaotic energy of opening week baseball, captured through a cubist lens.Angels Today

The first few days of the MLB season are always a mixed bag, with teams and players showing both promising and concerning signs. This article examines the early results and what they might mean for the rest of the season, cautioning against drawing too many conclusions from such a small sample size.

Why it matters

The opening week of the MLB season generates a lot of excitement and discussion, but it's important to keep perspective on what the early results actually signify. This article provides a level-headed analysis of the first few games, highlighting which teams and players have stood out while also reminding readers not to overreact to small sample sizes.

The details

The article looks at a variety of teams and storylines from the opening week, including the dominant start by the Dodgers, the surprising performances of the Blue Jays, Orioles, and Marlins, and the struggles of teams like the Giants and Rockies. It also highlights individual players who have stood out, such as the Tigers' Kevin McGonigle and the Rangers' Jacob deGrom. The author cautions that it's still too early to draw definitive conclusions, as early-season results don't always align with how the rest of the year plays out.

  • The 2026 MLB season began on March 28, 2026.

The players

Keytron Jordan

A CBS Sports writer who contributed to the article.

Dylan Cease

A pitcher for the Chicago White Sox who had an interesting first start of the season.

Adley Rutschman

A catcher for the Baltimore Orioles who had a good start to the season.

Pete Crow-Armstrong

An outfielder for the Chicago Cubs who had a unique start to the season with multiple bunt hits.

Jacob deGrom

A pitcher for the Texas Rangers who had to be scratched from his first start of the season.

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What they’re saying

“As an example, most readers know I'm a Cubs fan. I will admit that while my head knew that the Opening Day loss wasn't the biggest deal in the world, I was pretty bummed and even a bit angry about my favorite team getting pounded by what is likely one of the worst teams in baseball. I'm pretty livid about the series loss. Hey, we're all human.”

— Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports Writer

“I do know one thing for sure: I missed this. I'm excited for the grind that is our marathon of a regular season. We'll see plenty of surprises through the course of the season. The most unsurprising thing will be the Dodgers winning the NL West with ease. Again. But we'll see plenty of other fun things. I promise. We're back, baby!”

— Keytron Jordan, CBS Sports Writer

What’s next

As the season progresses, it will become clearer which early trends are legitimate and which were merely small sample size flukes. The article suggests keeping an eye on storylines like the Braves and Orioles' potential bounceback seasons, the Rangers' strong start, and whether the Marlins can sustain their early success.

The takeaway

The first few days of the MLB season are always an exciting but unreliable indicator of what's to come. While it's natural to get caught up in the early results, this article reminds readers to maintain perspective and avoid overreacting to small sample sizes. The true picture of the 2026 season will emerge over the coming months.