Jake and Matt are finally back and ripping around the league for their (slightly late) 2026 MLB “Opening Day” special. They start with the Detroit Tigers: last year’s brutal division collapse, the playoff run that followed, and why a roster built around Scooble, McGonigle, Colt Keith, Parker Meadows and a deep bullpen might make them the team to beat in the AL Central this year. From there they hit all the early storylines hardcore baseball fans actually care about: Juan Soto and Brent Rooker already hitting the IL, Justin Verlander’s latest setback, George Springer’s busted toe, and whether A.J. Hinch is leaning too hard into matchups and analytics with the arms he’s got. Next up is a full lap around MLB: Dodgers and Padres both looking like juggernauts, Sasaki’s redemption arc after last year’s struggles, Shohei back on the mound, and why the Pirates, Royals, D‑backs and Padres all feel like “are they for real?” teams two weeks into the season. Jake and Matt break down how the AL and NL Central really stack up, why the Rockies and White Sox are suddenly kind of fun to watch, and what Murakami, Luis Robert and some of the other imports and young bats might do over a full 162. They wrap with way‑too‑early division and playoff picks, some degenerate betting talk, and a little youth baseball life mixed in. If you’re trying to lock in on the 2026 season without sitting through four different studio shows, this is your episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices