1 big question facing every team down the stretch

4:32 AM UTC

After more than 120 games, no MLB team is in perfect shape as the end of the regular season looms. From injury concerns to underperforming stars to future outlooks, there are unknowns for every club.

With the help of MLB.com's beat reporters, here's one big question for each team during this season's home stretch.

Jump to: AL East | AL Central | AL West | NL East | NL Central | NL West

American League East

Blue Jays: Will they take advantage of a friendly remaining schedule?
After going 11-6 in its recent stretch of 17 games in 17 days, Toronto is quickly gaining ground in the AL Wild Card race. This week includes six daunting road games against the Rays and Yankees, but after that, the Blue Jays won’t face another team that currently has a winning record the rest of the way. That’s 30 games against sub-.500 competition. That presents a golden opportunity for Toronto to nab that third Wild Card. -- Brian Murphy

Orioles: Could the injury reinforcements make a big impact?
With Baltimore in the thick of the AL Wild Card race, a few players currently sidelined by injuries could return and be difference-makers down the stretch. Catcher (right shoulder inflammation) was activated from the injured list on Wednesday, and utility man (left hand fracture) and right-handed reliever (right shoulder surgery) are expected to begin rehab assignments within the next week. The O’s bullpen could certainly use a high-leverage hurler like Bautista if he’s anything like he’s been in the past. And the lineup will surely be much more potent with Basallo and Alexander back in the mix. -- Jake Rill

Rays: Can they stay on top and stay healthy?
The Rays have put themselves in position to win a division in which they were widely predicted to finish last. That is still the goal, so their focus must remain on an AL East title and a first-round bye past the Wild Card Series. But it’s also critical that their most important players are healthy, strong and hitting their stride at the right time. In their last three trips to the postseason, the Rays bowed out quickly because they simply ran out of starting pitching (2021), impact hitters ('22) and a combination of both ('23). In a wide-open AL, this is the year to play your best baseball in October. -- Adam Berry

Red Sox: What kind of impact will make?
For most of the season, the Red Sox have been without Anthony, who was projected by many to be the team’s most dangerous all-around hitter back in Spring Training. But the 22-year-old got off to a slow start and then suffered a partially torn tendon in his left hand/wrist on May 4. Anthony finally appears to be on the fast track toward a return, homering in the opening game of his Minor League rehab assignment on Tuesday. Slotting Anthony in at the top of the order could be of particular significance for a team that has lacked production in the leadoff spot. -- Ian Browne

Yankees: What will be the impact of 's expected return?
Judge’s three Most Valuable Player Awards should carry even more weight in light of this season, in which the Yankees offense has largely sputtered without him. From June 1 on, the Bombers went punchless, ranking near the bottom of the league in batting average, OPS and runs scored. Judge may not be in midseason form when he returns from a stress fracture in his right first rib, but could his presence -- even at 60 or 70 percent -- be the difference in helping the Yanks turn around their malaise and secure a pennant? -- Bryan Hoch

AL Central

Guardians: Can the up-and-comers help guide them to the postseason?
Trade Deadline deals for outfielder and first baseman marked something of a pivot. But the success of this Guardians season has always been dependent on the performance of a cast of up-and-coming position players who have gotten extended runway. José Ramírez and are centerpieces. But for Cleveland to reach the postseason, guys such as , , and , among others, must play a central role down the stretch. -- Tim Stebbins

Royals: Who sticks in this bullpen?
After injuries and underperformance, the Royals have to rebuild their pitching staff. That work has already begun in the ‘pen with new faces in new roles. They’re giving high-leverage opportunities to and , and they’ve been getting looks at , and to see who could help them next year. How fits into the rotation or bullpen is a factor, as well as whether -- who was optioned to Triple-A Omaha on Tuesday -- can get right heading into 2027. -- Anne Rogers

Tigers: Do they have enough talent left?
Detroit has already shown it can contend without and thanks to the pitching depth it has compiled and the return of . But with (hamstring strain) and (plantar fasciitis) injured, the question shifts to whether the Tigers have enough on offense to hang in the race. They’re leaning heavily on rookies and midseason callups for the time being to build a lineup around , , and . -- Jason Beck

Twins: Can the rotation turn it around?
After addressing their first-half bullpen struggles with a few key additions at the Trade Deadline, the Twins now face big questions with their starters. Already missing for the season, the rotation took a big hit when All-Star went on the IL in early August with a strained glute. Picking up in a trade with the Orioles turned out to be a prescient move. However, has been scuffling, 's minuscule margin for error has led to some rough outings when his control in the zone has been just a hair off, and and have been experiencing the growing pains typical of young starters. Getting Ryan throwing from a mound on Aug. 18 was a shot in the arm, but unless and until he rejoins the rotation in September, the Twins will need more from their other starters to stay in the AL Wild Card chase. -- Patrick Donnelly

White Sox: Will the starting pitching hold up?
The White Sox added right-hander at the Deadline, hoping to give the team another experienced starter who can help them get through these innings during the stretch drive to the postseason. also has been one of the best starters in the game since June 18. But currently is on the 15-day IL with a blister issue, posting a 6.52 ERA since he hit a low ERA mark of 1.61 on May 16. , one of the team’s top pitching prospects, is currently back with Triple-A Charlotte, as the White Sox not only try to lock down the American League Central title but keep this rotation strong into the playoffs. They used an opener and bulk hurlers in each of the last two games of their series at Wrigley Field. -- Scott Merkin

