Every year, teams expected to be successful at the start of the season are derailed by injuries. Teams that look strong on paper can often perform very poorly if even one or two key players are removed from the mix, and even the best teams can look vulnerable with a long enough string of bad luck injuries. 2026 is similar so far, as several teams face very difficult roads in the coming months due to an early injury or three that have put them on the back foot. Which team is the worst when it comes to the injury bug? Here are a few of the top contenders, in alphabetical order:
The Atlanta Braves
One look at Atlanta’s injured list makes it easy to see why it’s in this conversation. The injured Braves starting pitchers will be a decent starting rotation when combined: Spencer Schwellenbach, Spencer Strider, Hurston Waldrep, AJ Smith-Shawveragain Joey Wentz they are all on the shelf right now. While Wentz is the starting backstop or swing man, four others will be in the conversation to start the Braves’ playoff games alongside the future Hall of Famer. Chris Sale if they are healthy. In addition to the starting woes, the Braves are missing two key members of their roster: the catcher Sean Murphy and shortstop Ha-Seong Kim. Despite this deep group of talented players on the shelf, it can be argued that the Braves have not been affected too much by those problems: they actually lead the NL East at the moment, and the heat is starting to take off. Drake Baldwin again Mauricio Dubon helped fans forget about losing Murphy and Kim.
Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles might be easy to overlook on a roster like this given their immense depth across the diamond, but that depth has already been severely tested this year. Zach Eflin he’s out for the year with UCL surgery, but unlike the other teams on this list the rotation is thin for Baltimore. Incoming list at the moment Jordan Westburg (elbow) Jackson Holiday (heart surgery), Adley Rutschman (ankle swelling), Tyler O’Neill (interruption), Ryan Mountcastle (broken feet) and Heston Kjerstad (hamstring strain) has been able to withstand many of these losses due to the team’s deep positions. The bullpen wasn’t as lucky, like last summer’s loss Felix Bautista combined injury to Keegan Akin again Andrew Kittredge to completely improve the Orioles late inning mix out Ryan Helsley.
Chicago Cubs
While other teams are collapsing under the weight of multiple injuries piling up, the Cubs have struggled to stomach just one big loss. Enter the star on the right hand Late Horton looked like the team’s up-and-coming ace last year, but just two starts into what would have been his first season in the majors, the righty was sidelined by UCL surgery. That would leave the Cubs without their best pitcher of the year, of all time Justin Steele he is still recovering from his UCL surgery last April. Horton’s loss isn’t the only injury the Cubs have faced this year. Seiya Suzuki he missed the start of the season after being injured during the WBC, although he is back in the lineup. Matthew Boyd is currently sidelined with an arm injury, along with two of the team’s top contenders added in the offseason (Phil Maton again Hunter Harvey) both recently went on the injured list. Losing Horton might be the biggest blow any team has suffered so far this year, although other teams certainly aren’t worse than the Cubs when it comes to volume.
The Houston Astros
The Astros have had their fair share of injuries so far this year. Hunter Brown again Cristian Javier both sidelined with shoulder problems. Tatsuya Imai (arm fatigue) put them together on the shelf again Cody Bolton (middle back stiffness) is also banked. Things aren’t much better without circulation. An outfield lineup that already looked thin before the season began has lost its top starter in center field. Jake Meyers in oblique strain. The infield is lost Jeremy Peña in muscle tension. The bull also struggled badly with no star around Josh Hadersidelined by biceps tendinitis without much clarity on his timeline to return to action. Another, smaller loss involves an outside player Zach Dezenzoon the left Bennett Sousaand the right hand Nate Pearson. That is on top of the continued absence of male players Hayden Wesneski again Ronel Blanco due to surgery done last season.
Toronto Blue Jays
The defending AL champions have struggled with injuries throughout the lineup this year. The most obvious are the rotating ones, where they all are Cody Ponce, Bowden Francis, Jose Berrios, Shane Bieberagain Trey Yesavage currently shelved with only Yesavage likely to return anytime soon. That’s all the Jays have to rely on Patrick Corbin and injured Max Scherzer in the beginning. Although the system is not as damaged as rotation, there are still significant losses. Alejandro Kirk he is in the middle of a six-week absence due to thumb surgery. Anthony Santander he was sidelined before the start of the year with shoulder surgery. George Springer (broken toe) and Addison Barger (ankle) are dealing with their own injuries. While the bullpen remains intact, the number of injuries in the rotation and lineup have left the Jays looking much different than they would if they were healthy.
Other Options
Those five teams aren’t the only ones dealing with injury problems, of course. The Mets are controversial given that Juan Soto he’s probably the most impactful talent on the injured list in the entire league right now, even though he’ll be back in a few weeks and they’re missing another injury. Right now the Yankees don’t have any players like them Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodonagain Anthony Volpebut that injury was known during the off-season and the club was able to build its roster around him. The Dodgers loss of Mookie Betts, Tommy Edmanagain Blake Snell they’re important, but it’s hard to say they’re more affected when they have the best record in baseball. The Brewers have a strong argument on this list if that happens Christian Yelich you join Quinn Priester again Jackson Chourio on the shelf, although that has yet to be confirmed. The Reds remain healthy in the lineup and bullpen, but the loss of the Hunter Greene again Nick Lodolo they are clearly a major contribution to their circulation.
Which team do MLBTR readers think was the most affected by injuries this year? Have your say in the poll below:
