MLB's Five Best Rivalries in 2016

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Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports /

MLB history is full of great rivalries, but which match-ups will be the most exciting during the 2016 season?

Baseball is great on its own, but it gets taken to another level when rivals face off. Every fanbase has teams and players that it dislikes just a little more than everyone else. When those players come to town you can feel it in the atmosphere at the ballpark. There’s more than wins and losses on the line in these match-ups. Pride and bragging rights are treasured possessions, and these commodities will be competed for in numerous stadiums around the league this season.

Some rivalries are naturally formed from divisional play. Others can be created by incidents on and off the field. Occasionally these two factors will come together, and it results in great drama for the fans. Rivalries make the players play a little bit harder, and they make the fans cheer a little bit louder.

So which rivalries are MLB’s best in 2016? Admittedly, this list gives more weight to recent events over historical importance. What follows are the games and match-ups that could have the most on the line in MLB this season. If you’re looking for action, look no further than these five rivalries.

Next: A Historic Rivalry

5. Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees

Throughout history this has been baseball’s best rivalry, and it’s provided us with some unforgettable moments. For most current fans it reached its peak in 2003-2004. Yankees fans fondly remember the sight of Aaron Boone’s series-winning home run heading over the left field fence in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. It would only take a year for Red Sox fans to have their opportunity to pop the champagne when they came back from a 3-0 deficit to win the 2004 ALCS. In the early 2000s each time these two teams faced off it was must-see TV, and baseball definitely took advantage of the interest.

The Yankees have long been the gold standard in baseball. No team can match their 27 World Series championships. In their rivalry with the Red Sox they hold the overall edge in wins and losses with a 1,161 – 962 record. Up until 2004 Red Sox fans had very little to brag about in this feud, but over the past 10-15 years that perception began to change.

Since 2000 the Red Sox have more World Series titles (2004, 2007, 2013) than the Yankees (2000, 2009), but the Yankees lead the division title race 10-2. So why does this rivalry come in at number five? When it is at its best there’s nothing better than this, but over the past few seasons both teams have had their share of struggles on the field. 2011 is the last time that both teams won at least 90 games.

This rivalry is still good, but until both teams make their way back to the top of the division it won’t top this list.

Next: The Champs vs. Projections

4. The Kansas City Royals vs. Pre-Season Projection Systems

Obviously this battle won’t take place on the field, but to some it feels like a fight for the soul of baseball. Two seasons ago, the Royals represented the AL in the World Series, and last year they finished the job as champions. For some this recent run of success by Kansas City has been completely unexpected. In particular, a few of baseball’s most well-known projection systems have been baffled by what the Royals are doing.

Joe Posnanski has a helpful summary of this unusual rivalry. In 2014, Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA system predicted the Royals to win 79 games. The Royals went on to win 89 and make a World Series appearance. Last season, PECOTA doubled down and projected a 72-win season for Kansas City. As you remember, they went on to win 95 games and a championship. At this point you would think maybe PECOTA would look at this team a little differently.

However, heading in to 2016 it was more of the same. PECOTA projected another low win total at 76. So far this season, the Royals are 9-4, and they have the best winning percentage in the American League. At this point, it’s hard to doubt Kansas City’s ability to overperform these early season projections. Up to this point, PECOTA vs. the Royals has been a rivalry, but it’s been one with lopsided results.

Next: Who Will Be the Face of Baseball?

3. Mike Trout vs. Bryce Harper

Mike Trout burst on the scene in his first full season in the majors in 2012. He was only 20 at the time, but he went on to accumulate an absurd 10.3 fWAR. It was hard to fathom how a player could be this good while still being so young. Since that season he’s showed few signs of slowing down. He’s posted at least 8 fWAR in every season, and by that measure he’s been baseball’s most valuable player. While his game has changed some over the past five years (his power is up and his steals are down), he’s remained just as productive. Most people expected Trout to have a long unquestioned run as baseball’s best player.

During Trout’s debut season another young player was transitioning to the majors in Washington. Bryce Harper debuted as a 19-year-old for the Nationals in 2012. From 2012 to 2014 he was good, but many felt like he hadn’t quite lived up to his hype. That perception changed last season when Harper posted one of the best offensive seasons in baseball history. In 2015 he would go on to hit .330/.460/.649 with 42 home runs and 99 RBIs. His 197 wRC+ led all of baseball, and it was the best season by that measure since Barry Bonds was a regular.

Many thought that Harper would be good, but that he could never be as good as Trout. Last season at least let people ask the question, and 2016 has done nothing to quiet the debate. Harper is off to a white-hot .333/.429/.867 slash line, and he’s hit seven home runs in his first 13 games. Meanwhile Trout has struggled out of the gate hitting just .220/.333/.340. Who will be MLB’s best player over the next decade? Two seasons ago Trout was the easy choice. The past few seasons have show that Harper isn’t going to surrender that title without a fight.

Next: The Battle for the NL West

2. The Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the San Francisco Giants

This is one of baseball’s most storied rivalries. The bad blood between these teams extends all the way back to when they both called New York home. The teams both headed out west, and it has remained one of baseball’s most heated match-ups. All-time the Giants hold a slim edge with a 1,143 – 1,120 record.

In recent years the Dodgers have had more success in the division. L.A. has won six division titles since 2000 compared to San Francisco’s four. However, where it really counts – World Series titles – it’s been a rout for the Giants. They captured championships in 2002, 2010, 2012 and 2014. On the other side of the rivalry the Dodgers haven’t brought home baseball’s most coveted prize since 1988.

So far 2016 looks like it’s going to be another great year for this rivalry. Both teams expect to contend for an NL West title, and they’ve already faced seven times. The Giants hold the early lead in those match-ups with a 4-3 record. Part of what makes this rivalry so special today is the individual competitions on the field. In particular, both teams can run out one of the best starters in baseball. When Clayton Kershaw and Madison Bumgarner face off it has become appointment television. It’s likely that the fate of the NL West will go through these two cities, and more than likely one of these teams will be on top of the division in the end.

Next: The Upstart vs. The Establishment

1. The Chicago Cubs vs. the St. Louis Cardinals

It’s not difficult to understand why Cardinals fans are so proud of their team. Throughout baseball history they have been one of the game’s most successful franchises. They’ve won 11 World Series titles, second only to the Yankees, and over the past few seasons they’ve been the team to beat in the NL Central. They’ve won the division three straight seasons now. Every year analysts and fans seem to predict a step back for St. Louis, and every season they find a way to keep on winning.