In baseball, every team has its share of loyal fans, but some teams? They just bring out the hater in people. Whether it’s because of a bloated payroll, constant media coverage, or a history of rubbing opponents the wrong way, there are clubs that fans love to root against.
This list isn’t about who’s the worst or who’s the best. It’s about who attracts the most schadenfreude. From mild indifference to full-on “I hope they lose every night,” here’s how every MLB team stacks up when it comes to people rooting for their downfall.
30. Kansas City Royals
Nobody really gets fired up to root against the Royals. They’re the harmless underdog of the American League, and most folks barely remember they won it all in 2015.
29. Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers don’t offend anyone. They’re just out there doing their thing, usually good-but-not-great, and rarely causing a stir.
28. Seattle Mariners
People want the Mariners to succeed, not fail. A team that’s been playoff-starved for decades just doesn’t inspire much hate.
27. Minnesota Twins
The Twins have been around forever and mostly keep to themselves in the AL Central. They’re not hated, just… politely ignored.
26. Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles are finally fun again after years of irrelevance. Most fans are enjoying the resurgence more than hoping for a crash.
25. Cincinnati Reds
There’s a lot of nostalgia and respect for the Reds. They’re more of a lovable mess than a villain.
24. Arizona Diamondbacks
The Diamondbacks kind of sneak around in the background. Even when they’re good, they don’t draw too much national attention or venom.
23. Detroit Tigers
There’s some residual respect from their glory days, and now that they’re doing well? People actually respect it. Nobody’s circling Detroit on their “root against” calendar — yet.
22. Cleveland Guardians
Name change discourse aside, the Guardians are mostly off the national radar. They’re competitive, but not hated.
21. Washington Nationals
They had their moment in 2019, but the vibes have settled back to neutral. No one’s actively rooting against the Nats at this point.
20. Tampa Bay Rays
Some folks are annoyed by the analytics-over-everything approach. But let’s be honest—most fans are just confused that they win with 12 people in the stands.
19. Pittsburgh Pirates
Even when they’re bad, people root for their potential, not their demise. That said, their ownership decisions can definitely spark frustration.
18. Chicago White Sox
White Sox fans are passionate, but the team’s dysfunction makes them hard to hate—they do a good enough job collapsing on their own.
17. Toronto Blue Jays
The Jays have a cocky young core that rubs some the wrong way. Combine that with loud fans online, and you’ve got a low-key villain brewing.
16. Colorado Rockies
It’s more pity than malice here, but some people genuinely root for chaos when it comes to this front office. Especially when they let star players walk for peanuts.
15. St. Louis Cardinals
Baseball’s self-proclaimed moral compass can come off smug. When they struggle, plenty of folks secretly enjoy it.
14. Oakland Athletics
Normally, they’d be low on this list, but the owner’s Vegas move and the franchise’s sad state have fans rooting for something to collapse, just maybe not the team itself.
13. Miami Marlins
The Marlins are easy to ignore most years, but their fire-sale reputation keeps people wary. It’s hard to root for a franchise that trades stars like it’s a hobby.
12. Texas Rangers
Winning the World Series gave them new haters. Add in some flashy contracts and a chip-on-the-shoulder vibe, and you’ve got a team people want to knock off now.
11. Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are loud, dramatic, and full of personality—and not everyone’s a fan. If you don’t love them, you probably really want to see them lose.
10. San Diego Padres
Big payroll, big personalities, and no playoff results to match. It’s the perfect storm for people to root for a letdown.
9. Boston Red Sox
Even when they’re down, people enjoy their misery. The “we’re still cursed” act doesn’t work after four titles in two decades.
8. Houston Astros
The sign-stealing scandal made them public enemy No. 1 for years. Even now, every loss still feels like cosmic justice to a lot of fans.
7. Chicago Cubs
The loveable loser title expired in 2016. Since then, their fanbase’s smugness and media attention have made them a target.
6. Atlanta Braves
They win a lot and let everyone know it. The cocky energy, online fanbase, and constant success make them easy to root against if you’re not on the bandwagon.
5. San Francisco Giants
The even-year dynasty was fun—until it wasn’t. There’s something about the Giants’ aura that makes people outside the Bay Area hope for stumbles.
4. New York Mets
The Mets are chaos magnets, and everyone has an opinion. For some, it’s like watching a soap opera—you root for disaster because it’s more entertaining.
3. Los Angeles Angels
People aren’t rooting against the Angels as much as they are rooting for poetic collapse. With all that talent wasted, it feels like watching a slow-motion car crash.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Fun MLB Teams to Root For
2. New York Yankees
The Evil Empire. No team in baseball inspires more joy in losing than the Yankees—unless you’re from the Bronx.
Read More: Ranking the 15 Most Frustrating MLB Teams to Root For
1. Los Angeles Dodgers
The Yankees may be the historical villains, but lately it’s the Dodgers who take the crown. The payroll, the expectations, the rings —people love watching L.A. fall short.
