MLB’s five most disappointing teams: Diamondbacks, Mets among those that fell short

The 2025 MLB regular season is in the books, and while a few teams exceeded all expectations, others crashed hard. These five clubs proved to be the biggest disappointments of the season. (All preseason projections are via FanDuel.)

Arizona Diamondbacks | 80-82, fourth in NL West

Coming off a World Series appearance in 2023 and an 89-win season in 2024, the Diamondbacks entered the season with high expectations — especially after adding Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes and All-Star first baseman Josh Naylor. Despite the star power, Arizona regressed sharply. 

Burnes suffered a season-ending elbow injury after just 11 starts, and the rest of the rotation — Zac Gallen, Ryne Nelson, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Pfaadt — combined for a 5.17 ERA. 

The Diamondbacks fell shy of their preseason projection of 86.5 wins and a second-place divisional finish.

Atlanta Braves | 76-86, fourth in NL East

After seven straight postseason appearances dating to 2018, the Braves unraveled in 2025 and finished with their first losing season since 2017. 

Injuries and an unexpectedly poor offense — it ranked 18th in the majors with a .245 batting average — derailed a team that was expected to win the 93.5 games, the second-highest projection in MLB.

Because the team suffered myriad injuries, only four hitters were counted as qualified players. Out of the group, first baseman Matt Olson was the only player to post an OPS over .800, which is considered good. (He finished with an .850 OPS.)

Baltimore Orioles | 75-87, fifth in AL East

After back-to-back playoff appearances in 2023 and 2024 with 192 regular-season wins in that stretch, the Orioles entered the season with high expectations. Baltimore was projected to win 86.5 games, but it stumbled badly.

Blame pitching.  Baltimore posted the fifth-worst ERA (4.60), fourth-worst WHIP (1.37) and tied for the fourth-worst batting average against (.259). Its 1,433 hits allowed were the most in the American League.

This young team was expected to build on recent success. Now questions have emerged about how solid their core truly is.

New York Mets | 83-79, second in NL East

Despite having the second-highest payroll and a roster headlined by five-time Silver Slugger Juan Soto — who signed a record-breaking 15-year, $765M deal in free agency before the season — the Mets fell short of expectations, missing the postseason. 

Projected to win 90.5 games, tied with the Philadelphia Phillies for the third-highest total in MLB, New York stumbled. After holding the best record in baseball at 45-24 on June 12, the Mets went 38-55 to close the season — the seventh-worst stretch in the majors in that span.

Their pitching staff posted a 4.03 ERA, 18th in the majors, even after the Mets bolstered the bullpen at the trade deadline with reigning NL Reliever of the Year Ryan Helsley, two-time All-Star Gregory Soto and Tyler Rogers.

Texas Rangers | 81-81, third in AL West

Sitting at 79–70 with and trailing the Seattle Mariners atop the AL West by just two games with 13 games left, the Rangers spiraled, finishing 2–11. All 11 losses were by four runs or fewer, with eight decided by two runs or fewer.

Texas finished with a +79 run differential — surpassing both of the AL’s top playoff seeds, the Toronto Blue Jays and Mariners. Of the 11 teams with the highest run differentials, 10 punched their ticket to October, with the Rangers being the lone exception.

Following the disappointing finish, manager Bruce Bochy and the Rangers mutually agreed to part.