AL West

Angels: Will John Mozeliak become the full-time general manager?
When the Angels tabbed John Mozeliak as the club’s interim GM in late June, the plan was for the long-time former Cardinals executive to assist in the team’s search for a new GM. But Mozeliak was given the green light to trade away a number of controllable players at the Trade Deadline (, , , and ), then shook up the coaching staff the following week, a sign to some that Mozeliak could be preparing to make a bid for the full-time gig. -- Mark Feinsand

Astros: Do they have enough starting pitching?
The Astros’ offseason focus was adding pitching depth, but it didn’t go well. Four pitchers they added have been designated for assignment, is on the IL with a 5.99 ERA and was moved to the bullpen and pitched twice in August. They welcomed back and from Tommy John surgery last month, but Blanco was in Triple-A after five outings. Houston will need to regain control of his fastball, hope ’s increasing workload doesn’t become an issue and hope another arm steps up. -- Brian McTaggart

Athletics: Can finish his rookie season on a roll?
This has not been the season the A’s envisioned, thanks to an injury bug that claimed prime offensive contributors , , and -- not to mention setbacks faced by and . But Bolte has emerged down the stretch as a surprise standout, entering Wednesday batting .338 with an .890 OPS in August and impressing manager Mark Kotsay and his staff. In an otherwise frustrating '26 campaign, Bolte has been a sorely needed bright spot as the club eyes the future and a move to Las Vegas in 2028. -- Adrian Garro

Mariners: Can they finally play to their potential?
We've seen it in flashes, but in such short bursts. And now with the schedule shrinking, the reality is that the Mariners will have to play their very best baseball over the final six weeks -- or face what would be a crushing winter. The offense showed new life this past weekend in Houston, and the pitching staff has always had the talent. But they'll need to put it all together -- basically night in and out -- if they want to play into October. -- Daniel Kramer

Rangers: Will they ever be fully healthy?
The Rangers are far from the only team experiencing injuries across the board, but just when it looked like things were turning around of the offensive end with (back) and (hamstring) returning, as well as the UCL rehabbers in and , landed on the IL with right posterior elbow inflammation, and ’s calf injury looks likely to linger into September. Additionally, was removed from his last start after two innings due to triceps fatigue. The Rangers have failed to string together more than six wins or six losses in a row this season. Although it's not the only reason, their health has been a big part of their inconsistency down the stretch. -- Kennedi Landry

National League East

Braves: Can the rotation take the heat off the bullpen down the stretch?
While the bats are heating up behind strong Augusts from , and , pitching workload remains the biggest question. Closer is currently enduring a rough stretch (5.84 ERA over his last 13 outings), making length from the starters crucial. Led by Cy Young contender , the rotation must consistently work deep into games to avoid overtaxing the bullpen and keep them fresh for a playoff push. -- Courtney Hollmon

Marlins: Will the schedule be too much for Miami in the Wild Card race?
Miami remains in the NL Wild Card race, but if the Marlins hope to return to the postseason, they’re going to have to take advantage of some soft spots on their schedule between now and Sept. 9. That’s when things get really rough for the Marlins, who play their final 15 games against the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Padres, Cubs and Braves -- with nine of those games on the road. Miami has played well since the 12-game losing streak that shook up its season, but if the Marlins want to play in October, they’re going to have to earn it in a major way. -- Mark Feinsand

Mets: Will hold down the closer role?
The Mets have yet to announce that Senga is the closer, but interim manager Andy Green hopes that pitching the final frame of a game becomes a regular occurrence for the right-hander. While he has four saves in four tries this month, Senga has yet to have a heavy workload out of the bullpen. For example, he has yet to pitch in consecutive games or three games in four days. Green acknowledged that the team is watching out for his health. Senga has spent most of his career as a starter. -- Bill Ladson

Nationals: How much will the outlook shift to 2027?
The Nationals were in the NL Wild Card race, but they traded away top contributors at the Trade Deadline and enter Thursday seven games back of a postseason berth. They called up No. 8 prospect to join the starting rotation, and there is a chance we could see No. 12 prospect debut by the end of the season. The Nationals also are shifting two-time All-Star CJ Abrams from shortstop to second base to get him reps and see how that looks for the team, with lots of depth at shortstop in the farm system. -- Jessica Camerato

Phillies: Can they do enough to support their elite trio atop the rotation?
Yes, the Phillies’ offense has improved over the past few weeks, particularly since the addition of , but this team likely isn’t going to slug its way through the postseason. The Phillies are going to need lights-out pitching from , and , but that alone hasn’t been enough in recent years. The Phils will need the offense to give them just enough support and the bullpen to safely deliver leads to . -- Paul Casella

