Ranking the Five MLB Teams Still Chasing Their First World Series Title

By Casey Green

7/1/2026

The playoff race is heating up for the MLB with a few teams in the race that have never raised the Commissioner's Trophy before.

Throughout the long history of Major League Baseball (MLB), the league has expanded to 30 franchises and a 12-team postseason format. Despite that growth, five organizations have never captured a World Series title: the Colorado Rockies, Milwaukee Brewers, Seattle Mariners, San Diego Padres, and Tampa Bay Rays. With several of those clubs currently in playoff contention, the race to claim a first Commissioner's Trophy has become one of the more intriguing storylines of the season. While every team on this list still has work to do, some are much closer than others to ending their championship drought.

5. Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies rank fifth on this list and appear to be the furthest away from winning their first World Series. Their only World Series appearance came in 2007 when they were swept by the Boston Red Sox in four games. This season has followed a similar trend, as Colorado sits near the bottom of the National League standings and remains well outside the playoff picture.

Offensively, however, the Rockies have been more competitive than their record suggests. Colorado has produced a respectable team batting average and on-base percentage while consistently putting runners on base. The lineup has been led by Troy Johnson, who is batting over .300, and Hunter Goodman, whose power has made him one of the league's top home run hitters. Their production has allowed Colorado to remain competitive in games despite its record.

The biggest issue has been the pitching rotation. Colorado owns one of the highest team ERAs in Major League Baseball and has struggled in nearly every major pitching category, especially WHIP and runs allowed. Only a handful of pitchers have maintained an ERA below 4.00, while several regular contributors have posted ERAs well above 6.00. Until the Rockies significantly improve on the mound, they are unlikely to seriously contend for a postseason berth, much less a World Series championship.

4. San Diego Padres

The San Diego Padres have reached the World Series twice but have yet to win a championship, falling to the Detroit Tigers in 1984 and the New York Yankees in 1998. Early in the season, the Padres looked like a legitimate playoff contender, but an inconsistent stretch through June has left them fighting to remain in the postseason race.

Pitching continues to be San Diego's greatest strength. The Padres have received quality production from both their starting rotation and bullpen, helping them maintain an ERA that ranks in the upper half of Major League Baseball. When their pitching staff is clicking, they have the ability to compete with nearly anyone.

The offense has been a different story. San Diego has struggled to consistently reach base, ranking near the bottom of the league in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. Those offensive struggles have placed tremendous pressure on the pitching staff to keep games close every night. While the Padres remain within striking distance of a Wild Card spot, they will need significantly more production from their lineup if they hope to make a deep postseason run. If the offense finds its rhythm late in the season, San Diego has enough pitching talent to become a dangerous October opponent.

3. Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners remain the only franchise in Major League Baseball that has never appeared in a World Series. Entering this season, expectations were high thanks to one of baseball's deepest pitching staffs, and a lineup that has largely delivered.

Seattle's rotation has been among the league's best, featuring numerous pitchers with ERAs below 4.00 while also ranking near the top of the league in strikeouts and limiting walks. The consistency of the pitching staff, and weakness of the AL West, has kept the Mariners firmly in the playoff race despite offensive inconsistencies throughout the year.

The lineup, however, has struggled to generate consistent offense. Seattle owns one of the lower team batting averages in the league and has had difficulty creating traffic on the bases. Fortunately for the Mariners, power has helped offset some of those issues. Julio Rodríguez, Luke Raley, Dominic Canzone, and JP Crawford have all contributed double-digit home run totals, allowing Seattle to remain competitive in close games. Sitting near the top of the American League West standings and firmly in the Wild Card race, the Mariners have positioned themselves well. If they can improve their ability to consistently get runners on base, they have the pitching necessary to make a legitimate postseason run.

2. Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have established themselves as one of the best teams in baseball and enter the second half of the season as legitimate World Series contenders. Their combination of offensive production and reliable pitching has placed them near the top of the American League standings and firmly in contention for one of the league's top playoff spots.

Offensively, the Rays have been among the league's most productive teams. They rank near the top of Major League Baseball in both batting average and on-base percentage, thanks largely to the outstanding seasons of Yandy Díaz, Junior Caminero, and Jonathan Aranda. Caminero is one of baseball's premier power hitters, while both he and Díaz rank among the league leaders in OPS. The primary concern for Tampa Bay is the lack of consistent production from the bottom third of the lineup, which could become more of a problem late in games.

The Rays also possess a strong pitching staff that complements their offense. Several pitchers have maintained ERAs below 4.00, providing stability throughout both the rotation and bullpen. Drew Rasmussen has emerged as one of the club's top starters, consistently ranking among the league leaders in ERA and WHIP. If Tampa Bay receives more offensive production from the bottom of its lineup while maintaining its pitching success, the Rays have every opportunity to capture the first World Series title in franchise history.

1. Milwaukee Brewers

The Milwaukee Brewers enter the second half of the season as the franchise most likely to win its first World Series championship. Holding a comfortable lead in the NL Central while remaining near the top of the overall NL standings, Milwaukee has consistently looked like one of baseball's most complete teams.

The Brewers' biggest strength has been their dominant pitching staff. They rank among the league leaders in ERA, strikeout rate, and limiting home runs, giving opponents very few opportunities to generate offense. Jacob Misiorowski has emerged as one of baseball's best players, leading one of the league's deepest pitching staffs. Milwaukee also boasts tremendous depth, with numerous pitchers carrying ERAs below 4.00 and very few struggling consistently throughout the season.

Milwaukee's offense has quietly complemented its elite pitching. Although the Brewers are not among the league's premier home run-hitting clubs, they consistently put runners on base and capitalize on scoring opportunities. William Contreras has continued to anchor the lineup, while several supporting hitters have contributed quality at-bats throughout the season. Rather than relying solely on power, Milwaukee manufactures runs through timely hitting and consistent offensive pressure.

The combination of elite pitching, dependable offense, and overall roster depth makes Milwaukee the most complete team among the five franchises still searching for their first World Series championship. If the Brewers continue playing at their current level, they may finally lift the Commissioner's Trophy.

Each of the five remaining franchises without a World Series title enters the second half of the season in a very different position. Colorado appears to be the farthest away from serious contention, while San Diego and Seattle have enough talent to surprise if they can improve offensively. Tampa Bay has established itself as one of baseball's elite teams and has all the tools needed to make a deep postseason run. However, Milwaukee stands above the rest. With one of the game's best pitching staffs, a reliable offense, and the depth to withstand the grind of October, the Brewers appear to have the best opportunity to finally capture the first World Series championship in franchise history.