Congratulations to the Los Angeles Dodgers for winning their second World Series in a row and their ninth in franchise history. That puts them in a tie with the Red Sox and Aâ€s for the third most in MLB history, and only two behind the Cardinals for second behind the Yankees. And while this World Series was definitely a challenge, they will certainly be primed to try to win a third in a row in 2026.
What a feeling, right? There isnâ€t a team, or a fanbase, in all of baseball that doesnâ€t dream of that feeling. And everyoneâ€s going to want to take it from them. Teams are going to be lining up to do so. Hereâ€s a look at their top challengers, all coming at them from their own unique angles.
Those looking for October revenge
You might not remember it now, considering how intense that World Series was, but the Dodgers breezed through the postseason up to that point. They left three teams in their wake that will be eager for some vengeance in 2026.
Reds
Itâ€s impressive that they even reached the postseason this year, but that just vindicated bringing in Terry Francona as manager: He really did get them to take the next step. Now itâ€s time for Elly De La Cruz to make his next step.
Phillies
The notion that the Phillies are “running out of time†to win that elusive World Series with all their veterans is a little overstated. Aaron Nola is here until 2030; Bryce Harper, 2031; Trea Turner, 2033. As long as those guys are under contract, the Phillies will be flooring it to win the World Series. But itâ€s definitely true that all these veterans are looking a lot more “veteran†these days, and thatâ€s true even before you account for the pending free agency of Kyle Schwarber and J.T. Realmuto.
Brewers
Even the most fatalistic Brewers fan, at one point this season, thought this might finally be the year. How could you not? They had the best record in baseball — the best record in franchise history no less — they had a glorious habit of coming from behind, they got contributions from a seemingly endless number of folk heroes and, perhaps most of all, they had a chance to do it for Bob Uecker, the Brewers legend who died in January. And until the NLCS, it sure looked like it was going to happen. But then the Dodgers starters squeezed the Brewers offense into dust.
Blue Jays
Yeah, this one is definitely going to sting for a long time. Well, it wonâ€t, actually, if the Blue Jays can come right back and finish the job in 2026. Theyâ€ll have the horses to do so. That may be the only way to erase how much this Series loss hurt: By ending the Dodgers†chances of three-peating in next yearâ€s World Series.
The other National League nemeses
To be the best, youâ€ve gotta beat the best. Here are the teams gunning for the NLâ€s top dog.
Cubs
Losing Kyle Tucker would be a problem, but this is still a signature NL franchise with all sorts of talent. But how hard are they going to push? Youâ€d like to see them take a big swing, but if they donâ€t keep Tucker, what swing is there to take?
Mets
They certainly are building themselves in the Dodgers†image, with a hefty payroll and a strong farm system. Another way theyâ€d like to emulate the Dodgers? By erasing years of late-season and postseason frustration by finally breaking through and winning the World Series. They better make it happen soon. Mets fans have been plenty patient already. After that September implosion, that patience is, quite reasonably, gone.
Padres
This was the second consecutive season that you have wondered if perhaps this is the year the Padres are going to pass the Dodgers and make it all the way to their first World Series in 27 years … and the second consecutive season it hasnâ€t happened. (And the Padres got even closer, and beat the Dodgers in the playoffs, two years ago.) You have to wonder, considering some of the offseason tumult, if the Padres are in danger of getting further away from breaking through rather than closer. The Padres still have some legitimate stars on the roster, not to mention an inventive front office, albeit one that has lost some top prospects in the rush to win right now. They are not going to give up or give in. But if they donâ€t have their moment this year, you do have to wonder if their window will have closed.
Mariners
That was just about as close as you can get to reaching your first World Series without, in fact, reaching your first World Series. The Mâ€s ALCS loss to the Jays — a series they led 3-2 at one point — is as close as the Mariners have ever made it to the Fall Classic, which serves as an all-time heartbreaker for a franchise that is all too familiar with them. The Mariners were this close to being able to no longer be the answer to that “whatâ€s the only team never to reach the World Series?†trivia question. Until that question goes away, itâ€s the only question in Seattle that matters.
Yankees
Hereâ€s something disturbing. The Yankees have a player, infielder Mani Cedeno, their No. 21-ranked prospect, who was 1 year old when the Yankees last won the World Series. That means thereâ€s a very real possibility that, if the Yankees donâ€t win a World Series in the next two or three years, they could put a player on the field who was not born yet the last time the Yankees were champions. Thatâ€s pretty incredible, right? If the Yankees donâ€t win the World Series in 2026, it will tie the 1978-1995 drought for the longest World Series title absence in Yankees history. Suffice it to say: In the Bronx, that is most unacceptable. Oh, and: Aaron Judge isnâ€t getting any younger either.
Itâ€s probably a little aspirational for any of these teams to even be thinking about the Dodgers. But weâ€ve seen teams shock us plenty times before.
Braves
Donâ€t forget: Theyâ€re the last NL team that wasnâ€t the Dodgers to win the World Series.
Orioles
This is still a supremely talented team that has to get it together at some point, right?
Red Sox
The young talent is starting to come of age.
Tigers
Assuming they hang onto Tarik Skubal, of course.
No matter who steps up — or doesnâ€t — one thing is now clear: The Dodgers are the standard. Theyâ€re what everyone is shooting for … and still canâ€t quite reach.
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