Full final 2026 regular-season grades for all 30 MLB teams
As we wrap up the 2026 Major League Baseball common season, it is time for some final grades.
As anticipated, the Los Angeles Dodgers challenged the single-season document for wins. The New York Mets had an enormous offseason that paid off with the National League East title. The New York Yankees dominated the American League East. The Milwaukee Brewers did not scrap their option to the playoffs. Tarik Skubal carried the Detroit Tigers to the AL Central championship. The Chicago White Sox? A joke as soon as once more.
Wait … no, that is not at all what occurred. The solely joke — exterior of the standard ineptitude we see from the golf equipment on the backside of the majors — was the AL West, which could see a group with a dropping document seize the division title.
The 2026 season won’t have gone as anticipated, however we nonetheless had breakout performances, shocking teams, unpredictable outcomes, a flamethrowing phenom, a season for the ages and a really mediocre AL. Let’s go to the grades.
What an exquisite, participating and thrilling common season for the Brewers. They’ve already set the franchise document for wins in a single season, breaking final yr’s mark of 97, and are heading to the highest document within the majors for the second yr in a row. Jacob Misiorowski has been the very best particular person story of the season — alongside division rival Pete Crow-Armstrong — nevertheless it has been a powerful teamwide effort.
Milwaukee’s rookie pitchers have began 77 video games, most within the majors, whereas one other pair of rookies in shortstop Cooper Pratt and proper fielder Luis Lara shall be beginning in October. Brice Turang‘s 6.9 bWAR is second amongst MLB place gamers, and he ought to end within the high 5 of the MVP voting. Oh, and the bullpen is high 5 within the majors in win chance added.
Not unhealthy for a group that was eleventh in ESPN’s preseason power rankings. At least we bought “the thing we’ll be talking about most this season” proper for Milwaukee: Misiorowski’s sophomore yr.
Nope, the Rays by no means light. In truth, they went 18-10 in August and are 14-6 in September after clinching the division (and the highest document within the AL) with a win over the Yankees on Tuesday.
Tampa Bay has been slightly arduous to research at occasions because it has gone 25-14 in one-run video games, which helps erase its 22-23 document in blowout video games determined by five-plus. (Good teams nearly at all times have a profitable document in blowout video games, so this can be a bizarre anomaly.) While Junior Caminero has been a standout and Jonathan Aranda is closing in on 100 RBIs, it has been a yr of unsung heroes: Drew Rasmussen, who began the division-clinching win on Tuesday, has 16 wins and a 2.67 ERA, whereas Nick Martinez has 15 wins and a 2.94 ERA; Griffin Jax transitioned from reliever to starter; Bryan Baker leads the majors in saves; Victor Mesa Jr. added shocking energy within the second half.
You can ask the identical query in regards to the Brewers and the Rays: Will this be the yr?
More regular than dominant, the Braves constructed an early lead within the NL East however appeared susceptible at occasions to the Phillies catching them — a lead that was as giant as 10½ video games on May 22 bought as little as two video games — however Atlanta beat Philadelphia 4 out of seven video games in September to primarily wrap up the division.
Huge shoutout to Chris Sale, who carried a rotation that obtained simply eight begins from Spencer Strider and none from Spencer Schwellenbach. Grant Holmes and Martin Perez additionally stepped up, whereas commerce addition Tyler Mahle has been the very best pickup of the deadline. Alongside Sale, the bullpen has been the group’s MVP, with the very best win chance added within the majors.
We’re conserving this an A for now, though if the White Sox can rally over these final few days and win the division, it ought to bump as much as an A+ as one of many least possible division titles in latest reminiscence. Preseason forecasts: 61-101 on ESPN, 67-95 on FanGraphs. Instead, with Miguel Vargas, Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery every topping 30 house runs, the White Sox have slugged their method — hopefully — into the playoffs, even when it is simply as a wild card.
They bought simply sufficient pitching, particularly from a bullpen that has pitched probably the most innings within the majors (and is sporting down a bit because the season ends). Heck, Tristan Peters went from former Savannah Banana to AL All-Star. What’s to not love about this season?
