The biggest success — and biggest disappointment — for all 30 MLB teams this season
The biggest success — and biggest disappointment — for all 30 MLB teams this season. Skip to main content Skip to navigation The biggest success — and biggest disappointment — for all 30 MLB teams this seasonArizona Diamondbacks17hBradford Doolittle'What we're doing now ain't working': On Roberto Clemente Day, MLB has a Puerto Rico problem17hJorge CastilloWho is MLB's team to beat this October — and who could take them down?
What happened
Biggest disappointment: The Dodgers' splash signings of Tucker and Edwin Diaz in last season's free agency were the cause of much handwringing about L. Biggest disappointment: Injuries have once again beset Acuna, whose prime seasons are starting to run short. 6%)Biggest success: We've seen a number of previously unknown young pitchers emerge as postseason sensations, as Cam Schlittler did last season for the Yankees, then fail to capitalize on the stir they created with career-long dominance.
Biggest disappointment: Coming off a five-season run in which Aaron Judge averaged 50 homers, 144 games played and 8. 8%)Biggest success: The skeleton of a dominating postseason pitching structure is in place for the Phillies, thanks to the game's best rotation trio and a top-end closer in Jhoan Duran. Biggest disappointment: The injury-marred season by cornerstone outfielder Roman Anthony contributed to Boston's slow start, especially as the more established Jarren Duran struggled and continues to do so. 5%)Biggest success: In his fourth season as Arizona's primary catcher, Gabriel Moreno has never played more or played better.
The wider picture
1%)Biggest success: No matter how their playoff push turns out, the 2026 season has been a big, honking success for the White Sox. Biggest disappointment: As successful as the White Sox have been so far in churning out rookie hitters ready to help, it remains to be seen if they can match them with similarly productive pitchers from their system. Biggest disappointment: Yeah, that would be Ramirez, who is having his worst season in 11 years. Breaking down Yordan Alvarez's 2026 seasonHouston Astros2dDavid SchoenfieldThe 10 players who leveled up this season — and how it changed their teams' fortunesMilwaukee Brewers5dDavid Schoenfield2026 MLB core rankings: Who has the most star talent?
We do this exercise every year, and it is a good chance to look for the successes and disappointments left behind in the wake of each team's campaign, as viewed through the prism of the expectations, hopes and forecasts we had back in late March. 6%)Biggest success: Forget, if you can, about Jacob Misiorowski's blazing velocity readings that have garnered so many headlines. Biggest disappointment: There is not much to choose from, but since we don't want to leave any section blank, I'll go with second-half Kyle Harrison.
8%)Biggest success: Shohei Ohtani's second-half narrative has been dominated by injuries.
What has been reported
0%)Biggest success: As ever with the Rays, it's hard to pinpoint one thing that has driven their return to baseball's elite tier. Biggest disappointment: The Rays have been so well balanced in every area of the roster and have gotten positive contributions from so many players that you have to get nitpicky here. 6%)Biggest success: Ten years after a rough four-year stretch as manager of the Rockies, Walt Weiss has provided a steady hand after taking over the reins of one of baseball's most stable franchises, replacing stalwart Brian Snitker.
Like Guidry in that magical season, Schlittler's stunning success should land him the AL Cy Young Award. 1%)Biggest success: When a player becomes a set of initials, you know he has reached rarefied air. Biggest disappointment: Injuries and a general lack of consistency have undermined a starting rotation that looked good on paper when spring training began. Biggest disappointment: Despite lineup anchors Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper continuing to shine, the Phillies' offense has been not only mediocre but also markedly worse than 2025.
2%)Biggest success: Citing Boston's historic turnaround is kind of nonspecific, but the miraculous nature of it can't be ignored.
What happens next
Biggest disappointment: The first-half offense. Biggest disappointment: Arizona is still clinging to its playoff hopes, which grow dimmer with each victory by the red-hot Padres. 2%)Biggest success: The Guardians have annually fielded one of the AL's youngest rosters, a neat trick given the usual dynamics that go with the passage of time. 4%)Biggest success: Given his ongoing knee trouble and the 48 games he was limited to in 2025, it wasn't silly to wonder if the Astros were now dealing with a post-peak version of Yordan Alvarez.
Biggest disappointment: The Astros' sign-stealing scandal is old news now, but in some ways Houston is still dealing with the fallout of that mess in the form of ongoing organizational instability. Arizona Diamondbacks6dJeff PassanPassan's MLB expansion update: Which cities are the favorites for next teams? 8dJeff Passan'This is all anonymous? ' MLB players unfiltered on salary cap, CBA talks and whether there will be a 2027 season14dESPNFantasy baseball news: Fairbanks may be finished and more for Tuesday14hESPN FantasyplayPadres go up 5-1 on Fernando Tatis Jr. 's 2-run HR (0:35)Bradford DoolittleSep 15, 2026, 07:00 AM ETCloseMLB writer and analyst for ESPN. com Former NBA writer and analyst for ESPN. com Been with ESPN since 2013Multiple AuthorsEmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsJust like that, here we are with the playoff season bearing down on us.
The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across espn.com, bbc.co.uk. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.