ESPN gave the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays the only A+ grades in its 2026 MLB report card; the Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants and Seattle Mariners each got an F. The Brewers set a franchise wins record, and the Rays clinched the AL’s best record.
The other grades were: Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox, A; Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees, B+; Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Guardians, Chicago Cubs, Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals, B; Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates, B−; Arizona Diamondbacks, C+; Texas Rangers, Houston Astros and St. Louis Cardinals, C; Minnesota Twins and Baltimore Orioles, C−; Detroit Tigers and Colorado Rockies, D+; Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds, D; Athletics and New York Mets, D−.
Milwaukee entered the year 11th in ESPN’s preseason power rankings, and the White Sox earned an A after outperforming projections. ESPN viewed the Dodgers’ near-100-win season as essentially meeting expectations; the Yankees earned a B+ after overcoming injuries to Aaron Judge and multiple starting pitchers while reaching the postseason. The Mets, ranked sixth in ESPN’s preseason rankings with a projected 92-70 record, received a D− after injuries and disappointing performances.