For most teams, closing in on 100 wins is a simple A grade. For the Dodgers, that is known as assembly expectations. True, they may get there although Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell have mixed for simply 20 begins and Shohei Ohtani did not pitch once more after early July, ending with a 1.79 ERA in 14 begins. But nonetheless, no person feels sorry for them. Those numerous pitching damage considerations led to the Skubal commerce.
So, the considerations have now shifted to an offense that scuffled at occasions within the second half — though it has averaged 5.7 runs per recreation throughout the present 15-3 stretch. Even Kyle Tucker is all of a sudden red-hot, with six house runs and a .641 slugging proportion in September. That stretch, apart from Tuesday’s win over the Padres, got here towards non-playoff teams with unhealthy pitching, although — the Dodgers are simply 18-18 towards the 5 different NL playoff teams.
Nonetheless, with Skubal and Snell pitching properly and Yoshinobu Yamamoto nearly as good as ever, the Dodgers is likely to be peaking on the proper time.
It has been a curler coaster of a season for the Padres, who’re enjoying their finest baseball heading into October. They bought off to a robust begin that noticed them 29-18 on May 18 and in first place within the division — although Fernando Tatis Jr. hadn’t homered, Manny Machado was hitting .180 and Jackson Merrill was hitting .202. Remarkably, Tatis did not homer till his 56th recreation however is now as much as 25.
By July 23, nevertheless, the Padres have been 50-53, however they gained eight of 9 simply earlier than the commerce deadline and common supervisor A.J. Preller boosted the rotation with Casey Mize and Robbie Ray. Those two have not truly pitched properly, however the resurgent offense has helped them match the Rays for the very best document for the reason that deadline. With Tatis and Merrill on hearth, Ty France having an enormous season and Mason Miller able to lock issues down within the ninth inning, perhaps that is the Padres group that will get to the World Series.
General supervisor Brian Cashman has been a lot maligned by Yankees followers in recent times for failing to construct a World Series winner, however the depth of the roster he constructed has as soon as once more carried the group to the postseason. Even with Aaron Judge lacking greater than 90 video games, the Yankees are nonetheless neck and neck with the Cubs for most house runs within the majors. Despite Max Fried, Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon lacking important time, they lead the majors in rotation ERA.
Two relievers Cashman picked up off the scrap pile of free expertise, Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick, are a key cause the Yankees are second in bullpen ERA. Then there’s Cam Schlittler, who burst onto the scene final yr and has now become a sure-thing Cy Young winner. Judge’s proper calf pressure, which put him again on the IL — the rationale he is not expected to play in the wild-card series — is an enormous fear, however perhaps the Yankees can pitch-and-defense their option to their first World Series championship since 2009.
The Red Sox are a playoff group, which is not essentially a shock, nevertheless it’s a big shock given they have been 32-46 on June 24 and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow appeared like he is likely to be becoming a member of supervisor Alex Cora on the unemployment line. Soon after, a 9-0 street journey become a 15-game profitable streak, a part of a outstanding 32-5 stretch — they usually did that with out Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony, their projected two finest gamers.
A bunch of unsung function gamers — equivalent to Nick Sogard, Anthony Seigler, Mickey Gasper and Jake Bennett — have contributed, as has a bullpen that leads the majors in ERA and outfielders Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela, who’ve every posted 5-WAR seasons. Breslow went all-in to amass Adley Rutschman on the deadline, giving up three top-10 prospects, however Rutschman has hit .214/.270/.398 in 28 video games with the Red Sox.
The “win now” nature of that commerce means the Red Sox aren’t actually underdogs, even when they’re painted as such — they usually’ll should beat the Yankees and Rays simply to succeed in the American League Championship Series.
No doubt, there’s slightly “right division, right time” occurring for the Guardians, however whereas the Tigers underachieved, and the Twins could not put it all collectively, and the Royals stumbled round all season … properly, none of that ever occurs to the Guardians, does it? They at all times attain their stage.
That’s principally as a result of the pitching is normally good and typically nice. They’re the one group with 4 starters with no less than 30 begins (no different group has greater than two), after which they added Foster Griffin on the commerce deadline. The offense has been significantly better within the second half with Steven Kwan getting on base at round a .400 clip, which type of will get every thing going. Rookies Chase DeLauter and Travis Bazzana rank Nos. 1-2 on the group in OPS+. Throw in group MVP Parker Messick — he is 12-9 with a 2.55 ERA — and this is likely to be the very best rookie class in franchise historical past.
