Olivia Rodrigo hints at a love-filled third album with a darker twist

The "Drivers License" singer, who starred on the Disney+ showHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Seriesbefore her music industry breakout, toured her sophomore albumGutsfrom early 2024 into July 2025. Although the 23-year-old gave fans a deluxe edition of her sophomore album in March 2024 — featuring once vinyl-exclusive tracks "Obsessed," "Girl I've Always Been," "Scared of My Guitar" and "Stranger," as well as the new song "So American" — fans have been eagerly anticipating new music from the Grammy winner. However, it wasn't until March 2026 that the artist finally began hinting at what her third album will sound like — and what topics she will explore.

Olivia Rodrigo is leaning into love

In a new interview withBritish Voguereleased on Thursday, Rodrigo confirmed that songs on her upcoming album will be love songs — a stark difference fromSourandGuts, which spanned topics like jealousy and heartbreak and anger, but rarely swoony love. (The one track that can be considered a love song is "So American," a track off the 2024 bonus edition ofGutsthat some speculate is aboutBrit Louis Partridge.)

However, in typical Rodrigo fashion, there's a darker side to this love: "I realised all my favourite romantic love songs were beautiful because they had a tinge of fear or yearning in them," she said.

She's still exploring feelings of insecurity

One of the things that has made Rodrigo's work so relatable is her willingness to show her vulnerable side — just like she did on her debut single "Drivers License," in which she sang about another girl being everything she's "insecure about," and later on tracks likeSour's "Jealousy, Jealousy" andGuts' "Pretty Isn't Pretty," in which she reflected on not feeling good enough.

On her next album, Rodrigo said she's using love as a jumping-off point for talking about her own personal problems. When asked by British Vogue about whether her heightened fame did anything to squash her insecurities, Rodrigo said it did not. "I felt a similar way about falling in love, that the second I'm in a really great relationship, I'm gonna start feeling good about myself and this stuff is going to fall into place, but it just doesn't work like that," she explained. The last song on the album is about that realization, according to British Vogue.

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Expect variety from her new music

Speaking fromthe Vogue kitchen, where the Filipino–American singer made the traditional fried spring rolls lumpia, Rodrigo described the upcoming album as "varied."

"I really wanted to figure out a way to kind of write about joy in this album," she said. "I feel like my last two albums are very, rightfully so, kind of angsty and heartbroken, and just as a creative endeavor. And also 'cause I was experiencing a lot of joy in my life, I wanted to figure out how to, like, inject that into the songs that I was making."

Echoing her previous comments to British Vogue, Rodrigo said, "I think in music, my favorite love songs are love songs that are a little bit sad or have a little bit of, like, wistfulness or mourning or fear or something. And so I kind of set out making this album, like, trying to write a sad love song."

She seems to be embracing a new color scheme

Rodrigo famously used purple for both her albumSourandGuts— but there are clues she may be shifting into a new color scheme. In March,a mural in Los Angeles, photos of which wereshared by Rodrigo's official fan account, popped up, featuring the brand-new "OR" logo that also appears on Rodrigo's website.

While the mural was originally purple, it was eventually re-painted pink. As of Friday, March 20, the wall is a light shade of pink, and where "OR" was now reads the word "Love." It alsomatches Rodrigo's updated website, where fans can sign up for updates.

byAlex Forten

in

March 20, 2026

Olivia Rodrigo hints at a love-filled third album with a darker twist

The "Drivers License" singer, who starred on the Disney+ showHigh School Musical: The Musical: The Seriesbefore...

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Adam Pearson Claps Back at Comedian Who Made Fun of His Appearance: ‘I’d Like to Not Have My Disability Mocked'

Adam Pearson responded to a comedian mocking his appearance, highlighting the harm of ableist jokes

NEED TO KNOW

• The actor, who has neurofibromatosis, emphasized the importance of respect and dignity for people with disabilities

• Neurofibromatosis affects about 100,000 people in the U.S. and can cause painful tumors and facial disfigurement

British actorAdam Pearsonis clapping back at those who make fun of his appearance.

On Thursday, March 19, theA Different Manstar posted onXand responded to a comedian who mocked his looks. The 41-year-old actor lives with facial disfigurement from a rare genetic condition calledneurofibromatosis.

"Me and the boys after taking Chinese Peptides for  5 years," the critic wrote alongside a photo of Pearson from the Oscars red carpet.

"I was today years old when I learned that taking Peptides for 5 years made you an Academy member, award winning actor and Oscars attendee!" Pearson responded. "You can tell a lot about a person's character by looking at who they're willing to punch down towards - even in the name of comedy."

Several other social media users commented that the actor should "learn how to take a joke."

