In the world of Major League Baseball (MLB), every team knows that there's always room for improvement, no matter what their record is. With the help of MLB.com's beat writers, we take a look at one thing each club is seeking to improve this season. From the American League East to the National League West, every division has its challenges and opportunities for growth. Here's a breakdown of the key areas of focus for each team, along with personal commentary and analysis from an expert perspective.
American League East
Blue Jays: Health
Personally, I think the Blue Jays' biggest challenge this season is their health. With a lineup that hasn't done nearly enough around Kazuma Okamoto and Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the team's struggles must be tied to their injuries. The Blue Jays need to get things rolling in the right direction soon, especially with a grueling schedule ahead. No number of pleasant surprises can counter the sheer number of injuries they've faced so far.
Orioles: Defense
In my opinion, the Orioles' defense has been an issue for much of the first month-plus of the season. Their -2 Defensive Runs Saved and -9 Outs Above Average put them in the lower ranks of the MLB. While there's no one player to blame, the team's defense hasn't been up to par. The most impactful recent miscue came when third baseman Coby Mayo committed a two-out throwing error in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Rays: Power Production
What makes this particularly fascinating is that the Rays are playing remarkably well, better than anyone expected when the season began. However, their power production is an area of concern. The Rays are tied for 26th in the Majors with 31 homers on the year, and their .373 slugging percentage is tied for 23rd. They've gotten by with pitching, defense, and timely hitting, but a little more power at the plate would be beneficial.
Red Sox: Performance at Home
One thing that immediately stands out is the Red Sox's performance at home. Most of the best teams in Red Sox history have taken full advantage of the ballpark's quirky dimensions, but this group hasn't been able to do so nearly enough. The offense has been mostly cold at Fenway Park, not able to take advantage of the Green Monster.
Yankees: Setting the Table
What many people don't realize is that the Yankees' offense has been rolling, even without getting much production from the leadoff spot. Their leadoff hitters have a .171 batting average, but Yankees manager Aaron Boone believes that luck will turn. Getting more ducks on the pond for Aaron Judge could never be a bad thing.
AL Central
Guardians: Lineup Anchors Getting Going
The Guardians' lineup anchors, such as Steven Kwan, Kyle Manzardo, and José Ramírez, have had varying starts to the season at the plate. However, with the encouraging production of returning and up-and-coming players, the Guardians' offense could take another level.
Royals: Performance with Runners in Scoring Position
A detail that I find especially interesting is the Royals' performance with runners in scoring position. They are tied for 24th in the Majors with a .238 batting average in scoring situations. The middle of the order has performed poorly in these situations, with Vinnie Pasquantino and Salvador Perez struggling.
Tigers: Road Performance
The Tigers' inability to find any momentum on the road is a big reason behind their struggles to get over .500. They lost 16 of their first 22 road games, and their inability to convert road opportunities has haunted them.
Twins: The Bullpen
The Twins' bullpen has been a source of concern, with pitchers like Yoendrys Gómez and the latest addition, Yoendrys Gómez, struggling to find consistency. Roles remain unsettled, and late leads are perilous.
White Sox: Outfield Production
The White Sox outfield ranks 30th in extra-base hits, 28th in slugging percentage, and 24th in batting average. Internal help is on the way, but until then, the team will have to rely on younger relievers to carry the load.
AL West
Angels: The Bullpen
The Angels' bullpen has struggled all season, and closer Jordan Romano was designated for assignment after several rough outings. However, with the return of Kirby Yates and Alek Manoah, the team will have to count on younger relievers to carry the load.
Astros: Throw Strikes
Astros pitchers are throwing a Major League-high 18.0 pitches per inning, which is putting strain on a pitching staff that has ace Hunter Brown and closer Josh Hader on the injured list. Their high walk rate is one of the reasons their team ERA is the highest in MLB.
Athletics: Bullpen Effectiveness
The A's have done their best to mix and match relievers based on matchups, but they've left several wins on the table this season as the bullpen is already at 10 blown saves on the year.
Mariners: Right-on-Left Production
The Mariners' .200 average vs. southpaws is being raised by its left-handed hitters, but the team's overall performance against left-handed pitching is an area of concern. The addition of new right-handed platoon bats and switch-hitters could help improve this.
Rangers: The Little Things
The Rangers need to play clean baseball, with fewer popups lost in the sun and better reads on line drives. Their margin for error has been thin, and turning it around starts with playing clean baseball.
National League East
Braves: Steal Wisely
The Braves have had some trouble on the basepaths so far in 2026. Their stolen-base success rate is the second-lowest in the Major Leagues, with Ronald Acuña Jr. caught four times and Ozzie Albies and Mauricio Dubón a combined 0-for-5 on steal attempts.
Marlins: Get the Lineup Outside the Big 3 Going
The Marlins' lineup has been floundering outside of Liam Hicks, Otto Lopez, and Xavier Edwards. The team needs to find a way to get more production from the rest of the lineup.
Mets: Pretty Much Everything
The Mets need better health from their position players and more power production. The bullpen must be more consistent, and the pitchers at the back end of the rotation must throw well enough to prove they belong.
Nationals: Cut Back on Errors
The Nationals have committed a league-high 38 errors this season, with shortstop CJ Abrams tied for second among all players with seven errors. The team needs to cut back on errors to improve their performance.
Phillies: Hit Left-Handed Pitching
The Phillies have suffered terribly this season against left-handed pitching. Their right-handed hitters need to be better against left-handed pitching to improve their performance.
NL Central
Brewers: Power
The Brewers have been without several key players for most of the season, which has impacted their power production. They need to find a way to get more pop in their lineup to improve their performance.
Cardinals: Relievers, We Have a Problem
The Cardinals' bullpen has struggled, with a 5.69 ERA and 65 walks in 106 innings. Pitchers like Ryne Stanek and Justin Bruihl need to step up and perform better in high-leverage situations.
Cubs: Begin Inquiring About Pitching Help
The Cubs need to start looking into adding an impact arm to their rotation, as several pitchers are injured. More bullpen depth should also be on their to-do list.
Pirates: A New Leading Man?
Outfielder Oneil Cruz has slumped badly and has a slash line of .194/.248/.347 with 39 strikeouts in his last 22 games. The Pirates need to consider adding a new leading man to their lineup.
Reds: Too Many Walks for the Bullpen
The Reds' bullpen has struggled with too many walks, leading MLB with 103 walks. They need to find a way to reduce their walk rate to improve their performance.
NL West
D-backs: Offensive Consistency
The Diamondbacks' offense has been inconsistent, with a high chase rate. The team needs to find a way to improve their offensive consistency.
Dodgers: Set the Tone from the Top
The Dodgers' offense has shown some streaky tendencies, and it feels like they would be more consistent if Shohei Ohtani were performing up to his usual standards. Ohtani needs to get back on track to change the tone of the offense.
Giants: Get the Offense Going
The Giants' offense has been struggling, with the veteran trio of Rafael Devers, Willy Adames, and Matt Chapman not producing consistently enough. The team needs to find a way to get their offense going.
Padres: Star Production
The Padres need their stars, such as Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, and Manny Machado, to start producing. If this trio gets going, the ceiling for the team feels high.
Rockies: Better Right-Handed Hitting
The Rockies have several right-handed hitters struggling against right-handed pitching. The team needs to find a way to improve their right-handed hitting to balance their roster.