The objective was a division title — which has eluded the Cubs in a full season since 2017 — so ending in second place for a fourth consecutive season, and never particularly near the Brewers both, is a bit anticlimactic. Thanks to Crow-Armstrong and the majors’ main offense, nevertheless, it was an entertaining season — and the Cubs are no less than headed to the playoffs barring a last-week collapse. PCA’s 10.6 FanGraphs WAR is the second highest by a place participant in franchise historical past (behind Rogers Hornsby’s 11.0 WAR in 1929). That’s the stat of the yr for the Cubs — adopted by the 14 totally different relievers who’ve recorded a save (tied for second most in MLB historical past).
The Marlins are going to complete with about the identical document as final season, however this was a significantly better membership. The 2025 squad went 79-83 however had a minus-89 run differential. Sitting at plus-3 with a couple of video games remaining, this yr’s Marlins may end with a optimistic run differential for the primary time since — drumroll, please — 2010. Ouch.
Miami’s high takeaway of 2026 was the double-play combo of Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards. While each light on the plate within the second half, they nonetheless mixed for 9 WAR, giving the Marlins their finest center infield for the reason that heyday of Hanley Ramirez and Dan Uggla. Max Meyer made the All-Star group earlier than ending on the injured record with a neck damage, and Eury Perez flashed his top-of-the-rotation stuff (and midrotation inconsistency). Unfortunately, pitching prospects Thomas White (shoulder) and Robby Snelling (Tommy John surgical procedure) have been unable to impression the main league group as anticipated heading into the season.
The Nationals are most likely going to complete third within the majors in runs scored, which no person would have predicted heading into the season — they usually’re doing it with the youngest group of place gamers within the league, per Baseball Reference. President of baseball operations Paul Toboni did money in on Luis Garcia Jr. and Curtis Mead on the commerce deadline, so the offense has been solely middle-of-the-pack since then, nevertheless it’s a promising turnaround for a moribund franchise.
Has any participant modified his recreation as a lot as CJ Abrams? When he got here up with the Padres in 2022, he was a thin, slap-hitting 21-year-old with no energy — he ranked 262nd out of 281 place gamers in common exit velocity. Fast-forward to 2026 and he has hit 33 house runs. Now get Abrams and James Wood some pitching assist.
Few teams have stored their core group in place for as a few years because the Phillies — Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto, Bryson Stott and Alec Bohm have all been regulars since 2022, with Trea Turner becoming a member of the group in 2023 — and it seems prone to end in a fifth consecutive playoff look. It hasn’t been a simple season although.
Manager Rob Thomson bought fired. The Phillies ceded the NL East title again to the Braves for the primary time since 2023. The offense is mediocre (14th total in runs, together with twenty fourth on the street). The protection, particularly within the first half, was horrible. And now Jesus Luzardo, the group’s finest starter the previous two months, is injured along with his playoff standing up within the air. At least Aaron Nola is pitching his finest baseball in a few years. Given the age of this group, it is World Series or bust yet one more time.
What an interesting but in the end irritating season for the Pirates. They made a principally unattainable enchancment on offense, leaping from final within the majors in runs to fifth. Brandon Lowe led the best way, nevertheless it was a deep lineup, with 20-year-old rookie Konnor Griffin displaying why he initiatives as a future star. The aggravating half comes with Paul Skenes‘ 3.91 ERA — he just lately stated pitching in the World Baseball Classic was the “root” of his issues — and Mitch Keller‘s 5.29 ERA in 22 begins. With higher outcomes from these two, perhaps the Pirates make the playoffs for the primary time since 2015.
The Diamondbacks by some means hung within the wild-card race all the best way till the final week of the season, although their core group — Corbin Carroll, Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, Merrill Kelly and Zac Gallen — have all had higher seasons. Carroll was the very best of the group and Perdomo got here on within the second half, however Kelly and Gallen are 12-23 with minus-1.4 WAR and Marte had another mysterious absence this yr.
