Two Weeks In, and MLB's Hottest Takes Are Already Getting Spicy

Two weeks into the 2026 season and we are not even close to knowing how this thing plays out. Teams have barely scratched the surface of 162 games. But that has never stopped anyone from making bold predictions, right? ESPN's MLB experts went all-in this week, each picking one thing that has stood out early and backing it with their boldest take for the full season. The ground rules were simple: it had to be bold, and it had to be something they actually think sticks around. Some of these predictions came in scorching. Others? Not so much.

The Mild Take: The ABS is About to Get Real

Right now, the automated ball-strike system has everyone feeling giddy. We get it. The pitch challenges are fun, the drama is real, and fans love having a say in what constitutes a strike. But Bradford Doolittle thinks that goodwill is about to hit a wall once people really pay attention to what else is happening at the plate.

Batting average is spiraling. Like, worse than ever. Walk rates are sky high. Strikeout rates keep climbing. The shift restrictions? They are barely moving the needle on league-level BABIP. Sure, pitch challenges are fire, but here is the question Doolittle is asking: what if the automated strike zone is actually making the batting average problem worse? Even small changes to the zone have historically caused chaos. One unintended consequence could tank the whole vibe. It is the kind of take that feels like you ordered salsa and got mango instead. Not what you expected, but it makes you think.

The Spicy Take: 10% Walk Rate For the First Time Since 1950

This one is not a surprise. It is the obvious, predictable consequence of the ABS system, and it is already happening. Through the first 135 games, the league had racked up 1,011 walks. That is 74 more than at the same point last year. On a rate basis, 9.9% of plate appearances have ended in a walk. That is the highest rate at this point in a season since 1997 (when it hit 10.3%). This year, expect to cross that 10% threshold for the first time since 1950.

Hitters are smarter than ever about the value of a free pass. Pitchers would rather nibble at the edges than risk damage over the heart of the plate. It is a trend that is only going to accelerate as the season rolls on.

Baseball is changing in real time. Keep your eyes on the leaderboards.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.