How 6 Last-Place MLB Teams Can Rise in 2026

This piece digs into six MLB franchises stuck in at least three straight losing seasons and tries to figure out which one might actually break through by 2026. From the relocated Athletics to the Trout-era Angels, all these teams have a similar recipe: some exciting young bats, pitching that makes you nervous, and hardly any margin for error as they try to claw out of the basement.

The Oakland Athletics: New City, New Core, Same Pitching Problems

The Athletics have changed everything—moving to West Sacramento and going all-in on young hitters. They’re pretty much the poster child for a modern rebuild: let the kids swing, and just hope the pitching doesn’t fall apart.

Nick Kurtz Leads a Potent Lineup

Nick Kurtz, last year’s AL Rookie of the Year, is at the heart of this. He brings patience and power, something Oakland has missed in the middle of the lineup for ages.

A bunch of young, affordable hitters surround him, making the lineup deeper and quick to punish mistakes. Offense? Not the problem here.

The A’s keep showing enough run-scoring upside to make you think a turnaround is just a couple pitchers away.

Pitching Will Decide Their 2026 Fate

The pitching staff, though, is another story. Starters rarely get deep, and the bullpen ends up overworked.

If Oakland wants to end this losing streak by 2026, they’ve got to find at least:

Even an average pitching staff could put the A’s in the mix for a winning record soon.

Chicago White Sox: From Rock Bottom to Respectability

The White Sox hit absolute rock bottom in 2024 with one of their worst seasons ever. But in 2025, things started to look up.

Now, the roster’s a mix of vets and kids trying to erase that mess from memory.

Colson Montgomery and a Growing Core

Colson Montgomery has become the centerpiece, bringing patience, pop, and some much-needed infield stability. Chicago’s finally building a homegrown core that looks like it might stick.

The pitching staff is still really young, though. There’s talent, but innings limits, inconsistency, and not enough proven arms make it tough to predict what’s next.

If two of their young starters can take a step forward, maybe the Sox flirt with .500 by 2026. If not, they might just keep spinning their wheels.

Washington Nationals: Post-Title Hangover and a Soto-Fueled Future

The Nationals haven’t really bounced back since their 2019 World Series win. The Juan Soto trade now defines the team’s identity.

Their lineup is mostly built around prospects and young players they got in that deal and others since.

Young Core vs. Bullpen Chaos

Washington’s getting younger, more athletic, and a lot more dynamic. This new core gives fans a real reason to hope a winning season isn’t far off.

The bullpen, though, keeps blowing it. Late leads disappear, workloads pile up, and the whole staff’s numbers take a hit.

Unless they overhaul the relief corps—either by smarter moves or developing better arms—the Nationals’ climb back to relevance will be slower than it should be.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Wasting a Dominant Ace?

The Pirates have one big thing going for them: Paul Skenes. He’s a real ace, the kind you can build a playoff rotation around.

When Skenes pitches, Pittsburgh looks like a contender. The question is whether the offense steps up before too much of his prime gets wasted on a losing team.

An Offense on the Clock

The Pirates need to add power and on-base skills to the heart of the lineup. They also have to find at least a couple league-average starters to avoid leaning on Skenes alone.

If they don’t move fast, Pittsburgh could end up in that all-too-familiar spot: great pitching, nothing to show for it.

Colorado Rockies: Rock Bottom as a Starting Point

The Rockies crashed hard in 2025, slogging through a 43–119 season. Oddly enough, that disaster finally forced them to make some real changes.

DePodesta’s Blueprint and a True Rebuild

Hiring Paul DePodesta says a lot—they’re finally trying a data-driven, process-focused approach. The early signs? They’re actually rebuilding instead of just patching holes.

Prospects are starting to come through the pipeline, and for once, there’s a plan. The Coors Field problem—how to build a pitching staff that survives the altitude—still looms, but maybe 2025 was the wake-up call they needed.

Los Angeles Angels: The Trout Window Narrows

The Angels are still built around Mike Trout. As he gets older, the pressure to win now just keeps growing.

Young Bats, Old Issues on the Mound

Some of the younger position players are finally giving the lineup some energy and upside. But the pitching? Same old story.

Starters can’t go deep, and the bullpen’s too shaky to hold slim leads. Unless the Angels get serious—either by spending money or developing better arms—they’re stuck in that frustrating middle: not awful, but never really dangerous, either.

Who Breaks the Losing Streak First?

Look at these six clubs and you’ll spot a pattern: they’ve got exciting young hitters, but their pitching staffs just aren’t there yet. The teams that figure out their pitching first will probably be the ones to break through by 2026.

The Athletics and Nationals seem closest to turning things around, but only if their pitching improves. The Pirates could surprise everyone if they manage to build a real lineup around Skenes.

The Rockies and White Sox feel like longer shots, maybe a few years out. Meanwhile, the Angels are scrambling to get things together before Trout’s prime fades away.

 
Here is the source article for this story: How 6 teams at the bottom of the standings can rise up