Pearson replied, "I took it and I responded. Freedom of Speech works both ways snowflake." He later told another person, "Ideally I'd like to not have my disability mocked but I guess that's too much to ask eh?  I guess we should all 'suck it up' and 'move on.'"

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The star also messaged another critic who wrote that he shouldn't be "treated differently because of a disability."

"You think asking for respect and dignity (i.e. not being mocked for a disability) is being 'treated differently'? Well that's certainly an interesting take," he said.

"I'm not thrilled about ableism. Nor do I think anyone should be," he later commented.

Pearson was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic condition that leaves his skin covered in thousands of thick, painful tumors.

Neurofibromatosis 1 affects about 100,000 people throughout the United States, and only a few million in the world, Dr. Kaleb Yohay, the director of NYU Langone's Comprehensive Neurofibromatosis Center, previously told PEOPLE. Patients can get the disorder from their parents or a random genetic mutation.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlex Forten

in

March 20, 2026

Adam Pearson Claps Back at Comedian Who Made Fun of His Appearance: ‘I’d Like to Not Have My Disability Mocked'

Adam Pearson responded to a comedian mocking his appearance, highlighting the harm of ableist jokes NEED TO KNO...

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Zachery Ty Bryan Sentenced to 19 Months in Oregon as He Continues Serving California Jail Time: He 'Needs Help,' Says Lawyer

Zachery Ty Bryan was sentenced to 19 months in prison by an Oregon judge after admitting to three probation violations on March 20

NEED TO KNOW

• Bryan has faced multiple legal issues in recent years, including a DUI, for which he is currently serving time in a California jail

• His lawyer tells PEOPLE that Bryan "was abused and exploited as a child and has had resulting difficulties"

Zachery Ty Bryanhas been sentenced to 19 months in prison by an Oregon judge.

On Friday, March 20, theHome Improvementalum, 44, who is currentlyserving time behind bars in a California jail, appeared virtually for his sentencing in Lane County, Ore., after previouslyadmitting to three probation violationsduring a Dec. 29 hearing, perKEZI.

His attorney, John Kolego, tells PEOPLE he is "extremely disappointed" with the sentencing result, given Bryan is already serving a 16-month sentence in California.

"Mr. Bryan needs help. He had a very traumatic childhood and he was abused and exploited as a child and has had resulting difficulties, but sending him to prison is really not the appropriate fix for this situation," Kolego says. "What he needs is help."

Bryan's relationship with his fiancée,Johnnie Faye Cartwright, whowas also arrested on Nov. 29in Oregon, is "toxic," Kolego says. "It was a toxic relationship that he's been navigating, and he'd been drinking, but he doesn't deserve to go to prison for 19 months, so I was extremely disappointed."

During his virtual court appearance, Bryan "said that he was sorry in front of the court, that he realized that he had an alcohol problem, that he was going to do everything that he could to deal with that problem so that he could be the best kind of father he knows for his children, that he has seven children that he loves very much," Kolego says.

After he completes his sentence in California, he will be extradited to Oklahoma, where he is facing "up to five years" in prison, Kolego says, related toan October 2024 DUI arrest— his second that year.

Kolego says Bryan is "basically in solitary confinement" in California right now and is being "isolated from the general population" due to his childhood fame.

"He's remorseful. He never wanted to be in trouble. He wants to be a decent, law-abiding citizen, and the best father he knows how [to be], but he's dealing with inner demons, and has been coping with alcohol."

Kolego adds: "His goal is to be the best kind of father he knows for his children and to get out and make a living and take care of his family."

According to aFacebookpost on Dec. 1 from the Lane County Sheriff's Office, police were called to a report of reckless endangering when they found Bryan, Cartwright and their three children in a pickup truck near a popular Oregon campsite.

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"They were driving together in the area," the LCSO alleged. "At some point Bryan got out of the pickup truck and began walking on Big Fall Creek Road. Cartwright then attempted to run over Bryan, crashing the truck with the children inside into the ditch. Bryan was able to move out of the way and avoid injury. No one inside the pickup was injured."

"Deputies interviewed Bryan and Cartwright. Deputies observed signs both were impaired," the LCSO statement claimed. "Deputies also interviewed witnesses contacted on scene. Per a court order from a prior case, Bryan was not supposed to be in contact with Cartwright."

"After additional investigation, Cartwright was arrested for Attempted Assault in the 1st Degree, three counts of Recklessly Endangering, and DUI. Bryan was arrested for a probation violation on an original charge of assault in the fourth degree. The involved children were placed with a family member," the post concluded.

Bryan was initially denied bail and given an "end of sentence date" of Dec. 3. However, he was later transferred to Lane County Community Corrections on a "detainer" before beingreleasedon Dec. 10. At his Dec. 3arraignment, Bryan denied the charges.

