MLB: Which teams will break the drought and win the World Series?

The World Series Fight: Teams in Search of Glory

The mathematical probability suggests that each Major League team should win a World Series every 30 years. However, the reality is different, and many franchises have experienced long title droughts, some have even never reached the top. This year, the postseason presents a special appeal with several teams looking to break those long streaks. We analyze below the teams that have gone more than three decades without tasting the glory of the World Series.

Milwaukee Brewers

Last World Series Title: None (the franchise debuted in 1969, moved to Milwaukee in 1970).Last World Series appearance: 1982 (lost to the Cardinals in seven games).Closest moment since: They lost the 2018 National League Championship Series to the Dodgers in seven games.

• In Game 7 of the 1982 World Series, the Cardinals scored with the bases loaded in the sixth inning, securing the victory.
• A home run by Pete Alonso in the ninth inning of a wild card series game the previous year.
• In the 2019 wild card game, Josh Hader loaded the bases and Juan Soto drove in decisive runs.

Why haven’t they won? The lack of offense has been key in the early eliminations. For a long time, the Brewers were not competitive. Since Mark Attanasio bought the team in 2005, they have been more consistent, despite playing in the smallest market in MLB. While Christian Yelich was MVP in 2018, recent teams have lacked an offensive star, which has made it difficult for them to score in the postseason.

Why this could be their year? Despite not having a superstar, the Brewers have a deep offensive attack. They have scored many runs and have players capable of hitting home runs. In addition, they obtained the first seed and have played well at home. With a strong bullpen, the Brewers have silenced the skeptics and have remained consistent throughout the season.

Seattle Mariners

Last World Series Title: None (the franchise debuted in 1977).

Last World Series appearance: None.

Closest Moment: They lost the 1995 American League Championship Series to Cleveland and the 2000 one to the Yankees, both in six games. They also lost the 2001 one in five games.

• In 2001, Bernie Williams hit a home run in the eighth inning, and Alfonso Soriano hit a walk-off home run in the ninth.
• In Game 6 of the 2000 Championship Series, David Justice hit a three-run home run for the Yankees.
• In 2022, the Mariners were down 7-3 in the eighth inning against the Astros, and Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run home run to win the game.

Why haven’t they won? Weak offenses and, for a long time, a bad draft. They’ve lost the playoffs by a small margin.

The Mariners couldn’t win despite having Ken Griffey Jr., Randy Johnson, Alex Rodríguez, and Edgar Martínez. After the miraculous 2001 season, a long playoff drought arrived. The teams were characterized by an inept offense. Jerry Dipoto was hired as general manager after the 2015 season and began to change things, drafting Logan Gilbert and George Kirby.

Why this could be their year? With an improved offense, the Mariners could have their best attack in 25 years. The acquisitions of Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez have created a very solid group. Their bullpen has been reliable.

Toronto Blue Jays

Last World Series title: 1993.Last World Series appearance: 1993 (defeated the Phillies in six games).

Closest Moment: They lost the 2015 American League Championship Series to Kansas City.

• In Game 6 of the 2015 Championship Series, Lorenzo Cain scored the winning run.
• In Game 2 of that series, David Price allowed five runs after a 3-0 lead.
• In the 2022 Wild Card game, the Blue Jays blew an 8-2 lead at home.

Why haven’t they won? A difficult division and poor offensive performance in October. After consecutive titles in ’92 and ’93, the Blue Jays went 20 years without a playoff appearance. They couldn’t beat the Yankees and Red Sox. In recent years, the Blue Jays have struggled in the wild card series.

Why this could be their year? This Blue Jays team is better than the previous ones. They have home-field advantage in the American League and play good defense. Kevin Gausman and Shane Bieber give them a strong starting rotation.