Others stepped up — Gabriel Moreno ought to end within the high 10 of the MVP voting and Eduardo Rodriguez will obtain some down-ballot MVP votes, whereas the bullpen was shockingly among the finest in baseball — however the Diamondbacks want to determine methods to construct a 95-win group as an alternative of an 85-win one. We’ll see if common supervisor Mike Hazen and skipper Torey Lovullo will stay round to try this.
The Rangers have hovered between six video games underneath .500 (the low level on May 28) and three video games over .500 (the excessive level on July 28) all season. Thanks to their division, they’ve by no means been greater than three video games out of first and entered this final week one recreation forward of the Astros. The group MVPs have been utility man Ezequiel Duran and nearer Jacob Latz. That feels just like the very definition of a C grade. The Rangers have struggled to attain runs all season and, no, that is not simply Globe Life Field: They’re twenty third in runs per recreation at house and twenty fifth on the street. They do not even have an ace, as Jacob deGrom has been their finest starter and he is 11-10 with a 3.86 ERA. Despite all of that, they may luck right into a division title anyway.
As is the case with the Rangers, this mark can go up or down a half grade based mostly on the final standings — however whatever the final end result, that is the worst Astros group since 2014, the final dropping season earlier than the rebirth started in 2015. Owner Jim Crane definitely is not pleased with how the season has gone, firing common supervisor Dana Brown in late August with supervisor Joe Espada prone to go as properly when his contract expires after the season.
Was Crane proper to anticipate extra? Not actually. Houston was thirteenth in ESPN’s preseason Power Rankings with a projected document of 84-78. FanGraphs noticed the Astros because the third-best group within the AL West, predicting an 80-82 document. They are what was anticipated: a flawed, top-heavy roster with skinny depth on the pitching employees. That’s the way it performed out.
And — cease me if this sounds acquainted — they may luck right into a division title anyway.
The Cardinals weren’t a catastrophe in 2026, which is an efficient factor, contemplating this group might have simply gone sideways. Chaim Bloom, in his first yr heading up baseball operations, fully dedicated to youth, operating out the second-youngest group of place gamers within the majors.
Jordan Walker lastly broke out and Alec Burleson is main the majors in RBIs, which no Cardinals participant has completed since Joe Torre in 1971. JJ Wetherholt confirmed he’ll be a priceless participant; he and Masyn Winn may each win Gold Gloves. There is extra younger expertise on the best way, too, with Leo Bernal and Joshua Baez getting a style of the massive leagues this season, and Rainiel Rodriguez, Liam Doyle and Tanner Franklin subsequent in line.
The neatest thing right here is that the Cardinals have been no less than fascinating for the primary time in a very long time. (Even a few of their latest playoff teams weren’t all that thrilling.) The payroll has been trimmed to the naked bones, so there’s room heading into 2027 to handle the rotation and bullpen.
Minnesota was shut within the division race till fading — as soon as once more — over the final two months, a interval during which Byron Buxton performed simply 11 video games and Joe Ryan made simply 4 begins. (The Twins misplaced all 4.) What this franchise wants greater than something is a few star energy. Maybe late-season call-ups Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez will finally be these guys. Or shortstop (*30*), who appeared promising within the 25 video games he performed earlier than getting injured. Taj Bradley did have an excellent season, and rotation mates Zebby Matthews and rookie Connor Prielipp additionally flashed some great things at occasions. There’s a probably good basis brewing right here, however take note: The Twins’ Opening Day payroll was their lowest since 2014. If solely possession have been slightly extra dedicated to profitable.
Meh. I imply, you possibly can say that about the whole AL, however the Orioles have been particularly “meh” in 2026. OK, Pete Alonso was enjoyable, though probably the most enjoyable he had was his return to Citi Field last week. Whatever occurred to Gunnar Henderson is likely one of the greatest mysteries of the whole 2026 season. Any hope for the Orioles in 2027 rests on him returning to famous person standing. Jackson Holliday? Still younger, however his star has dimmed. Rutschman? Gone. Samuel Basallo? Promising, perhaps enjoyable. The story of the 2023-to-2026 Orioles is that this: You by no means know what the longer term goes to deliver. Go for it when you possibly can. And when you’ve got a brand new proprietor who guarantees he desires to win, do not consider it till he exhibits it.
