MLB 2026 trade deadline: What NL contenders need to beat Dodgers - ESPN

It seems like, for much of the 2026 season, the top question in the National League — and Major League Baseball as a whole, really — has been: Who are the biggest threats to the Los Angeles Dodgers?

The teams in that category as we come out of the All-Star break and enter the second half of the season: the Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies.

Atlanta and Milwaukee lead their respective divisions, while Chicago and Philadelphia hold the first and second wild-card spots, respectively. The Dodgers are cruising to another NL West title, with a 12-game edge over the second-place Arizona Diamondbacks, meaning they will likely make their 14th consecutive postseason appearance in 2026, tying Atlanta's record of 14 straight playoffs from 1991 to 2005.

Which teams will make the biggest splash? Here are the latest news, rumors and analysis as 6 p.m. ET on Aug. 3 nears. Running tracker »

As the Aug. 3 MLB trade deadline approaches, that question about the biggest threats becomes more about their strategies around the deadline. What are the other NL powerhouses planning to do to put themselves in a better position to dethrone the reigning champions come October?

Let's break down each contender's biggest potential needs and what those mean for teams' chances of taking down the Dodgers.

Potential Needs: Starting pitching, bullpen help, right-handed outfielder (maybe)

The Phillies desire rotation help in order to get to the playoffs, not necessarily out of a need for another pitcher to start a postseason game — although, an additional October arm would be just fine with them. The Phillies are top-heavy with Zack Wheeler, Cristopher Sanchez and Jesus Luzardo, a trio as good as any team can put on the