Baseball is beautiful, unpredictable, and occasionally soul-crushing. There’s nothing quite like getting your hopes up in April, only to be let down by September (or sooner).
Some teams just have a special talent for raising expectations and then ripping the rug out from under their fans. Whether it’s late-season collapses, playoff disasters, or just general bad luck, these are the 15 MLB teams most likely to break your heart.
15. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers always seem to hang around just long enough to make you believe. But when the moment arrives, the bats go cold and the heartbreak begins.
14. Seattle Mariners
Every now and then, the Mariners make a little noise and flirt with a breakthrough. Then they remember they haven’t been to the World Series and hit the brakes.
13. San Diego Padres
The talent is there, the hype is real, and the expectations are sky-high. And yet, they always seem to find a way to fall short of the party.
12. Minnesota Twins
The Twins can win their division, rack up regular season wins, and look like a threat. Then they run into the playoffs and immediately turn into ghosts.
11. Chicago Cubs
Even with the curse broken, the Cubs still manage to pull fans in with hope and send them right back into a spiral. The rebuilds are frequent, the expectations are heavy, and the heartbreak never quite leaves.
10. Cleveland Guardians
The Guardians are always scrappy, always competitive, and always just short of making it matter. Their fans have seen more “almosts” than they can count.
9. New York Mets
The Mets can look like contenders in April and chaos by July. They are the kings of finding new and creative ways to disappoint.
8. Toronto Blue Jays
The Blue Jays always seem to have a roster full of young stars and October potential. But just when it starts to feel real, the collapse kicks in.
7. Philadelphia Phillies
One year they look like world-beaters, the next they can’t string together a solid week. Phillies fans ride the emotional rollercoaster like no one else—and it’s exhausting.
6. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles are finally exciting again, which only makes the eventual letdown feel inevitable. History says it’s only a matter of time before things go sideways.
5. Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pirates love to tease fans with young talent and the occasional hot start. But just when it feels like they’re turning the corner, the wheels fall off and the rebuild button gets slammed again.
4. Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox have rings, sure, but they’ve also perfected the art of whiplash seasons. One year they’re contenders, the next they’re tearing it all down—and fans are left trying to keep up.
3. Atlanta Braves
Yes, they’ve had success, but Braves fans know all too well about high hopes and early exits. Regular-season dominance often turns into playoff frustration in a hurry.
2. New York Yankees
The Yankees have the payroll, the history, and the expectations—but lately, it’s been more heartbreak than hardware. Fans expect a title every year, and anything less feels like failure.
1. Cincinnati Reds
The Reds have passionate fans, a rich history, and just enough talent to get people dreaming. But year after year, something always seems to go wrong—injuries, collapses, rebuilds that never fully build—leaving fans with heartbreak and hope that next year will finally be different.
