There are still two months left on the MLB calendar, with a month of regular-season games still to come before four rounds of the 2026 postseason. So no, the trophy doesn’t get handed out yet - even if the easy answer is to point straight at the Los Angeles Dodgers.
But they’re not the only club built to make a long October push. A few teams have the kind of roster construction that plays well when the games tighten up, the margins shrink, and every inning starts to feel bigger.
The Dodgers are the obvious place to start. Shohei Ohtani isn’t pitching and hasn’t since July 3rd, but Los Angeles hardly seems short on answers.
They just traded for Tarik Skubal and activated Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow off the Injured List. That’s enough to make the postseason picture look pretty clean on the mound.
Even with Edwin Diaz back on the Injured List, the late innings still look covered because Tanner Scott has been dominant in the ninth. The offense hasn’t exactly been overwhelming, but the Dodgers have the kind of depth and experience that can carry a team through a playoff grind.
Philadelphia has the sort of profile that can absolutely survive a deep run, too. The Phillies bring power, starting pitching, and a lockdown closer to the table, and they also have the postseason reps that matter when pressure ramps up. Aaron Nola has taken a few steps back, but Christopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo have both picked up the slack.
Jhoan Duran anchors a strong bullpen, and Kyle Schwarber gives them real home-run threat in the middle of the lineup. Bryce Harper shifting back to the outfield to make room for Luis Arraez added more depth and plate skills to the mix as well. The road is a little tougher right now, since the Phillies are trailing the Atlanta Braves by 4.5 games in the National League East, but the overall build is still hard to beat.
The Yankees have their own case. Cody Bellinger is back, Aaron Judge should be following, and Spencer Jones has already stepped up in the outfield.
The addition of Luis Garcia has also worked out well. There are still some health questions in the rotation, but Max Fried is expected back on Saturday, while Gerrit Cole and Cam Schittler continue to dominate.
Add in Carlos Rodon and David Bednar handling the ninth inning, and the ingredients are there. There are bullpen concerns beyond Bednar, but New York’s surplus of starting pitching should help cover some of those cracks.
Milwaukee rounds out the group, and the Brewers have the kind of team that can be a problem in October. Jacob Misiorowski looks unhittable right now, and Kyle Harrison, back healthy, has been effective too. That gives Milwaukee a top of the rotation as strong as just about anyone’s.
Trevor Megill has handled the ninth inning well, and the Brewers have real depth in the starting staff. The lineup won’t scare anyone on paper, but Jackson Chourio is emerging as a star, and Brice Turang and Christian Yelich can’t be dismissed. There are enough useful bats beyond that to keep the offense afloat.
And then there’s the simple fact that Milwaukee always seems to find itself in the postseason. Playing for Pat Murphy only adds to that edge.
In Other News...
Dodgers Suddenly Have A Real Opening For A Ready-Now Outfield Bat
Andy Pages landing on the injured list has created an unexpected wrinkle in the Dodgers outfield picture, and it comes at a time when the group has not exactly forced the front office to stand pat. With the regular season winding down, Los Angeles suddenly has a little more room to weigh whether it wants to keep leaning on veterans or look for a bat that has been producing in Triple-A.
James Tibbs III is the prospect now in the conversation, and the appeal is pretty straightforward: he has hit well enough to look MLB-ready and could offer the kind of offensive support the Dodgers need from the outfield mix. If the Dodgers decide to make a September call-up, it would be less about patience and more about filling a real opening with a player who might be able to help right away. [Read more 🡒]
Gavin Stone Is Giving Dodgers Fans A Tough Rotation Question
The Dodgers farm system kept rolling Wednesday, with the Oklahoma City Comets leaning on a pair of pitchers who have become increasingly relevant to the big-league picture. Gavin Stone turned in another strong outing in Triple-A even though it came in a loss, adding to the steady run that has made him one of the more interesting arms in the organization to watch as the season moves along.
Bobby Miller also had a hand in the Comets doubleheader action, helping out in a shutout in the other game, while Tulsa, Great Lakes and Ontario all picked up wins of their own behind a mix of offense and pitching. For a system with so much talent spread across the affiliates, the deeper question is starting to feel less about whether these pitchers are performing and more about how the Dodgers will sort out what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers May Have Found More Than An Outfield Stopgap In Alek Thomas
The Dodgers added Alek Thomas as a depth move after Arizona designated him for assignment, and he has wasted little time making himself part of the conversation. Pressed into action while filling in for an injured player, Thomas has collected three hits and three RBIs in his first four games, giving Los Angeles a useful spark at a spot that needed one.
Thomas has also looked comfortable in the minors for the Dodgers, which is just as notable for a team that values finding usable pieces without a long runway. He has credited the organizations developmental staff for helping improve his swing, and if that progress holds, this may turn out to be more than a temporary outfield stopgap. [Read more 🡒]