Eight MLB Teams Already Facing the Harsh Reality of a Lost 2026 Season

Because of the bloated wild card system in Major League Baseball, just about every team remains a contender in June, and even those on the fringe seem at least potentially competitive. But let's be real: Most of the middling teams are kidding themselves if they expect to find a pot of gold at the end of the regular-season rainbow. The Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies don’t even bother to pretend, so here’s a group of eight more clubs that should wake up and realize their 2026 season is over.

New York Mets

Despite spending about $675 million in payroll the past two seasons combined, the New York Mets have played horribly, going 67-93 in the calendar year coming into action Thursday. A five- or six-game deficit in the NL Wild Card race could be surmounted, but only two teams in the NL have worse records than New York.

With shortstop Franciso Lindor sidelined, Juan Soto has been the only everyday player in the lineup performing better than league average. Nobody in the starting rotation gets results like an All-Star, and no part of the team plays any aspect of the game particularly well. The Mets could surge with a winning streak, but still they stand to finish woefully short of the World Series.

Boston Red Sox

They fired manager Alex Cora in April. Interim skipper Chad Tracy has gotten encouraging results in some spots, but it's clear upper management left the team unprepared to contend. The dysfunction extends beyond the field and general manager Craig Breslow all of the way to owner John Henry.

They have no power and can't generate any offense, and the starting pitching has been less dominant than expected. What's up with Jarren Duran? They've also had bad luck with injuries to key players. When will Roman Anthony start swinging again? Being double digits behind in last place in the AL East and needing to overcome most of the league in the AL Wild Card standings makes the playoffs seem like an impossible mission.

San Francisco Giants

Team president Buster Posey and new manager Tony Vitello will be fighting for their reputations, if not their jobs, in the final months of the season. Winning the NL West was never likely, and only the Rockies are in a worse position for a wild-card run.

The starting pitching has been disappointing, even assuming ace Logan Webb figures it out. Rafael Devers, Willy Adames and Matt Chapman are finding their old form after abysmal starts, and top prospect Bryce Eldridge is performing -- when they can find him a place in the lineup.

Cincinnati Reds

They aren't far under .500, or far behind in the NL Wild Card hunt, but they've had too many key injuries, they have too many sizable holes and have too many competitive opponents to pass -- in the NL Central alone. Chase Burns (and Andrew Abbott, lately) are the only two pitchers with substantial innings who are pitching well.

Kansas City Royals

The entire lineup has been disappointing aside from Bobby Witt, who recently has been dealing with a sore knee. The starting rotation has been OK when needed to be really good. The bullpen has been bad, which you can't do and win. They probably need a complete overhaul organizationally.

Minnesota Twins

They're not far behind in the wild-card standings, but only because the AL is weak overall. They could be highly active at the trade deadline by dangling right-hander Joe Ryan and catcher Ryan Jeffers (if he’s healthy), but don't expect Byron Buxton to waive his no-trade clause. Do expect prospect Kaelen Culpepper to be promoted and play shortstop.

Houston Astros

They’ve made the playoffs or contended every season since 2017, but they’re in fourth place and have been as many as 11 games under .500 this season. It would make sense to sell at the deadline and build around Hunter Brown, Jeremy Peña and Yordan Alvarez -- if they extended him.

Miami Marlins

They’re close to .500 and the NL Wild Card, but right-hander Eury Pérez is hurt and they’re likely to move established players like Sandy Alcántara at the deadline. Ownership was just treading water until the next collective bargaining agreement anyway.