MLB 2026: Six teams that can take down the Dodgers - ESPN

Going into the 2026 MLB season, the Los Angeles Dodgers were an overwhelmingly popular pick to win their third straight World Series title. But nearly a quarter of the way through the season, the rest of the league has shown it is not going to roll over and let L.A. cruise to another crown.

We asked six of our MLB experts to select opponents that could take down the Dodgers in October — and our panel opted for a mix of teams off to hot starts and preseason contenders we haven't given up on just yet. While our experts don't necessarily think their team can outpace L.A. for 162 games, they made the case for their club having what it takes to knock the Dodgers out when it matters most — and surprisingly, nobody on our panel took the San Diego Padres, who have kept pace with the Dodgers in the NL West.

How strong were their cases? We left that for our resident judge — the honorable Jeff Passan — to decide with a verdict for each contender.

The Phillies have the worst run differential in baseball right now and a 15-20 record. But, they have arguably the best pitching staff in baseball — third in WAR, second in xERA, third in xFIP this season, despite the 25th-best ERA — with the FanGraphs rest-of-season projection the best of any pitching staff, even ahead of the Dodgers. That screams positive regression/better luck is coming soon.

With a rotation of Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, along with a bullpen headlined by Jhoan Duran, the pieces are there to stay in any postseason game, if not steal one, or toss a shutout on any given night.

The poor pitching luck should resolve itself, and this franchise, largely with these players, has made the playoffs four years in a row. Can the lineup be good