The Yankees and Giants will open the 2026 MLB season on March 25. We’ll be counting down to that date with our annual preview series, with each story looking ahead to the coming season by breaking down a particular topic.
Today: Ranking teams by their chances of ending a long World Series title drought in 2026
Last Nov. 1, the Blue Jays came this close to ending their World Series title drought. You may vaguely remember that game — it was kind of a big deal, something covered pretty extensively around these parts. Alas, that 31-season title drought made it to 32 seasons, and if Toronto falls short again this year, it will be 33 consecutive seasons without a World Series triumph.
As long as that drought has lasted, though, there are in fact 13 teams that have either gone longer than Toronto without winning a World Series (eight teams) or have never won one in franchise history (five).
So, do any of those 14 teams (counting the Blue Jays) have a chance at ending their drought this year? The best way to find out is to play the season. But the second-best way is to rank them. So let’s do that: Here are those 14 teams, in order of who is most likely to finish 2026 as the World Series champion.
1. Mariners (Last title: none)
The Mariners enjoyed the breakthrough season they have long been waiting for in 2025, one that resulted in their first division title, nearly their first World Series berth and just their second playoff appearance since 2001. But there’s every reason to think this year should be even better.
They have just about everybody back, and they’ve added All-Star Brendan Donovan, exactly the sort of player their already-stacked lineup needed. They’ve got two MVP candidates in Cal Raleigh and Julio RodrÃguez, a deep starting rotation and an improved bullpen. They play in a weakened division, and their fanbase is ready to run through a wall for their team. I mean, this sort of looks like the year, doesn’t it?
2. Mets (Last title: 1986)
Is this too high? Maybe. But the Mets pivoted magnificently from losing Pete Alonso and missing out on Kyle Tucker by bringing in Bo Bichette, Luis Robert Jr. and Freddy Peralta, and this is a team that knows it’s on the clock. (And has an owner who will make sure they are constantly reminded.) They are in a tough division, fighting with two teams in the Braves and Phillies that also are running short on time. But the Mets have Juan Soto and Francisco Lindor, along with a fascinating pitching staff, some young stars about to bust out and every incentive to add whatever is necessary. It sure would be something if they ended their drought on the 40th anniversary of that 1986 team, wouldn’t it?
3. Blue Jays (Last title: 1993)
It feels cruel to keep bringing up how close they were last year, but, seriously, they were so, so close. And despite losing Bichette, you could make the argument that they’re better this year: Dylan Cease, Cody Ponce, Tyler Rogers and Kazuma Okamoto are all key additions. The toughness of the AL East is certainly worrisome — the Jays could absolutely still make the playoffs despite finishing fourth — but this team is not going away. The best way to make everyone forget the disappointment of the 2025 Fall Classic is to win the next one.
4. Tigers (Last title: 1984)
Their collapse down the stretch last season was disguised a little bit by their Wild Card Series win over the Guardians, the very team that chased them down for the AL Central title. Yet it has to be pointed out that Detroit still hasn’t won its division since 2014. But with Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander atop their rotation — what a trio! — they’re the obvious favorites this year. And who in the world would want to face those three in a postseason series?
5. Brewers (Last title: none)
This feels criminally low for a team that, after all, did have the best record in the Majors last year. But you do have to wonder how long it’ll be before they get another chance as good as the one they had in 2025. Everything fell exactly right for them last year. Now, they’ve traded Peralta, Isaac Collins and Caleb Durbin, while the Cubs, Reds and Pirates have all powered up. That said, the Brewers always seem to find a way to figure it out: They have won three straight division titles, after all. I’m sure they’ll make this prediction look stupid, just like all the rest of them.
6. Orioles (Last title: 1983)
I remain the high man on the Orioles, a team that was supposed to be peaking right now, but, after two frustrating seasons, has earned much skepticism around the league, not to mention from within its own fanbase. But even with the right hamate bone fracture that is going to keep Jackson Holliday out past Opening Day, this is still a terrifying lineup.
Even without the Orioles having added a clear, top-shelf starting pitcher this offseason, this rotation should be better, despite the presence of a true ace. And they’re going to love having Alonso. The Orioles and their under-pressure front office have so much invested in this season being good, that there may be no team on this list with more on the line in 2026.
7. Athletics (Last title: 1989)
The A’s have a lot of work to do on their pitching, no question. But we’ve been saying this all offseason: There is no lineup in baseball like this one. It has so many great hitters, top to bottom, almost all of them in their mid-20s. They’ve got Nick Kurtz, an MVP candidate already, anchoring everything. Last year was an adjustment season, their first season in a new ballpark and a new city. As they transition to their move to Las Vegas, they have a foundation in place that could shock some people. It would be truly shocking if it happened this fast. But it could!
8. Padres (Last title: none)
The window may be slowly closing on the Padres — who have been trying to chase down their Southern California rival Dodgers, to no avail, for nearly a decade now — but this is still a team with a ton of talent. Part of the whole strategy of this franchise has been to keep putting good teams on the field every year and hoping one year it finally lands right for them. Maybe this is finally that year?
9. Reds (Last title: 1990)
The Reds have not, in fact, won a single postseason game since 2012 — when they blew a 2-0 NLDS lead in heartbreaking fashion to the eventual World Series champion Giants — but they did finally get themselves back to the playoffs in 2025. They were, uh, not there very long, but still: Progress! This is a team with a manager (Terry Francona) who has won multiple World Series titles, a potential MVP candidate in Elly De La Cruz and a pitching staff that’s underrated by most fans. In a division like the NL Central, that may be enough. There are worse longshots in which to put your faith.
10. Pirates (Last title: 1979)
When you’ve got Paul Skenes, you’ve got a chance. And the Pirates have made some moves to take advantage of that chance this offseason, adding Marcell Ozuna, Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn to a lineup that needed every marginal improvement it could get. Skenes heads a rotation that’s young and exciting, in a division that isn’t terrifying. If they can sneak into the postseason, there’s no pitcher any team would want to face in a Game 1 less than Skenes.
11. Rays (Last title: none)
Too low? Probably. The Rays still have a lot of young talent, and they’re back in their home stadium this year. But last year was the worst season they’ve had in a decade, and the AL East is absolutely stacked. The Rays have surprised before, but this would be a very big one.
12. Guardians (Last title: 1948)
This is definitely too low for a team that just won its division and has made the postseason seven times in the last decade. But this feels like the year the wheels might finally come off. The problem is that the Guardians have just not been able to put together the young pitching that has driven most of their success in the past, and their offense looks just as tepid as it did last year. With the Tigers powering up, it begs the question of whether it’s ever going to happen here. (Let’s see if this ends up looking very wrong.)
13. Twins (Last title: 1991)
Even after the Twins tore things down at last year’s Trade Deadline, there are some major pieces still here, including Byron Buxton and Royce Lewis in the lineup and Joe Ryan and Pablo López atop the rotation, although López is already fighting elbow soreness at camp. You can dream on that rotation a bit, but the offense looks thin, and that’s even if Buxton manages to stay on the field for the second year in a row. The Twins have made the ALCS only once since that 1991 World Series. This isn’t the year they return.
14. Rockies (Last title: none)
There are signs that there is some new thinking in Denver, and that may manifest itself in some changes that will help this team down the line. But 2026? 2026 may be rough.
