This year's American League might be the worst in Major League Baseball history

We’re already over 20% of the way through the 2026 Major League Baseball season, and some very surprising trends are becoming clear. The automated balls and strikes system was supposed to lead to better accuracy from home plate umpires, and the end of egregiously missed calls. And while that’s generally played out, there’s been an unexpected consequence of the new challenge format: a record number of walks. CLICK HERE FOR MORE OUTKICK SPORTS COVERAGEAfter an offseason dominated by discussion of the importance of big markets and high payrolls in MLB, many of the richest teams and most expensive rosters are struggling mightily. John Schneider, manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, yells at umpire Dan Merzel during the fifth inning of their MLB game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, on April 7, 2026. (Cole Burston/Getty Images)The New York Mets have the second-highest payroll in baseball and the highest-paid player in the history of the sport. They’re 11-22, in last place in the National League East by 12.5 games already, and their odds of making the postseason have dropped from nearly 90% to 25%. The Philadelphia Phillies are 13-20 and 10.5 games out of first place