Every MLB Franchise’s Most Heartbreaking Team Since 2000 | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

Chicago Cubs outfielder Moises Alou makes an attempt to catch a bad ball throughout the 8th inning of Game 6 of the NLCS in 2003 (Photo via John Biever/Sports Illustrated by the use of Getty Images)

There is one thing about heartbreak as a sports activities fan that sticks with you above virtually anything, even without equal good fortune.

As a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, the 2003 season is simply as vibrant a reminiscence for me because the 2016 World Series name, and each fanbase has that ignored alternative that haunts them even if the workforce is doing smartly.

Ahead now we have revisited every MLB franchise’s maximum heartbreaking workforce since 2000, that specialize in groups that gave the fanbase super hope, handiest to return up quick.

As you’re taking this painful travel down reminiscence lane, take solace in the truth that each fanbase has a workforce that haunts them—you’ve corporate in distress.

Aaron Boone (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun, File)

Baltimore Orioles: 2015

Coming off a 96-win season and their first department name since 1997, the Orioles returned necessarily the similar roster for the 2015 season. The handiest notable loss used to be slugger Nelson Cruz, but they completed 81-81 and fell to 3rd within the AL East standings. The 2016 season that ended with All-Star nearer Zack Britton staring at from the bullpen whilst Ubaldo Jiménez gave up the game-winning hit within the Wild Card Game could also be price a point out.

Boston Red Sox: 2003

With a 5-2 lead in Game 7 of the ALCS, the Red Sox left a tiring Pedro Martínez in too lengthy, and he allowed 3 runs within the backside of the 8th to ultimately ship the sport to more innings. Aaron Boone then introduced the primary pitch he noticed from Tim Wakefield within the backside of the eleventh over the left box wall, clinching the collection and the pennant. The 2011 workforce that collapsed with a 7-20 list in September additionally belongs on this dialog.

New York Yankees: 2004

A yr after the Yankees overwhelmed the Red Sox’s hopes in Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, Boston returned the want with arguably the best comeback in sports activities historical past. Down 3-0 within the ALCS, the Red Sox stormed again to win 4 instantly in the back of a memorable thieve from Dave Roberts, some all-time seize hitting from David Ortiz and one bloody sock.

Tampa Bay Rays: 2010

The 2010 season used to be the tip of an technology for the Rays. All-Star outfielder Carl Crawford, slugger Carlos Peña, nearer Rafael Soriano and a number of others would all leave in loose company that offseason. They captured the AL East name with 96 wins however have been upended via the Texas Rangers within the ALDS as ace David Price took the loss in Games 1 and 5.

Toronto Blue Jays: 2013

Expectations have been sky-high for the Blue Jays heading into the 2013 season when they swung a couple of blockbuster offers to obtain Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Josh Johnson from the Miami Marlins and reigning NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey from the New York Mets. They ended up bettering via only one win, completing within the AL East cellar with a 74-88 list.

Pablo Sandoval and Justin Verlander (AP Photo/Ezra Shaw)

Chicago White Sox: 2022

After making their first postseason look in additional than a decade in 2020 and then successful 93 video games and a department name closing yr, the White Sox entered the 2022 season taking a look like a sustainable contender on the upward thrust. Instead, little or no has long gone proper with the out-of-touch hand of 77-year-old Tony La Russa guidance the send, and for the reason that workforce has hovered round .500 many of the yr, it’s going to take a powerful end to steer clear of lacking the postseason.

Cleveland Guardians: 2016

Cleveland fanatics certainly nonetheless cringe each time they pay attention the phrases “rain delay” after a 17-minute spoil within the motion became the tides in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series. After the workforce battled again from down 6-3 within the backside of the 8th to power more innings, Mother Nature reputedly intervened and helped shift the momentum again to the Cubs as they plated two within the best of the tenth en path to an 8-7 victory and a long-awaited name.

Detroit Tigers: 2012

With a deadly beginning rotation of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello and Doug Fister, and the one-two punch of Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder anchoring the offense, the Tigers have been closely preferred over the San Francisco Giants within the 2012 World Series. However, a three-homer efficiency from Pablo Sandoval in Game 1 set the tone early, and the Giants went on to comb the collection, tossing shutouts in Games 2 and 3 prior to scoring an extra-inning clincher in Game 4.

Kansas City Royals: 2017

The 2017 season used to be in point of fact the tip of an technology in Kansas City, because it used to be the closing time Lorenzo Cain, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas have been teammates. The entrance place of job may have blown issues up previous figuring out complete smartly it could not find the money for to stay the ones veteran stars, however as an alternative the workforce stored the core in combination for one ultimate run. The Royals have been in competition during the primary part, however a 10-18 August proved to be a crushing blow.