Cartwright was arraigned andpleaded not guiltyto one count of driving under the influence, two counts of recklessly endangering another person and three counts of reckless driving. She was later sentenced to 30 days of incarceration with time served, eight days of community service and two years of probation, according to records obtained by PEOPLE.

Bryan was initially scheduled to be sentenced earlier this month, but on Monday, Feb. 23, he was sentenced to serve over 14 months in jail after he struck a deal in the case for his 2024arrestin La Quinta, Calif., for felony DUI and a misdemeanor for alleged contempt of court.

He pleaded guilty to the DUI charge and also admitted to an enhancement related to having two prior DUI convictions, per court records.

In 2021, Bryanpled guiltyto two misdemeanor charges of domestic violence after being accused of strangling a woman. In 2023, hepled guiltyto fourth degree felony assault.

In January 2025, Bryan facedallegations of second-degree domestic violencefrom Myrtle Beach police in South Carolina. In a police report obtained by PEOPLE, the arresting officer said a woman, who was reported to be Cartwright, "stated that she was assaulted" by Bryan and the two "live together and have children in common."

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.

Read the original article onPeople

byAlex Forten

in

March 20, 2026

Zachery Ty Bryan Sentenced to 19 Months in Oregon as He Continues Serving California Jail Time: He 'Needs Help,' Says Lawyer

Zachery Ty Bryan was sentenced to 19 months in prison by an Oregon judge after admitting to three probation violations on...

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Tennessee plans rare execution of a woman. She's fighting back.

Christa Gail Pikewas just 18 years old when she committed a crime that dominated headlines for years: She tortured and murdered her romantic rival in Tennessee and later showed off a piece of the 19-year-old woman's skull to schoolmates.

The killing in the woods of Knoxville demonstrated a brutality and callousness rarely seen in a woman, let alone one so young. Now 30 years later, Pike is back to making headlines as the state of Tennessee prepares to execute her.

Pike, who just turned 50 on March 10, is set to be executed by lethal injection about six months from now on Sept. 30 for the murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer. On Jan. 12, 1995, Pike and two others lured Slemmer into the woods and carried out a ritualistic murder that lasted about an hour.

If the execution moves forward, Pike will be the first woman put to death in Tennesseein more than 200 yearsand only the19th woman executedin modern U.S. history.

She's now fighting back and suing the state to stop her execution.

Pike's attorneysfiled a lawsuitin a Tennessee court in January challenging the state's lethal execution method, arguing that it violates her religious beliefs and constitutional rights, and could cause her excessive pain. In response to Pike's arguments, the state says in a court filing on Thursday, March 19, that she hasn't presented any evidence that the lethal injection presents an unconstitutional risk to her and that death row inmates have never been guaranteed a pain-free execution.

During Pike's time behind bars, she has taken responsibility for the murder and has "changed drastically," she wrote in a 2023letter she wrote to The Tennessean− part of the USA TODAY Network.

"It sickens me now to think that someone as loving and compassionate as myself had the ability to commit such a crime," she wrote.

USA TODAY is looking at Pike's arguments for a reprieve from execution, what the state has to say about them and how the victim's mother feels.

What was Christa Gail Pike convicted of?

Christa Gail Pike and Colleen Slemmer were both students at the Knoxville Job Corps, a career-training program, when Pike began dating a 17-year-old boy in the program. She later came to fear that Slemmer was trying to steal him, prosecutors told jurors at trial.

Pike, her friend and the boyfriend, lured Slemmer away from the Job Corps center and into the woods before the attack, largely carried out by Pike over an hour-long period on Jan. 12, 1995, according to court records.

Pike later bragged about killing Slemmer, telling another student at the center that she had cut the teenager's throat six times with a box cutter, cut her back with a meat cleaver, carved a pentagram into her chest, and continued the violence even though Slemmer "begged" her to stop, according to court records.

Pike said she had "thrown a large piece of asphalt at the victim's head," believed to be a fatal blow, and kept a skull fragment, later showing it off to fellow students, court records say.

Pike was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. Pike's boyfriend, Tadaryl Shipp, was convicted of first-degree murder, sentenced to life in prison and recently was denied parole. Pike's friend, Shadolla Peterson − who prosecutors say kept watch during the attack − testified against Pike and was sentenced to probation.

Who is Christa Gail Pike?

Christa Gail Pike, 50, is the only woman on Tennessee's death row and has been living there for 30 years following her sentencing in April 1996. Pike and her mother, Carissa Hansen, sobbed uncontrollably in the courtroom during the sentencing, according to archived news reports.

Pike's trial attorneys had tried to mitigate her crimes by describing Pike as a cast-off child from a dysfunctional family who bounced between her divorced parents' houses depending on who was sick of her at the time, according to an archived news report in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Hansen told jurors that she was a bad mother who smoked pot with her daughter and even allowed Pike to have a live-in boyfriend at the age of 14. "I should be the one in her seat. I should be punished for her crime," Hansen said, according to the News-Sentinel.