It is likely to be simple responsible the bullpen right here, as regardless of a plus-73 in run differential — finest within the division and fourth finest within the AL (and just some runs behind the Rays and Red Sox) — Detroit’s 15-27 document in one-run video games dragged down its total document. But let’s concentrate on one thing else.
The Tigers went 3-10 towards the Guardians and 4-9 towards the White Sox, averaging simply 3.3 runs per recreation in these 26 contests. That’s not going to work, even when Mariano Rivera is your nearer. Despite a pleasant run in June and July after they went 30-20, the Tigers determined to punt on the deadline and traded Skubal. They performed properly instantly after the commerce and bought to 2½ video games out of the division lead earlier than a 3-14 stretch buried them. With Skubal completed and dusted, president of baseball operations Scott Harris might want to take a deep take a look at the place the Tigers stand: Since final Aug. 24, they’re 83-106.
The Rockies will end with a fourth straight 100-loss season and sure the worst document within the majors, however this was nonetheless a significant step ahead from 2025, as their run differential improved from minus-424 (the worst in fashionable MLB historical past) to minus-183 (not even the worst in 2026).
Most of the strides got here on offense, because the Rockies improved from final within the majors in runs per recreation on the street to twenty first, as the primary yr of the Paul DePodesta/Josh Byrnes-led entrance workplace unearthed a 3.5-WAR participant from the Yankees in TJ Rumfield and noticed one other large season from Hunter Goodman, plus promising returns from farm system prospects Kyle Karros and Cole Carrigg. The pitching stays a large number, and you’ll’t give a 100-loss group a grade increased than a D+, however as DePodesta and Byrnes work to modernize the group, the Rockies is likely to be headed in the best path.
It has clearly been a disappointing follow-up to Toronto’s World Series look final yr, so it is truthful to ask: Was 2025 only a fluke? The Blue Jays have been 74-88 in 2024, 94-68 in 2025 and 77-80 to date in 2026. The outlier was an offensive surge in 2025 in contrast with the opposite two seasons — and it is not all on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s shoulders, with the Jays on tempo to attain 145 fewer runs in 2026 than final yr. Guerrero is accountable for about 41 runs of that decline, or about 28%. That leaves 72% for the entrance workplace to determine methods to repair for subsequent season.
The path to nowhere for the Royals was set early when Bobby Witt Jr. by some means scored only one run within the group’s first 18 video games. He then scored three runs in a recreation — however then went six extra runless video games and did not hit a house run till his twenty ninth recreation. This is not on Witt, as he is prone to get some first-place MVP votes since he leads AL place gamers in FanGraphs WAR, nevertheless it’s an instance of how the Royals simply by no means bought in sync all season. They had only one profitable month, in August, they usually particularly struggled towards good teams, going a wretched 7-24 towards the AL East and 19-29 towards the NL. After back-to-back profitable seasons, it was a disappointing flop, leaving Kansas City with lots of holes to repair.
After making the playoffs in 2025, solely the A’s and Rockies are going to finish up with a worse run differential than the Reds. Somehow, they’ve Elly De La Cruz, possible NL Rookie of the Year Sal Stewart and Chase Burns, who went 15-3 with a 2.86 ERA and 185 strikeouts, and but nonetheless ended up as a dreary watch — particularly disappointing contemplating they have been 20-11 on the finish of April. Blame the rotation. After rating sixteenth within the majors in rotation ERA in 2024 and a powerful ninth (contemplating its bandbox of a house park) in 2025, Cincinnati fell to twenty eighth in 2026 regardless of Burns’ excellence.
It feels just like the Reds want an identification. They’re not a pitching-and-defense group. (The protection was unhealthy.) They have the veneer of a power-hitting group, no less than in 2026, however the park helps inflate their energy totals. They do not hit for common (final within the majors). If they are going to construct round pitching, perhaps it is sensible to vary the size of the park and get some higher defenders to encompass De La Cruz and Stewart.