NL Central

Brewers: Can the pitching hold up?
The Brewers’ offense is what it is at this point, pesky and speedy but with little power, especially if and don’t break free from long slumps. So it’s going to be on the pitching to continue leading the way, which gets tricky when you consider the youth of this group, led by ace right-hander . He’s heading into uncharted territory in innings, and he’s not alone. The Brewers are already planning to shift left-hander to long relief to control his workload, and left-hander is likely to reach his career high within the next five or six starts. -- Adam McCalvy

Cardinals: Are their Wild Card dreams realistic?
Even though they are in the rebuilding phase, the Cardinals are only three games behind the Padres for the final Wild Card spot. Most of the players on St. Louis’ current roster don't have postseason experience. According to Baseball Reference, the Cardinals have the second-youngest hitting group (25.4 years old) and fifth-youngest pitching staff (27.8). But age and inexperience will not stop the Cardinals, according to manager Oliver Marmol. "Leaving Spring Training, I felt like we had a shot. Right now, I feel like we have a shot,” he said recently about the Wild Card race. -- Bill Ladson

Cubs: Can they catch the Brewers?
A three-game losing streak back from June 7-10 knocked the Cubs eight games behind the Brewers in the NL Central. At that moment in time, Chicago’s odds of winning the division slipped to 5.5%, per FanGraphs. The North Siders played 21 games above .500 over the next 59 games (40-19) to not only strengthen their grip on a Wild Card spot but also pull within shouting distance of Milwaukee. The Cubs have a challenging schedule the rest of the way, but chasing down the Brewers remains a goal for a club that added two veteran starters -- and -- at the Deadline, have an MVP contender in and boast baseball’s best defense. -- Jordan Bastian

Pirates: Does have a late-season turnaround in store?
The Pirates' one consistency of the past is now an inconsistency. Skenes has pitched to a 3.95 ERA after two seasons of a sub-2.00 ERA to begin his career. His velocity is down, and Pittsburgh even decided to push back his latest start from Sunday to Wednesday to give Skenes more rest. Does Skenes turn things around before the end of the year, end on a sour note or get shut down before the final game? All options are in play. -- Aiden Stepansky

Reds: Can Cincinnati get through a brutal final month schedule?
Not only do the Reds have the toughest schedule the rest of the way by win percentage, but they will have 25 consecutive games against contenders from Aug. 28-Sept. 24. That includes two series each against the Brewers, Cubs and Dodgers. While the clubhouse hasn't given up on trying to contend, their postseason chances have become minuscule. But a respectable showing -- especially by players without assured spots for 2027 -- and some wins could go a long way towards helping the club figure out what it has and what it needs going into the offseason. -- Mark Sheldon

NL West

D-backs: What will returning pitchers have to offer?
The Diamondbacks recently got closer back, and they expect to get injured starters , and back sometime in September. Martinez and Burnes are both returning from Tommy John surgery, and it can sometimes take a little while for pitchers to adjust. Meanwhile, Gallen struggled earlier this year when he was healthy, and Nelson may not have time to be stretched out as a starter and could be used in relief. Will they provide a much-needed boost in September? Time will tell. -- Steve Gilbert

Dodgers: Can get healthy -- and get right -- before the postseason?
Although the Dodgers have some questions to sort out about the playoff rotation behind and , there are plenty of options between , , , and . Díaz’s ability to handle the closer’s role seems far more important for the Dodgers, who signed the All-Star reliever last offseason to lock down the ninth inning. After missing more than three months following elbow surgery, Díaz was largely ineffective before returning to the IL with neck inflammation on Tuesday. The Dodgers may not have many weaknesses, but making sure Díaz isn’t one of them could be key to their aspirations for a three-peat. -- Mark Feinsand

Giants: Could a change of scenery unlock 's potential?
The No. 4 overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft, Mayer batted only .223 with a .625 OPS over 114 games for the Red Sox before he was dealt to the Giants in exchange for left-hander at this year’s Trade Deadline. The 23-year-old infielder hasn’t played since June 25 due to a bone stress reaction in his left ulna, but he’s nearing the end of his rehab assignment and could make his Giants debut this week. Mayer is likely to take over as San Francisco’s starting second baseman once he’s healthy, giving him another chance to show that he can still develop into an impact player in the big leagues. -- Maria Guardado

Padres: When is coming back -- and what version will he be?
It’s been nearly two years since Musgrove took the mound for the Padres. He could be set to join their rotation at an absolutely pivotal time. Musgrove is building his way back from Tommy John surgery and could return by the end of the month. When healthy, he’s been excellent in San Diego, posting a 3.20 ERA. But it’s worth asking whether he’ll instantly regain that form. If he does, the Padres’ end-of-season -- and postseason -- rotation looks a lot scarier. -- AJ Cassavell

Rockies: What can they learn about the starting rotation?
Can righty , who has elite pitch action, find ways to avoid the big inning? Righty , the club's 2022 top pick, is showing talent and, at times, taking his lumps, and righty is getting his rotation shot. Will recently acquired righty (White Sox) get his promotion from Triple-A Albuquerque? Do the Rockies make a play to extend veteran righty or even attempt to keep longtime lefty leader ? The rotation, which will have expected to return from right elbow surgery next year, must keep up with an increasingly productive offense and a bullpen that has potential. -- Thomas Harding