A University of Tennessee police officer countered the sympathetic testimony, telling jurors that Pike returned to the scene of the crime after Slemmer's body had been found and "seemed amused."

"She was giggling," he testified, the newspaper said.

Pike's current attorneys arguethat had she been tried today, Pike never should have been sentenced to death because of her young age and mental illness at the time of the murder, and her disturbing history of being sexually abused as a child, starting before she could even talk. They believe she deserves life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Pike's website, created by supporters who are arguing for her clemency, Pike says that she doesn't want to use her childhood trauma as an excuse for Slemmer's murder.

"There is no excuse for what I did ... I take full responsibility for my actions, and regret everything that happened that night," she says. "I only want my situation to be looked at now through the eyes of logic instead of anger and answered the question of if I deserve to die for a crime committed by three people."

Christa Gail Pike sues Tennessee officials over execution

In a lawsuit filed against the state in January, Pike's attorneys argue that Tennessee's lethal injection method is likely to cause her unnecessary pain and added terror and suffering, a violation of the U.S. Constitution's protections against cruel and unusual punishment.

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One of Pike's medical conditions,thrombocytosis, can lead to unusual bleeding and "death by drowning in one's own blood," they argue, citing a report by an anesthesiology expert. Additionally, Pike cannot request to be executed by the state's only other approved method − electrocution − because doing so would violate her Buddhist beliefs, which prevent her from "participating in any process leading to her own death," her attorneys argue.

They also say that the state could botch Pike's lethal injection, citing concerns over the state's new execution protocol.

Tennessee began using the new protocol in 2025, three years after the statehalted all executionsover a "technical oversight" in the lethal injection ofdeath row inmate Oscar Franklin Smith. The new lethal injection protocol usesthe single drug pentobarbital, as opposed to three drugs under the previous method.

Pike's attorneys cite a number of "botched" executions using only pentobarbital,including that of Byron Blackin Tennessee for the murder of his ex-girlfriend and her two daughters in 1988.

Reporters who witnessed the execution,including one from the Tennessean, reported that Black appeared to be in pain and distress during the lethal injection, which is required to be free from cruel and unusual punishment under the U.S. Constitution.

"It's hurting so bad," Black told his spiritual adviser at one point during the execution, the Tennessean reported.

Pike's attorneys slammed the state's new lethal injection protocol as being "plagued with the same issues that have marked botched executions for decades: secrecy, intentional omission, inattention to detail, and untrained and unlicensed prison personnel attempting to fill medical role."

What does the state say about Pike's lawsuit

Regarding Pike's arguments about cruel and unusual punishment, established case law says that "the Eighth Amendment does not guarantee a prisoner a painless death" and that "some risk of pain is inherent in any method of execution − no matter how humane," according to the state's response to Pike's lawsuit filed on Thursday, March, 19.

The state also defended its lethal injection protocol, citing "the overwhelming history affirming the use of lethal injection generally and pentobarbital specifically."

Besides, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti said that Pike "carried around a piece of Colleen Slemmer's shattered skull in her pocket and showed it to her friends as a trophy after luring Colleen into the woods to torture and murder her."

"Pike has offered nothing but speculation that the well-established, constitutional lethal injection method poses any unique risk in her case," he said in a statement to USA TODAY. "We wish Pike's commitment to the sanctity of life had arrived in time to save Colleen Slemmer."

Slemmer's mother, May Martinez, has been vehement in her support of the death penalty for Pike. She has fought for decades to obtain the last remaining piece of her daughter's skull so that it can be buried with the rest of the teen's remains; investigators have been holding it as evidence in the case.

"My heart breaks every single day because I keep reliving it and reliving it, and I can't no more, and I want this to happen before I die,"Martinez told WBIR-TVin 2021.

"There's not a day goes by that I don't think about Colleen or how she died and how rough it was," Martinez continued. "I just want Christa down so I can end it, relieve my daughter, so she finally can be resting."

How many women have been executed in the U.S.?

Just 18 women have been executed in the United States since 1976, compared to 1,623 men, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. That means women represent just 1% of all modern U.S. executions.

Pike is not only the only woman on Tennessee's death row, but she's among just 48 female death row inmates in the nation. That's compared to a male population just under 2,100 − roughly 2%.

The last execution of a woman in the United States was that ofAmber McClaughlin in 2023. McClaughlin, who was the first transgender person executed in the nation, was convicted as a man of raping and fatally stabbing 45-year-old Beverly Guenther on Nov. 20, 2003. Guenther was McLaughlin's ex-girlfriend.

How many women has Tennessee executed?

