1 big question facing each team down the stretch

3:05 PM UTC

Can injured star players return in time to make an impact before the end of the year? Will midseason acquisitions pay off? What might 2026 look like?

These are just some of the main questions facing MLB teams with the Trade Deadline complete and the second half well underway. By the time the regular season ends Sept. 28, they'll all be answered.

With the help of MLB.com's 30 beat writers, here is the biggest question facing each club down the stretch.

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

American League East

Blue Jays: Who will be for the Blue Jays?
If Bieber returns from Tommy John surgery and recaptures his old form, that can help to catapult the Blue Jays from a World Series contender to a legitimate favorite. He’s expected to make two more rehab starts in Triple-A to get his workload up, but all signs have been encouraging so far, and it lines up perfectly for a playoff push in Toronto. The Blue Jays have enough capable starters in their rotation stocked with veterans, but Bieber is suddenly this team’s biggest variable and has a ceiling unlike any other starter on this roster. -- Keegan Matheson

Orioles: When do and get the call?
General manager Mike Elias said last Friday that both Basallo (O’s No. 1 prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 9 overall) and Beavers (O’s No. 3) are “almost there” in terms of getting promotions to the big leagues. Both continue to knock loudly on the door in the meantime. With the O’s struggling and set to focus on development down the stretch, it feels inevitable that these two top prospects will show up in The Show at some point, potentially even soon. But until they do, the biggest question in Baltimore remains -- when will Basallo and Beavers get here? -- Jake Rill

Rays: Will pitch this season?
McClanahan last appeared in a Major League game on Aug. 2, 2023. His career since then has known nothing but pain: Tommy John surgery followed by a nerve issue in his left triceps this spring. His rehab assignment was recently halted by biceps tendinitis, but McClanahan has resumed throwing. Regardless of where the Rays sit in the Wild Card standings upon McClanahan’s return, getting a look at him before the end of the year would help shed some light on what the club can expect from its bona fide ace in 2026. -- Brian Murphy

Red Sox: Can the starting pitching hold up?
For weeks, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said the Red Sox will be fine as long as they pitch. Some eyebrows were raised when was the only starting pitching addition at the Trade Deadline rather than someone considered more of the frontline variety. At this point, and are providing great support behind . Boston’s chances of getting to the postseason could rest on whether that can continue. Keep in mind also that Crochet has already surpassed his career high in innings. -- Ian Browne

Yankees: Can they get their defense under control?
No team has given up more unearned runs since July 1, and of the MLB-worst 23 total errors the Yankees have committed, almost half belong to (6) and (5). That hasn't exactly helped , whose ERA over that period is pushing 6.00, and making a key Deadline acquisition only made the staff more reliant on groundouts. -- Shanthi Sepe-Chepuru

AL Central

Guardians: Will the offense be enough?
With the third-lowest OPS in MLB entering Tuesday, Cleveland’s offense has left something to be desired. José Ramírez and have done their jobs, and has been solid at designated hitter, but the Guardians aren’t getting a ton from the rest of their position players. They’ve been able to overcome that in the past thanks to elite pitching, but if their offense can step things up, the better they’ll set themselves up when it comes to postseason seeding. -- Theo DeRosa

Royals: Can return and be impactful?
There will continue to be talk about the Royals offense this season, but what can’t be said enough is how badly they need their ace. Ragans has been sidelined since June 11 with a left rotator cuff strain, but he is on track with his throwing progression and could be throwing a bullpen by next week. With three starters on the IL, , and have done an excellent job anchoring the staff, but Ragans’ ceiling is unlike any other. To get him back – and see the 2024 version of him – could provide as big of a boost as any to this team. -- Anne Rogers

Tigers: What does ’s best form look like?
The baseline numbers show Greene hitting peak production as the 24-year-old enters his prime years, including career highs in home runs and RBIs. But he has put up those numbers through a roller coaster of a season that includes a 1-for-32 slump in April, a 30-for-81 tear through much of May, and several peaks and valleys since. His strikeouts and chase rate have exacerbated the streakiness, and they could make him a somewhat simpler matchup for stacked pitching staffs in the postseason. The Tigers' offense goes as Greene goes, so getting him back in the strike zone by October would be a big help. -- Jason Beck

Twins: When will we see the new guys?
is already on the big league roster, and probably won’t arrive until 2025. But three other key pieces from the Deadline overhaul are currently at Triple-A St. Paul: right-handers and , and outfielder . They all have Major League experience, and all factor in the team’s future plans. But as of now it’s unknown when they’ll make the short trip from St. Paul to Minneapolis. -- Matthew Leach

White Sox: How legit is this offense?
Since the second half began, it’s not hyperbole to say that the White Sox have had one of the best offenses in baseball. In that time, White Sox hitters rank near the top in a host of important offensive categories, which has helped produce one of the best records in baseball since the All-Star break. While some regression is likely to come, there’s a lot to dream on with this young core: , , and are all producing at a high level right now. -- Brent Maguire