Minnesota Twins: 2011

The Twins have misplaced 18 instantly playoff video games relationship again to Game 1 of the 2004 ALDS, so there was quite a lot of October heartbreak, however we are going with a gaggle that fell miles wanting expectancies in 2011. After back-to-back department titles, the Twins went 63-99 to plummet to the ground of the AL Central standings. It’s now not regularly you notice a workforce win 31 fewer video games than it did the former yr, and the Twins’ 13-41 list over the general two months used to be next-level unhealthy.

Nelson Cruz (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Houston Astros: 2019

The Astros led 2-0 heading into the 7th inning of Game 7 of the 2019 World Series in the back of a super get started from Zack Greinke. After a one-out solo house run from Anthony Rendon and a stroll from Juan Soto, Greinke used to be lifted for reliever Will Harris, and the red-hot Howie Kendrick straight away broke issues open with a two-run homer en path to a 6-2 Nationals win. Did supervisor A.J. Hinch pull Greinke too quickly?

Los Angeles Angels: 2014

The 1986 Angels have been one strike clear of the World Series and the 1995 Angels suffered one of the most worst regular-season collapses in baseball historical past, however so far as contemporary historical past is anxious, it does not get to any extent further disappointing than the 2014 season. After posting the most productive list in baseball, the Angels have been swept via the wild-card Kansas City Royals within the ALDS, and that also stands as Mike Trout’s handiest playoff look.

Oakland Athletics: 2001

“The Flip” is all that truly must be mentioned concerning the 2001 Athletics. If handiest Jeremy Giambi slid into house plate after Derek Jeter’s memorable turn to the plate, issues would possibly have became out another way for a workforce that gained 102 video games throughout the steady season whilst taking part in in the similar department because the 116-win Seattle Mariners.

Seattle Mariners: 2014

The Mariners are on their manner to snapping the longest playoff drought in baseball this season, and they’ve had some shut calls since their closing travel to the postseason in 2001. The closest of the bunch got here in 2014 after they ignored claiming the second one wild-card spot via one sport in spite of successful 4 in a row to near out the season. Of route, that four-game successful streak got here at the heels of a five-game dropping skid that proved deadly.

Texas Rangers: 2011

After arising quick in opposition to the San Francisco Giants within the 2010 World Series, the Rangers have been one strike clear of hoisting the trophy for the primary time in franchise historical past the next yr when the legend of David Freese used to be cemented. If handiest Nelson Cruz had controlled to trace down what became out to be the game-tying, two-run triple with two outs within the backside of the 9th inning of Game 6.

Ryan Howard (Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)

Atlanta Braves: 2011

The Braves had an 8.5-game lead within the NL wild-card standings getting into the general month of the 2011 season, however a 9-18 September that coincided with an 18-8 month from the St. Louis Cardinals left Atlanta at the outdoor taking a look in when the playoffs started. Over the workforce’s ultimate 5 video games, it went 0-5 and used to be outscored 22-7.

Miami Marlins: 2012

Looking to herald their new stadium with a contender, the Marlins spent a blended $191 million to signal Jose Reyes, Mark Buehrle and Heath Bell in loose company whilst additionally bringing in Ozzie Guillen as their new supervisor. The consequence used to be a disastrous 69-93 list, and after just one yr with the workforce, Reyes and Buehrle have been traded to Toronto, Bell used to be traded to Arizona and Guillen used to be fired.

New York Mets: 2007

With a seven-game lead within the NL East on Sept. 12, the 2007 Mets went 5-11 over their subsequent 16 video games to go into the general day of the steady season tied with the Philadelphia Phillies atop the standings. Veteran Tom Glavine allowed seven earned runs whilst recording only one out en path to an 8-1 loss within the finale, and the Phillies clinched the department with a 6-1 win over the Nationals.

Philadelphia Phillies: 2011

The Phillies gained a franchise-record 102 video games in 2011 in the back of the beginning rotation of Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt, punching their price ticket to the postseason for the 5th consecutive season. Viewed via many because the favorites to win all of it, they have been as an alternative ousted via the St. Louis Cardinals within the NLDS, and at the ultimate play of the collection, Ryan Howard suffered a torn Achilles. The MVP slugger used to be by no means the similar, and the Phillies have now not made the playoffs since.

Washington Nationals: 2015

A yr after successful 96 video games and a department name, the Nationals held a two-game lead within the NL East standings on the finish of July. However, that lead devolved right into a 6.5-game deficit throughout a 12-17 August, and they wound up completing seven video games again within the department and 14 again within the wild-card standings to pass over the playoffs. That overdue cave in squandered an NL MVP efficiency via Bryce Harper in the most productive season of his occupation.