Citing the Death Penalty Information Center, Pike's attorneys say thatonly three womenhave ever been executed in Tennessee.

They list the hangings of three Black women in 1807, 1808 and 1819, though they didn't identify their crimes. Only one of the women's names is known: that of Molly Holcomb in 1807. Two of them are listed as slavesby deathpenaltyusa.org, which names the crimes as murder, though many slaves were unjustly killed themselves over false accusations or for no reason at all.

Pike is both the last person in Tennessee sent to death row for a crime they committed when they were 18 and is the last woman sentenced to death in the state,reported the Tennessean.

Contributing: Evan Mealins and Kelly Puente, The Tennessean

Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers breaking news, cold cases and executions for USA TODAY. Follow her on X at @amandaleeusat.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Tennessee plans rare execution of a woman. She's fighting back.

byAlex Forten

in

March 20, 2026

Tennessee plans rare execution of a woman. She's fighting back.

Christa Gail Pikewas just 18 years old when she committed a crime that dominated headlines for years: She tortured and mu...

Read More

Cuba refuses to let US Embassy in Havana import diesel for its generators

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Cuban government has refused a request by the U.S. Embassy in Havana to allow it to import diesel for its generators while the Trump administration continues to impose a fuel blockade on the island, according to two U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

The Cuban government turned down the request as the U.S. State Department has been weighing a reduction in staffing at the embassy in Havana because of the lack of diesel. Such a move would likely lead to a U.S. demand for a similar reduction in staffing at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, say the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter.

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The Cuban government rejection was first reported by the Washington Post.

Cuba has struggled with dwindling oil since the U.S. removed Venezuela's leader, halting critical petroleum shipments from the nation. Trump thenthreatened tariffson any country selling or supplying Cuba with oil. The island is relying on its own natural gas, solar power and its own oil to run thermoelectric plants, but that hasn't been enough to meet demand.

byAlex Forten

in

March 20, 2026

Cuba refuses to let US Embassy in Havana import diesel for its generators

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Cuban government has refused a request by the U.S. Embassy in Havana to allow it to import diesel f...

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Veteran, 31, Charged with Murder on Suspicion of Taking Abortion Pill Under Georgia’s Strict Ban

Alexia Moore was charged with murder after being accused of taking abortion medication under Georgia's strict abortion ban

NEED TO KNOW

• Georgia law bans abortion after six weeks unless there is a medical emergency or medically futile pregnancy

• Advocates argue the case highlights the criminalization of abortion and the need for safe access to reproductive healthcare

A Georgia woman has been charged with murder after authorities claim she took medication to induce an illegal abortion.

In December 2025, Alexia Moore — a 31-year-old U.S. Army veteran from Kingsland, Georgia — was in her second trimester of pregnancy when she was rushed to the emergency room due to severe pain. She delivered a premature fetus "with cardiac activity" that died about two hours later, according to an arrest warrant,The Washington PostandCBS Newsreports.

Per the outlets, the warrant claims a hospital security guard called local law enforcement to investigate Moore "after ER staff discovered that Moore had attempted to abort the child."

A friend of Moore later spoke to police, alleging she had taken misoprostol, a drug taken for a medical abortion, and the opioid painkiller oxycodone before her hospitalization.

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On March 4, the Kingsland Police Department charged Moore with attempted murder due to the state's strict abortion ban. She was also charged with possession of a Schedule II controlled substance and possession of dangerous drugs, according topolice records.

Following the2022 overturn ofRoe v. Wade,Georgia enacted a ban on abortion after six weeks gestation, a stage often long before most women even know they're pregnant. According to law, "no abortion shall be performed if the unborn child has a detectable human heartbeat except in the event of a medical emergency or medically futile pregnancy."

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Kingsland Police cited Moore's health records and blood work among the evidence used to charge her. Additionally, they reportedly recovered a medicine bottle labeled with Moore's name and "Misoprostol," which investigators believe she obtained online.

Moore is currently in jail awaiting arraignment.

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Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat who previously worked for Planned Parenthood, criticized the case and said there should not be criminal punishment for ending an abortion. She also argued that access to proper medical care is vital.

"Banning abortion is not actually ending abortion," Eskamani said, perWJCL. "And though abortion medication is overwhelmingly safe, it's a lot safer if you can take it with the guidance of a medical professional."

Dana Sussman, senior vice president of advocacy group Pregnancy Justice, called Moore's case "an unprecedented murder charge for an alleged abortion," adding, "No one should be criminalized for having an abortion."

Read the original article onPeople

byAlex Forten

in

March 20, 2026

Veteran, 31, Charged with Murder on Suspicion of Taking Abortion Pill Under Georgia’s Strict Ban

Alexia Moore was charged with murder after being accused of taking abortion medication under Georgia's strict abortio...