AL West

Angels: Was it the right decision not to sell?
The Angels have several veterans headed to free agency such as , , , and , but they opted not to sell at the Trade Deadline, instead acquiring relievers and from the Nationals and infielder from the Yankees. General manager Perry Minasian said he didn’t want to sell because he wanted his young core to experience playing meaningful games down the stretch. If the Angels remain in contention, it would give Angels players some valuable experience, but there’s also plenty of risk because they could have added to that young core if they traded away veterans. -- Rhett Bollinger

Astros: Which players will return from the injured list -- and when?
All-Star shortstop and starter have come off the IL in the past week, but some big names remain out. DH has been out since early May after fracturing his right hand; All-Star third baseman is rehabbing a significant hamstring injury instead of having surgery; and starting center fielder has been out for a month with a calf strain. Getting any one of those players back would serve as a huge boost. -- Brian McTaggart

Athletics: Who can be part of the 2026 bullpen?
The departure of at the Trade Deadline left the A’s with a large hole at the back of their bullpen. How they fill that closer role and the rest of their late-inning strategy will be a storyline to watch, with relievers , , and all part of that mix. The starting lineup is very much set for next season and beyond. But the bullpen will have to be figured out over these final two months. -- Martín Gallegos

Mariners: How much of an impact can and make? And how much will it matter?
The Mariners' best starting pitcher and best position player in the second half of last season have either struggled, been hurt or a mix of both in 2025. But they're both eyeing returns from the IL, potentially as soon as the end of August. The Mariners won't necessarily need Miller to replicate the 1.94 ERA he compiled over his final 15 starts last season, or Robles to produce at a 6-WAR pace like he did since joining the club last June. But if they can come anywhere close to that production, it'd elevate an already much higher floor to Seattle’s post-Deadline roster. -- Daniel Kramer

Rangers: Can the offense continue its hot stretch?
Rangers pitchers have continued to show that this is who they are -- an elite staff with the ability to keep the club in every single game. But as Texas has gotten back in the Wild Card race, it’s been more about the offensive progress and finally putting runs on the board. Since the beginning of July, the Rangers are slashing .249/.322/.414. With players like and finally playing more closely to their career levels, the Rangers look more like the version of themselves everybody expected in Spring Training. The front office added three pitchers -- , and -- to the pitching staff at the Deadline. They notably added no bats, with general manager Chris Young emphasizing the belief they have in the players they have on the roster. That will be what potentially carries them to the postseason. -- Kennedi Landry

National League East

Braves: Can they learn more about 2026?
There's seemingly a lot for Atlanta to decide before next season after a highly disappointing 2025. Among the topics: Are the recent improvements of and a sign that they've returned to form and will again be major contributors? Will keeping the catcher/DH duo of and in the lineup most nights produce enough results to become the most attractive option? Will any of their young pitchers in the Minors -- namely or -- make an impression with regard to the 2026 staff? We'll see. -- Jason Foster

Marlins: How will the pitching hold up?
While Miami continues to defy expectations, many of the pitchers continue to head toward uncharted territory. and are coming back from Tommy John surgery, while has an injury history and already has surpassed his career high for innings in a season. The same could be said for relievers like . Can the likes of , and return by season's end as reinforcements? -- Christina De Nicola

Mets: Will the rotation be good enough?
Rather than add to their flagging rotation at the Trade Deadline, the Mets chose to bring in a trio of relievers. Doubtless, those moves improved the team. But the Mets will be in trouble if starters like and continue to struggle, as they have throughout the second half. Perhaps top prospects and can help at some point. Either way, the Mets need this unit to be better. -- Anthony DiComo

Nationals: Will get back into his offensive rhythm?
Wood slugged 24 home runs and earned an All-Star selection with a dominant first half of the season. But the 22-year-old, who participated in the Home Run Derby, has not gotten back into a rhythm in the second half. In 16 games since the All-Star break, Wood is batting .131 and has yet to homer. His OPS has dropped from .915 in the first half to .396 in the second half with an increase in strikeouts. Wood is the driving force of the Nationals' offense, and he will look to regain his momentum before the offseason. -- Jessica Camerato

Phillies: Can the offense be more consistent?
A streaky lineup has been the Phillies’ undoing in each of the previous two postseasons, and Philadelphia is hoping that isn’t the case again this year. With arguably the best starting rotation in MLB and a bullpen improved by the acquisition of , the Phillies are set up for success if they can score enough runs. Thanks to , and Co., they’re usually able to do so, but they’re prone to cold spells, too. Will the Phils find a recipe for sustained, consistent success at the plate? -- Theo DeRosa

