The 2026 World Series matchup between the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers has reignited debate over how teams succeed without top-tier payrolls. While critics often label these organizations as outliers, recent history suggests their success is not an anomaly. Since 2010, 19 of the 30 Major League Baseball teams have reached the championship round. In comparison, only 18 of the 32 National Football League teams have made the Super Bowl during that same period, despite the NFL having a salary cap. This disparity raises questions about how MLB teams consistently perform well with limited player budgets.
A primary factor appears to be investment in analytics departments. Several baseball fans on X have noted that the Brewers, Rays, and Los Angeles Dodgers maintain some of the largest analytics staffs in the league. One analysis found a significant relationship between having a larger analytics staff and winning more games. This stands in contrast to televised baseball discourse, which often argues that analytics are ruining the sport. Instead, the data suggests that larger departments correlate with better team performance.
The term "analytics" covers a broad range of research beyond simple statistics. These departments study bat paths, angles of attack, pitch shapes, exit velocities, and barrel rates. They also analyze hitter performance against different pitch types and reliever arm slots. This detailed information helps teams optimize game planning and pitch sequencing to attack opposing lineups. These marginal advantages accumulate over time, leading to better scouting for trades and free agency. The focus shifts from whether a player has good stats to whether they fit a specific roster need.
This approach extends to amateur scouting, where the Dodgers, Rays, and Brewers excel. These organizations frequently dominate the international market, a strategy that is paying dividends on their current and future rosters. Junior Caminero has emerged as a star for Tampa at age 22 or 23. Jackson Chourio has hit more home runs in the postseason than any other player under age 23 in MLB history. Andy Pages led the Dodgers in offensive value this season, measured by Fangraphs wins above replacement.
Many teams skimp on international scouting, where spending slightly more could dramatically improve their talent acquisition. The success of the Brewers and Rays demonstrates that smaller organizations can also invest in this area effectively. Conversely, the three teams with the smallest analytics departments are the Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels, and Athletics. Their recent performance highlights the difficulty of competing without these resources. While there is no perfect correlation between staff size and wins, the success of these three teams is difficult to ignore. For smaller markets, falling behind in analytics makes winning harder than it needs to be, a responsibility that lies with ownership rather than market size.