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MLB power rankings: As the 2026 season begins, can anybody keep up with the Dodgers?

Opening Day is around the corner, less than a week away. Every club, at least for now, is undefeated, their record unblemished, their highest hopes undashed.

But while no games have been played, not all 30 teams are created equal. Let's do some ranking.

Jump to a team by clicking on the links below:

• AL East: Blue Jays | Yankees | Red Sox | Rays | Orioles

• AL Central: Guardians | Tigers | Royals | Twins | White Sox

• AL West: Mariners | Astros | Rangers | Athletics | Angels

• NL East: Phillies | Mets | Marlins | Braves | Nationals

• NL Central: Brewers | Cubs | Reds | Cardinals | Pirates

• NL West: Dodgers | Padres | Giants | Diamondbacks | Rockies

30. Colorado Rockies

The 2026 Rockies should be better than the 2025 Rockies, but the 2026 Rockies might still be worse than every other ballclub. Colorado's disastrous season precipitated a long overdue front-office overhaul. That new direction won't reorient the big-league team's fortunes this season, but it'll be interesting to see if there are any legitimate signs of improvement. Keep an eye on starting pitcher Chase Dollander, the most talented arm in the organization. If he takes steps forward, that's a huge deal for Colorado and a positive harbinger.

29. Chicago White Sox

At least they have the pope on their side. Chicago had a fun offseason; Munetaka Murakami is exactly the type of high-risk, high-reward hitter bad teams should be targeting. Yet this is still a team years away from seriously contending. This season will be all about figuring out which position players have a chance to be on the next good White Sox club. Good thing there's a lot of them to sift through.

28. Los Angeles Angels

What a pointless endeavor the Angels have become, the epitome of trying the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. New manager Kurt Suzuki is on a one-year deal, which doesn't exactly inspire confidence in the project. Zach Neto is really, really good, but he might be the only player on this roster who is really, really good. Hopefully Mike Trout can stay healthy.

27. Washington Nationals

This pitching staff could be historically bad, but look on the bright side: At least they have technology now! After years of living in the baseball stone ages, the new Nationals front office has embraced modern technology. The results might not show up immediately, but things do appear to be headed in the right direction. Offensively, this unit has a chance to be pretty good. James Wood is special, CJ Abrams is a borderline All-Star, and Dylan Crews and Brady House are talented youngsters with something to prove. The Nats won't win the World Series, but there's a new day dawning in D.C.

Draft your Yahoo Fantasy Baseball team for the 2026 MLB Season

26. Minnesota Twins

Minnesota traded away its entire bullpen (and Carlos Correa) at last year's deadline in what appeared to be the embracing of a rebuild. But this winter, the Twins changed course, opting to hold on to pieces such as Pablo Lopez, Byron Buxton, Joe Ryan and Ryan Jeffers. The AL Central could be weak enough that Minnesota hangs around longer than people expect, and this roster definitely doesn't suck, but it's hard to see a team with such a lengthy injury history making a real run at October.

25. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals did a ton of subtracting over the winter, parting ways with veterans Nolan Arenado, Sonny Gray, Willson Contreras and Brendan Donovan. New president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom clearly has a vision, but one that might take a few years to actualize at the big-league level. This pitching staff, as currently constructed, looks like a weak spot, but there are some interesting upper-level arms on the precipice of helping in St. Louis. Whether the Cards can finally unlock talented young bats such as Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn, Victor Scott II and Nolan Gorman will be the litmus test for their season.

24. Miami Marlins

The 2025 Marlins played over their heads a little bit. As fun as that team was, it's tough to envision Miami pulling that off again without any massive additions. Owen Caissie, acquired from Chicago in the Edward Cabrera deal, should help right away, but he's a boom-or-bust type who might need some time to adjust to the bigs. If Miami can simply match its win total from last season, that would be a huge success. Getting Sandy Alcantarra back on track has to be priority No. 1.

23. Tampa Bay Rays

It feels like this franchise is in a full holding pattern until a new stadium gets built. Junior Caminero is a superstar, but does Tampa Bay have anything with which to support him? Is there another 4.0-WAR position player anywhere in this organization? It doesn't seem like it. Shortstop Carson Williams, a sparkling defender, could be that guy if he fixes his big swing-and-miss issues. Otherwise, it's slim pickings. That said, the Rays' rotation should be better than it was last year, especially if Shane McClanahan is truly back from his long injury detour.

22. Athletics

Do you like runs? Well, the A's are about to score and surrender quite a few. This lineup is electrifying and has some of the best young hitters in the sport. A full season of Nick Kurtz should be exhilarating. This pitching staff, however, leaves much to be desired. Luis Severino looked great in the WBC but has yet to show that form in green and gold. An offseason impact starting pitching addition — say, Zac Gallen, Framber Valdez or Ranger Suarez — would've done wonders for this club.

21. Cincinnati Reds

Hunter Greene being out for the first few months of the seasonis a big, big deal. The Reds have a host of talented arms to weather the storm — keep an eye on Chase Burns — but Greene is pretty irreplaceable. On the offensive front, it's all about Elly De La Cruz. The unicorn shortstop was squarely mediocre from a production standpoint last season. This team needs him to go super saiyan, establishing himself as an MVP contender, if it's going to have a chance to return to October.

20. Texas Rangers

Texas had the lowest ERA in baseball last year, and it didn't matter one bit. And that pitching unit, talented it might be, is due for some regression. For all the famous names in this lineup, Texas' offense has been straight-up bad the past two seasons since winning the 2023 World Series. New manager Skip Schumaker is highly respected and should provide a jolt of energy, but the Rangers just need to hit.

19. Cleveland Guardians

A heroic, late-summer run handed Cleveland an improbable AL Central title last year, but this organization did very, very little over the winter to supplement a roster that was pretty mediocre for much of the season. The Guardians are counting on a handful of young hitters — Chase DeLauter, George Valera, Bo Naylor, CJ Kayfus, Travis Bazzana — to develop into impact players. Perhaps some of those names do break out, but it's hard to envision a Cleveland hitter not named José Ramirez making the 2026 All-Star team.

18. San Francisco Giants

How new manager Tony Vitello makes the leap from college to the pros will be one of the more fascinating storylines of the entire MLB season. How that manifests on the field, though, will be difficult to assess. The Giants simply might not have enough talent for any manager to lead them to the promised land. San Francisco's rotation looks particularly shallow, though perhaps an improved defensive unit and one of the more pitcher-friendly parks in the game will be enough.

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17. Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona just needs to tread water for the first month of the season until ace Corbin Burnes returns from Tommy John surgery. This pitching staff doesn't inspire oodles of confidence, but at least Arizona's offense is good enough to win a bunch of 7-6 games.Corbin Carroll's hamate surgery is a big storylinejust because it typically takes guys some time to rediscover their power stroke after coming back from that injury.

16. Pittsburgh Pirates

A popular dark-horse pick right now, Pittsburgh is coming off one of the most punchless offensive team seasons in recent history. Thankfully, the Pirates have four new main characters taking the stage: three offseason additions (Ryan O'Hearn, Marcell Ozuna and Brandon Lowe) andone top-prospect phenom in Konnor Griffin. Whether or not Griffin makes the team out of camp, the 19-year-old supernova should be up for most of the season. It's a lot of pressure to put on a literal teenager, but Paul Skenes and this strong pitching staff need all the help they can get.

15. San Diego Padres

Offensive starpower be damned, this roster scares the heck out of me. Despite the combo of Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, the Padres finished third-to-last in baseball in home runs last year. Add a very top-heavy pitching rotation — Randy Vásquez, Germán Márquez and Walker Buehler are the 3, 4 and 5 starters — and this organization looks to be balancing on something of a tightrope.

14. Houston Astros

The much-predicted offseason trade never happened, which means the pieces on this roster still don't all fit together. Jeremy Peña starting the year on the IL might simplify Houston's defensive alignment coming out of the gate, but finding enough at-bats for all the veteran infielders might prove difficult. But none of that is as important as Yordan Alvarez's health. The gargantuan slugger played in just 48 games last season, and the Astros still almost won the division. The future is not particularly bright in Houston — this farm system stinks — but the Astros still have enough talent to return to October.

13. Atlanta Braves

If the Braves stay healthy, they should be pretty good. Unfortunately, they're already not healthy, with Sean Murphy, Spencer Schwellenbach and Hurston Waldrepstarting the season on the injured list.Losing Jurickson Profar to another PED suspension doesn't help, either. Can the top of this roster — Ronald Acuña Jr., Chris Sale, Austin Riley, Matt Olson and Spencer Strider — perform at a high enough level to make up for the injury woes and lack of depth?

12. Kansas City Royals

Speaking of a lack of depth, the Royals are shallower than a kiddie pool. Thankfully, the high-end talent here is pretty incredible. Bobby Witt Jr. is the third-best player in the world. Maikel Garcia and Vinnie Pasquantino should be All-Stars. Carter Jensen is a fun Rookie of the Year pick. A healthy Cole Ragans could be an X-factor. If Kansas City can dodge the injury bug, it'll have a good shot at the AL Central crown.

11. Detroit Tigers

If this is Tarik Skubal's final season in Detroit, well, let's hope the Tigers go down swinging. Adding Framber Valdez to the rotation was a reassuring development, but this offense is still lacking a true difference-maker. Maybe that's Kevin McGonigle, one of the top prospects in baseball, who could make the team out of spring training. If he hits the ground running, watch out.

10. Chicago Cubs

Swapping in Alex Bregman for Kyle Tucker is a vibes upgrade but a production downgrade. Where else can Chicago make up the difference? Maybe on the pitching front, where offseason trade acquisition Edward Cabrera enters the season with tons of hype. Which Pete Crow-Armstrong shows up — the first-half MVP candidate or the second-half struggler? — will play a huge role in dictating how this Cubs season turns out.

9. Milwaukee Brewers

Can they really keep getting away with this? After leading MLB in wins, the Brewers dealt away their best pitcher (Freddy Peralta) and two every-day position players (Caleb Durbin, Isaac Collins). A full-bore breakout from youngster Jackson Chourio would counteract those losses. So, too, would a full, dominant season from Jacob Misiorowski. No team has more young talent than Milwaukee, so even though they seem like smoke and mirrors at times, the Brewers are a good choice to repeat as NL Central champs.

8. Baltimore Orioles

How did things get so ugly for the 2025 O's? Bad starting pitching and position-player injuries. Baltimore solved the first problem by acquiring Chris Bassitt and Shane Baz to go alongside a back-from-injury Kyle Bradish and out-of-nowhere-breakout Trevor Rogers. The second problem is a little trickier. Adding Pete Alonso, one of the game's most durable position players, will help a lot. But spring training injuries to Jackson Holliday and Jordan Westburg don't exactly put the worrywarts at ease. In the end, however, the entire operation probably comes down to Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson.

7. Boston Red Sox

The more I look at this roster, the more I like it. There are some perplexing dynamics, some pieces that don't mesh, some hitters with question marks, but in the main, Boston has assembled an interesting group. A disproportionate amount of pressure will be placed on the shoulders of young Roman Anthony, but as he showed in the WBC, Anthony is a special hitter capable of carrying that type of load. He'll need some help from his supporting cast, which makes Willson Contreras, Trevor Story and Wilyer Abreu absolutely crucial to Boston's season.

6. Toronto Blue Jays

This lineup, inches from a World Series victory in November, will probably be worse than it was last season. Some of that is because of Bo Bichette's departure, but it's also difficult to see characters such as George Springer, Davis Schneider and Daulton Varsho delivering such productive offensive campaigns again. The arrival of Kazuma Okamoto could help bridge that gap, but there are enough injuries on the pitching side to feel a bit more cautious than the consensus regarding the defending American League champs.

5. New York Mets

It was quite the whirlwind winter for the Mets, who overhauled nearly half their big-league roster and said goodbye to a whole host of franchise stalwarts. The end result, however, is pretty encouraging. Freddy Peralta is a bona fide ace. Bo Bichette rakes and should be able to handle third base. Luis Robert Jr. retains stupid levels of upside in center field. Jorge Polanco will raise the offense's floor. Those newcomers should pair wonderfully with Juan Soto, Nolan McLean, Francisco Lindor and the rest to propel New York back to October.

4. Philadelphia Phillies

One day, perhaps soon, this Phillies window will close. The core of Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler and Co. certainly isn't getting any younger. But while this roster is dangerously devoid of depth, there are enough high-end, impact characters on both sides of the ball to keep the Phillies in contention for at least another 365 days. A pair of rookies in Justin Crawford (outfield) and Andrew Painter (rotation) will have a big say as to whether this is a wild-card team or a division champ.

3. New York Yankees

The Yankees got a lot of flack for opting to run things back in 2026 with a nearly unchanged roster, but I think it's a pretty defensible strategy ,considering how good this team was last season. Mix in a full season of starter Cam Schlittler, an Austin Wells bounce-back, another Ben Rice breakout and the underrated addition of Ryan Weathers, and the Yanks start to look like a strong World Series contender. They also, by the way,employ the best hitter on Earth.

2. Seattle Mariners

Could theWorld Baseball Classic handshake drama surrounding Cal Raleightailspin Seattle's season into a tornado of messy clubhouse drama?! I'm not buying it. That's not really how baseball works, and this team is too dang talented to let something as trivial as a fistbump slight derail its plans. The Mariners, who were one win away from their first World Series appearance last year, got better in the offseason with the addition of Brendan Donovan. Some regression is inevitable for Raleigh, but a long-awaited, full-blast season from Julio Rodriguez could make up the difference.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Will the Dodgers win the most regular-season games in 2026? Probably not, but that's not their goal. This isn't the Premier League. For L.A., the regular season is merely a warm-up for the playoffs, through which the Dodgers appear primed to stampede once again. The two-time defending champs got resoundingly better over the winter, adding both the best hitter (Kyle Tucker) and the best closer (Edwin Díaz) on the free-agent market. A million things could happen between now and October, but there is no stronger playoff lock than the Dodgers.

byAlex Forten

in

March 20, 2026

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