NL Central

Brewers: Can they continue to score without slug?
The Brewers lead the National League in runs per game and OPS since the start of June, but it’s happened with a mix of patience, contact and speed, and not with power. GM Matt Arnold considered acquiring a bat at the Deadline, but the choices were sparse beyond D-backs slugger , and the prices were astronomical. And besides, June acquisition has already given the Brewers a jolt. The last World Series winner to finish the regular season below league average in slugging percentage was the 2012 Giants. -- Adam McCalvy

Cardinals: How will the Cards balance “opportunity” with fielding the best team?
Sellers at the MLB Trade Deadline for a second time in three years, the Cardinals could shift their focus to playing time and at-bats for their young core over the season’s final two months. The issue, however, is that some of those decisions could run counter to the team trying to win as many games as possible. Manager Oliver Marmol said this week that will remain in the everyday lineup because he’s earned it with a second straight solid season. Also, will continue to get looks in left field to keep his bat in the lineup. As for and in the outfield and and at third base, they will be used on a rotation basis in the coming weeks. Should (right shoulder strain) return, it would only clog the rotation further. An argument certainly could be made that the players with more promise should be getting the reps, but Marmol doesn’t want to dole out playing time when others are offering significantly more production. -- John Denton

Cubs: Will the Cubs’ rotation hold up?
The North Siders did not land a frontline starter at the Trade Deadline, and the pitcher they did land as starting depth () lasted two innings in his Cubs debut and is now on the IL with a right shoulder strain. and have pitched well but are beyond their innings totals from ‘24, when they both dealt with injuries. Righties and are on the IL and aiming to return this month. If the Cubs want to catch the Brewers and last deep into October, they can ill afford any more setbacks with the starting group. -- Jordan Bastian

Pirates: Do the Pirates have a closer in the mix?
The Pirates dealt to the Yankees this Trade Deadline, and while they don’t have an established closer on the roster, they have some options. has done well in that role at times this year, has been a pleasant surprise, and certainly has the stuff for the role too (though he may stick as a multi-inning reliever). It’s a two-month tryout, and if the Pirates don’t find an answer internally, they’ll need to add a closer to their offseason shopping list. -- Alex Stumpf

Reds: Can the offense consistently power up down the stretch?
Pitching has kept Cincinnati in the NL Wild Card race, but the offense has been lacking big hits lately. The Reds’ .353 slugging percentage since the All-Star break ranks 29th in MLB. If guys like (whose .341 slugging percentage is 166 points lower than his 2023 output) and (one homer since June 23) can start flexing, it could fuel the Reds to their first playoff berth since 2020. -- Casey Drottar

NL West

D-backs: Who is going to be part of next year’s team?
A season that started with a club-record payroll and plans for the postseason has turned into a two-month look at who the Diamondbacks can count on being part of next year’s team. Some of the young players they got back in Trade Deadline deals, like reliever and first baseman , will get long looks, and at some point soon top prospect figures to get an extended run of playing time. While the Diamondbacks may not be in the hunt for the playoffs, the next couple of months could have a large say in what next year’s edition looks like. -- Steve Gilbert

Dodgers: Can put it together?
Now that seems to have figured things out following a prolonged difficult stretch, the Dodgers need the same from Betts, who’s on pace for the worst offensive season of his career. The Dodgers tried changing things up by putting Betts in the leadoff spot but have since bumped him back down to the two-hole. As long as Betts produces at a diminished level, the same will be true for L.A.’s lineup overall. -- Sarah Wexler

Giants: Will heat up at the plate?
The Giants lost six straight ahead of the Trade Deadline, prompting the front office to go into sell mode. But they then took two of three from the Mets thanks largely to Devers, who had to that point struggled since being acquired from Boston. He went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer in the series finale, eliciting hopes of an offensive resurgence. If it happens, and Devers ignites the rest of the lineup, the Giants might still have a shot at the postseason. -- Manny Randhawa

Padres: Will super bullpen's superpower be catching LA?
Any club would have been excited about acquiring flamethrower at the Deadline, but in the case of the Padres, it gives them a unique inside track on their quest to win their first division crown since 2006, bolstering what was already an enormous strength. They enter Thursday with the best bullpen ERA in the Majors (3.02) by a considerable margin, and they'll likely be leaned on heavily with starter (elbow) recently returned from injury and (shoulder) on his way back. -- Jesse Borek

Rockies: Who will debut?
How many prospects will get their first taste of Major League action? Infielder Kyle Karros (Rockies No. 8 prospect), who stood out at Double-A Hartford and has started strong at Triple-A Albuquerque; righty pitcher Gabriel Hughes (No. 15), at Albuquerque completing a closely monitored comeback after missing last season because of right elbow surgery; and lefty reliever Welinton Herrera (No. 21), who pitched in the All-Star Futures Game during his standout season at Hartford, are prime candidates. -- Thomas Harding