Welcome back to Bottom of the Ninth! We’re now almost a month into the 2026 MLB season, and we’re starting to get a clearer picture of which teams are contenders and which are pretenders. While 25 teams still have playoff odds above 10%, some have more to play for than others. Keeping with the theme of this column, a large reason for this disparity is the looming potential of a 2027 lockout. With some teams reaching the end of their contention windows, this season may be their last chance to bring home a World Series ring with their current core of players. This week, I’ll discuss the teams facing the most pressure to deliver this season before their windows close.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies have made the playoffs in four straight seasons, including a World Series appearance in 2022, but their window to finally get over the hump is quickly closing. Age is the biggest concern. With the eighth-oldest Opening Day roster in the league and no proven young stars on the offensive side, this season might be the last real shot the current core has at a World Series title. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner remain one of the best offensive trios in baseball, but they are all at least 32 years old and may not maintain that same level of production by the time play resumes after a potential 2027 lockout. Additionally, star pitcher Zack Wheeler is 35 and currently on the injured list with a venous blood clot. While he is expected to return soon, this is not an injury the Phillies can afford to take lightly, especially when the alternative is running out Taijuan Walker and his 9.16 earned run average every fifth day. If this team wants to catch the Atlanta Braves in the National League East, they need their aging stars to stay healthy and should consider adding pitching depth at the deadline.
New York Mets
The Mets missed the playoffs last year after a historic midseason collapse, but expectations remain high for the team with the second-highest payroll in baseball. General Manager David Stearns reshaped the roster this offseason, moving on from longtime franchise icons Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo in favor of big-name free agent additions such as Bo Bichette, Jorge Polanco and Devin Williams. However, things haven’t gone to plan so far. The Mets have lost 11 games in a row and currently sit in last place in the NL East. Bichette has been especially disappointing and looks nothing like the disciplined, low-strikeout hitter he was signed to be. If the Mets can’t turn things around, their only option might be to trade their aging stars while they still have value and build a younger team around Juan Soto for the future. This could start with All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor, whose offensive struggles and mental mistakes in the field embody the current state of this team.
New York Yankees
The Yankees are just two years removed from a World Series appearance, but they made very few meaningful moves this offseason. Instead, they essentially opted to run back the same roster which fell short in the American League Championship Season last year. However, the Yankees’ starting rotation looks elite even without star pitchers Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón, who are set to return from the injured list in the coming months. On the offensive side, the Ben Rice breakout may have finally arrived, as he currently leads all qualified hitters in weighted runs created plus. When paired with likely future Hall of Fame sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, the Yankees certainly have the talent to win it all. However, the clock is ticking. Judge and Stanton will be 35 and 38 in 2028, making this season a tipping point. General Manager Brian Cashman needs to treat this season with urgency and go all in at the trade deadline to shore up weaknesses in the bullpen and at the bottom of the lineup.
