With June approaching, we're now roughly two full months into the 2026 MLB regular season. That's about one-third of the season complete, and it's time to check in on all 30 teams and hand out grades based on performance relative to expectations.
The grades below are informed by the standings, underlying performance, and how those measures compare with pre-season expectations. Pleasant surprises earn higher marks than teams meeting merely good expectations.
Arizona Diamondbacks: B+
The D-backs aimed to bounce back from an 80-82 campaign last season, and they're delivering. Arizona sits solidly in wild card position and remains within range of the first-place Dodgers in the NL West.
Key performers: Corbin Carroll looks like an MVP candidate. Eduardo Rodríguez has pitched like an ace through the first two months. Corbin Burnes' eventual return will be a major boost to the rotation.
Atlanta Braves
Despite suffering multiple pitching injuries in spring training—Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, and Joey Wentz—the Braves have one of baseball's top rotations.
Crucial factors: Bryce Elder's new pitch and Martín Pérez's unexpected excellence have powered the rotation. The offense has bounced back, and the Robert Suarez-Raisel Iglesias bullpen combination is dominating. Last year's injury-riddled 76-86 season appears to be an anomaly.
The Braves are back thanks to a surprisingly great rotation and a powerhouse offense combining above-average contact skills with power.
Chicago Cubs: C
This is one of the strangest seasons seen early on. The Cubs stacked two 10-game winning streaks—that's 20 wins—but followed each with a 10-game losing streak.
The rotation has been ravaged by injuries, but the offense simply disappeared. Most of the team was hot during winning streaks, then forgot how to hit. The middle grade applies here given the extreme inconsistency.
Cincinnati Reds
The Reds were a playoff team last season with only 83 wins, then lost ace Hunter Greene to injury before the season started and dealt with a Nick Lodolo injury in the rotation.
Performance: They started 20-11 through April, then began May with eight straight losses and barely stayed above .500 at 24-24. they've heated up again since.
Breakouts: Youngsters Chase Burns and Sal Stewart have emerged, plus a step forward from Elly De La Cruz.
Colorado Rockies
Little was expected from the Rockies in 2026, and little has been delivered. Colorado owns the worst record and worst run differential in all of MLB.
Outlook: They're on pace for 104 losses—a 15-game improvement over last season. The Rockies are "merely" very bad instead of historically awful, and that's marginal progress.
Los Angeles Dodgers: A
Angling for an elusive three-peat this season, the Dodgers are, true to recent form, managing their business.
This report card appears incomplete in the source material.