The A’s can no less than use accidents as an excuse for going backward from 2025, as Nick Kurtz, Brent Rooker, Shea Langeliers, Jacob Wilson and Tyler Soderstrom all missed important time. Indeed, they have been hovering round .500 in late May — which meant they have been in first place within the AL West — till all the accidents turned an excessive amount of. They’ve been the worst group within the majors since July 1. Rooker and Wilson did not hit after they performed, and Lawrence Butler spent the primary half hitting like Craig Paquette’s long-lost cousin. It’s simple to level fingers on the pitching employees — the A’s have allowed practically 100 extra runs than any non-Rockies group — however a few of that’s enjoying in Sacramento, because the A’s have a decrease street ERA than AL West rivals Seattle, Houston and Texas.
A reminder: ESPN ranked the Mets sixth in its preseason Power Rankings with a projected document of 92-70 and 78% playoff odds. FanGraphs had the Mets because the NL East favorites with a 38% probability of profitable the division, simply forward of the Braves, and an 80% probability of creating the playoffs. On paper, it did appear like a very good group, so the playoff expectations have been completely sensible. We all know what occurred: accidents, poor efficiency, Alonso main the league in RBIs … for the Orioles. Oops.
What retains the Mets from receiving a failing grade, nevertheless, is that they no less than have been respectable underneath interim supervisor Andy Green — a lot in order that the interim tag was removed and Green was given a three-year deal on Tuesday — and rookies Nolan McLean, Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing have carried out properly, offering a much-needed inflow of younger expertise. Still, president of baseball operations David Stearns is on the new seat to enhance this membership for 2027 after his 2025-26 offseason (signing Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Semien, Freddy Peralta, Luis Robert Jr. and Devin Williams) goes down as one of many worst ever.
The Angels set a franchise document with 99 losses in 2024, and with 97 losses to date, this group might surpass that mark, so we’re just about caught giving them a failing grade. If you are counting, that is 11 consecutive dropping seasons and 12 consecutive non-playoff seasons. The finest information got here in early September when Arte Moreno agreed to sell the team for $4 billion to Stan Kroenke, proprietor of the Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Arsenal F.C. and different sports activities franchises. On the sector, there have been — consider it or not — some fascinating developments, particularly Walbert Urena and Reid Detmers within the rotation, a part of a gaggle that has the second-best ERA for the reason that starting of August.
It’s truthful to say the primary yr of the Tony Vitello managerial period performed out with all the fervor of fireworks on a rain-drenched Fourth of July. Did he get probably the most out of this group? No. Is the group’s second 90-loss season since 2008 his fault? Also no. President of baseball operations Buster Posey has voiced his help, so Vitello will possible return for 2027, which places the strain on Posey to determine this out.
The greatest downside right here: Rafael Devers, whereas rebounding from a horrible begin to have a productive season, is signed for seven extra years and $223 million; Willy Adames is owed $155.5 million for 5 years; Matt Chapman, simply over $100 million for 4 years; and Jung Hoo Lee, $65 million for three. That’s some huge cash for a gaggle that mixed for lower than 10 WAR. While Bryce Eldridge had a promising rookie season and the farm system — led by Josuar Gonzalez — is intriguing, these contracts appear like a drag on the franchise’s future.
On July 5, the Mariners beat Toronto 4-0 for their second straight shutout win and third in 4 video games, thus ending their first half at 47-44 and in first place within the AL West. It hadn’t been a clean journey, however they appeared like the very best group in a weak division and FanGraphs agreed, giving them a 63% probability of profitable the division and 85% of creating the playoffs. If Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez bought going, they may even cruise to the division title.
Alas … catastrophe, disappointment and despair. The Mariners have been plus-27 in run differential by July 5 and are minus-90 since, with solely the A’s, Rockies and Reds permitting extra runs. Raleigh and Rodriguez by no means actually did get going, and the rotation, the supposed power of the group, ranks within the backside 5 of the majors in ERA since that date.
The issues have been throughout the board, nevertheless: twenty eighth in runs scored, poor protection (twenty sixth in defensive runs saved), and nearer Andres Munoz is tied for the MLB lead with 10 blown saves. Dan Wilson is definitely out as supervisor, and president of baseball operations Jerry Dipoto has now made the playoffs simply twice in his 11 seasons operating the group. If solely the Mariners had gained 54% of their video games.