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

The 2026 American League is performing historically poorly compared to the National League, with a .480 winning percentage—the worst in MLB's modern era. High-payroll teams like the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies are struggling, while the NL Central is dominated by strong teams. The AL's underperformance is attributed to a surge in walks due to the new automated balls and strikes system.