The 2015 Major League Baseball regular season finished with the St. Louis Cardinals claiming the best record at 100-62, while the Kansas City Royals finished at 95-67 on their path to winning the World Series. This campaign featured tight division races, unexpected surges by young rosters, and sharp collapses from traditional contenders.
Examining the final 2015 MLB standings reveals how aggressive trades, elite bullpen construction, and farm system pipelines shaped the playoff picture. Teams like the Chicago Cubs and Houston Astros ended long playoff droughts, while high-spending clubs fell short of expectations.
American League Standings Breakdown
The American League featured distinct tiers, from dominant division champions to wild-card battles that went down to the final weekend.
AL East Race and the Blue Jays Surge
The Toronto Blue Jays captured the AL East title with a 93-69 record, fueled by a July trade deadline acquisition spree that brought David Price and Troy Tulowitzki to town. The New York Yankees secured the top Wild Card spot at 87-75, relying on a powerful bullpen and late-inning anchors. Further journalism by Bloomberg delves into comparable perspectives on this issue.
- Toronto Blue Jays: 93-69 (Division Winner)
- New York Yankees: 87-75 (Wild Card)
- Baltimore Orioles: 81-81
- Tampa Bay Rays: 80-82
- Boston Red Sox: 78-84
The Boston Red Sox struggled out of the gate and finished last in the division, prompting a front-office overhaul. Meanwhile, the Orioles played precisely .500 ball, unable to sustain their magic from previous years.
AL Central Dominance by Kansas City
The Kansas City Royals topped the division at 95-67, building on their momentum from the previous year's World Series appearance. Their relentless contact-hitting style and elite shutdown bullpen overwhelmed opponents from April through September.
- Kansas City Royals: 95-67 (Division Winner)
- Minnesota Twins: 83-79
- Cleveland Indians: 81-80
- Chicago White Sox: 76-86
- Detroit Tigers: 74-87
The Minnesota Twins surprised analysts by staying above water with an 83-79 mark. The Detroit Tigers suffered a major collapse, trading away veterans like David Price and Yoenis Céspedes midway through the summer and tumbling into the cellar.
AL West Chaos and the Astros Return
The Texas Rangers pulled off a stunning second-half comeback to win the AL West at 88-74, overtaking the Houston Astros, who earned a Wild Card berth at 86-76 in their first season in the American League West postseason picture.
- Texas Rangers: 88-74 (Division Winner)
- Houston Astros: 86-76 (Wild Card)
- Los Angeles Angels: 85-77
- Seattle Mariners: 76-86
- Athletics: 68-94
The Angels wasted another historic MVP season from Mike Trout, finishing one game short of a playoff spot. The Oakland Athletics experienced a severe regression, falling to 68 wins after dismantling their roster in the offseason.
National League Standings Breakdown
The National League featured the three best records in baseball residing entirely in the Central division, creating an intense postseason logjam.
NL East Leadership and the Mets Crown
The New York Mets claimed the division title at 90-72, powered by a young, fearsome starting rotation featuring Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, and Noah Syndergaard.
- New York Mets: 90-72 (Division Winner)
- Washington Nationals: 83-79
- Miami Marlins: 71-91
- Atlanta Braves: 67-95
- Philadelphia Phillies: 63-99
The Washington Nationals entered the year as World Series favorites but dealt with internal friction and underperformance, finishing seven games back. The Phillies accelerated their rebuilding phase by trading away legacy players, finishing with the worst record in the league. You can check historical box scores on Baseball Reference.
The NL Central Bloodbath
The NL Central housed the best trio of teams in the sport. The St. Louis Cardinals won 100 games, yet faced relentless pressure from the Pittsburgh Pirates (98 wins) and Chicago Cubs (97 wins).
- St. Louis Cardinals: 100-62 (Division Winner)
- Pittsburgh Pirates: 98-64 (Wild Card)
- Chicago Cubs: 97-65 (Wild Card)
- Milwaukee Brewers: 68-94
- Cincinnati Reds: 64-98
Because of the playoff format, the Pirates and Cubs had to square off in the Wild Card game, meaning a 98-win team went home immediately after one game. The Cubs rode stellar pitching from Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta to advance.
NL West Stability with the Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers captured their third consecutive division crown with a 92-70 record, relying on Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke anchoring the starting rotation.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: 92-70 (Division Winner)
- San Francisco Giants: 84-78
- Arizona Diamondbacks: 79-83
- San Diego Padres: 74-88
- Colorado Rockies: 68-94
The San Francisco Giants stayed in the race through the summer before fading in September. San Diego's high-profile offseason acquisitions failed to gel, resulting in another sub-.500 finish.
Postseason Picture and World Series Results
The regular season standings dictated a dramatic playoff bracket overseen by Major League Baseball.
In the American League, the Kansas City Royals navigated past the Houston Astros and Toronto Blue Jays to reach the Fall Classic. In the National League, the New York Mets swept the Chicago Cubs in the NLCS behind dominant pitching and clutch hitting from Daniel Murphy.
The World Series pitted the Royals against the Mets. Kansas City's relentless bullpen pressure and knack for late-game comebacks carried them to a 4-1 series victory, securing their first championship in thirty years. Detailed postseason recaps are archived on MLB History.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which team had the best record in the 2015 regular season?
The St. Louis Cardinals finished with the best record in Major League Baseball, going 100-62 to capture the NL Central title.
Who won the 2015 World Series?
The Kansas City Royals defeated the New York Mets four games to one to win the championship, bouncing back from their loss in the previous year's Fall Classic.
Which teams made the postseason as Wild Cards?
In the American League, the New York Yankees and Houston Astros earned the Wild Card spots. In the National League, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs secured the Wild Card berths.
How many teams won 90 or more games in 2015?
Six teams reached or exceeded the 90-win threshold: the Cardinals (100), Pirates (98), Cubs (97), Royals (95), Blue Jays (93), and Dodgers (92).