Gerrit Cole (Justin Ok. Aller/Getty Images)

Chicago Cubs: 2003

Long-suffering Cubs fanatics now have the 2016 World Series, however in 2003, their cave in used to be but every other bankruptcy in a protracted historical past of sadness. Casuals have been fast accountable a fan for interfering with a bad ball down the left box line, however all the and overall loss of composure from veteran Moises Alou and a important error from usually sure-handed shortstop Alex Gonzalez used to be what in point of fact ended in the workforce’s downfall in that fateful eight-run 8th inning of Game 6 of the NLCS in opposition to the Florida Marlins.

Cincinnati Reds: 2012

The 2012 Reds have been one of the most healthiest groups in MLB historical past, particularly at the pitching facet of items, the place their Opening Day rotation wound up beginning 161 of 162 video games en path to a 97-win season. They seized an early 2-0 lead within the NLDS, however an extra-inning win via the San Francisco Giants in Game 3 swung the momentum and the Reds ended up dropping the collection in 5 video games because the Giants went directly to win the World Series.

Milwaukee Brewers: 2007

Prior to claiming a wild-card spot at the again of cut-off date pickup CC Sabathia in 2008, the Brewers had now not been to the playoffs because the 1982 World Series. That drought used to be just about snapped a yr previous when the Brew Crew used to be 14 video games over .500 on the finish of June, however a 20-34 list in July and August proved to be a loss of life blow and they completed two video games in the back of the Cubs within the NL Central race.

Pittsburgh Pirates: 2015

The Pirates have been within the postseason for the 3rd yr in a row in 2015 after snapping a 20-year playoff drought. Despite successful 98 video games, they needed to accept a Wild Card Game matchup with the 97-win Cubs after the St. Louis Cardinals gained the department with a good 100 victories. In a conflict of titans between Jake Arrieta and Gerrit Cole, the Cubs got here out on best 4-0 because the Pirates have been close out within the Wild Card Game for the second one instantly yr. They have had only one successful season within the seven years since.

St. Louis Cardinals: 2012

After beating the Atlanta Braves within the Wild Card Game and provoking the Washington Nationals within the NLDS, the 88-win Cardinals seemed to be on their method to the World Series after they took a 3-1 lead over the San Francisco Giants within the 2012 NLCS. However, they have been outscored 20-1 in 3 doable series-clinching video games because the Giants complex and gained the World Series.

2017 World Series (Jerritt Clark/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks: 2018

The D-backs went from 69 wins in 2016 to 93 wins and a wild-card berth in 2017, and they seemed poised to proceed their stand up the standings the next yr after they held a one-game lead within the NL West on the finish of August. A month later, they have been 9 video games out of first and staring at from house when the playoffs began after a disastrous 8-19 appearing in September.

Colorado Rockies: 2008

The 2007 Rockies went 14-1 over their ultimate 15 video games throughout the steady season to clinch a playoff spot and then swept their manner in the course of the NLDS and NLCS prior to getting swept via the Boston Red Sox within the World Series. That disappointing finish to a paranormal 2d part paled compared to what used to be in retailer the next season. Failing to construct off the former yr’s good fortune, they have been 11 video games out of first position via the tip of May and completed 74-88.

Los Angeles Dodgers: 2017

The 2017 Dodgers season stings for a lot of causes, now not the least of which is the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal that solid a cloud over all of the World Series. That mentioned, even dealing with off in opposition to a dugout stuffed with cheaters, they nonetheless took the Fall Classic to seven video games. After an exhilarating first six contests, Yu Darvish used to be tagged for 5 runs in 1.2 innings within the clincher, and the collection ended with a thud.

San Diego Padres: 2010

The Padres misplaced 10 in a row from overdue August to early September in 2010 and watched their 6.5-game lead within the NL West standings shrink to only one sport. They limped alongside to a 14-13 list with a minus-18 run differential to near out the yr after that skid, and that used to be sufficient for the San Francisco Giants to win the department via two video games.

San Francisco Giants: 2002

The 2002 Giants had a 5-0 lead in Game 6 of the World Series with an opportunity to near issues out and take house the name, however an enormous three-run house run via Scott Spiezio within the backside of the 7th and 3 extra runs within the backside of the 8th pressured a Game 7. The Giants additionally scored first in that sport with a sac fly via Reggie Sanders within the best of the second one, however the Angels replied with 4 runs to grab the name that had as soon as gave the impression so firmly within the Giants’ clutch.

All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference.