Major League Baseball features exactly 30 professional franchises split evenly between two historic bodies: the American League and the National League. Each league contains fifteen clubs organized into three regional divisions known as East, Central, and West. Knowing every roster requires tracking home cities, ballparks, and league alignments that have evolved over more than a century of professional sports history.
Finding a clean, unpadded directory of all thirty organizations helps fans track divisions, geographic locations, and official club names instantly. Below is the complete directory of every franchise, ordered alphabetically from the desert southwest to the Canadian border, along with the structural breakdown of how the sport divides its competition.
Complete Alphabetical List of MLB Teams
Scanning all thirty organizations from A to Z reveals the vast geographic footprint of professional baseball across North America. Every entry below represents a major league franchise complete with its home city and league alignment.
- Arizona Diamondbacks: Based in Phoenix, Arizona, playing in the National League West division.
- Atlanta Braves: Based in Atlanta, Georgia, competing in the National League East division.
- Baltimore Orioles: Based in Baltimore, Maryland, playing in the American League East division.
- Boston Red Sox: Based in Boston, Massachusetts, competing in the American League East division.
- Chicago Cubs: Based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the National League Central division.
- Chicago White Sox: Based in Chicago, Illinois, competing in the American League Central division.
- Cincinnati Reds: Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, playing in the National League Central division.
- Cleveland Guardians: Based in Cleveland, Ohio, competing in the American League Central division.
- Colorado Rockies: Based in Denver, Colorado, playing in the National League West division.
- Detroit Tigers: Based in Detroit, Michigan, competing in the American League Central division.
- Houston Astros: Based in Houston, Texas, playing in the American League West division.
- Kansas City Royals: Based in Kansas City, Missouri, competing in the American League Central division.
- Los Angeles Angels: Based in Anaheim, California, playing in the American League West division.
- Los Angeles Dodgers: Based in Los Angeles, California, competing in the National League West division.
- Miami Marlins: Based in Miami, Florida, playing in the National League East division.
- Milwaukee Brewers: Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, competing in the National League Central division.
- Minnesota Twins: Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, playing in the American League Central division.
- New York Mets: Based in Queens, New York, competing in the National League East division.
- New York Yankees: Based in Bronx, New York, playing in the American League East division.
- Athletics: Based in West Sacramento, California, competing in the American League West division.
- Philadelphia Phillies: Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, playing in the National League East division.
- Pittsburgh Pirates: Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, competing in the National League Central division.
- San Diego Padres: Based in San Diego, California, playing in the National League West division.
- San Francisco Giants: Based in San Francisco, California, competing in the National League West division.
- Seattle Mariners: Based in Seattle, Washington, playing in the American League West division.
- St. Louis Cardinals: Based in St. Louis, Missouri, competing in the National League Central division.
- Tampa Bay Rays: Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, playing in the American League East division.
- Texas Rangers: Based in Arlington, Texas, competing in the American League West division.
- Toronto Blue Jays: Based in Toronto, Ontario, playing in the American League East division.
- Washington Nationals: Based in Washington, District of Columbia, competing in the National League East division.
Reviewing official franchise portals directly on MLB provides deeper context regarding historic stadium addresses, ticket offices, and local broadcast partnerships.
American League Breakdown by Division
The American League houses fifteen franchises split evenly into five-team groupings. Travel schedules and rivalries heavily center around these geographic pods during the 162-game regular season schedule.
AL East
- Baltimore Orioles
- Boston Red Sox
- New York Yankees
- Tampa Bay Rays
- Toronto Blue Jays
AL Central
- Chicago White Sox
- Cleveland Guardians
- Detroit Tigers
- Kansas City Royals
- Minnesota Twins
AL West
- Athletics
- Houston Astros
- Los Angeles Angels
- Seattle Mariners
- Texas Rangers
National League Breakdown by Division
Mirroring the American League, the National League features fifteen clubs balancing competition across the eastern, central, and western sectors of the United States.
NL East
- Atlanta Braves
- Miami Marlins
- New York Mets
- Philadelphia Phillies
- Washington Nationals
NL Central
- Chicago Cubs
- Cincinnati Reds
- Milwaukee Brewers
- Pittsburgh Pirates
- St. Louis Cardinals
NL West
- Arizona Diamondbacks
- Colorado Rockies
- Los Angeles Dodgers
- San Diego Padres
- San Francisco Giants
Common Misconceptions About MLB Franchises
Fans new to baseball often run into specific points of confusion regarding team names, relocations, and league rules. Clearing these up prevents common conversational mistakes.
- Assuming equal division sizes historically: While each division currently holds five teams, this balanced setup only arrived in 2013 when the Houston Astros shifted from the National League Central to the American League West. Prior to that, divisions held uneven numbers of clubs.
- Confusing city names with stadium locations: Several franchises carry a state or regional name while playing in a distinct suburb. For example, the Texas Rangers play in Arlington, and the Los Angeles Angels play in Anaheim, rather than within the primary downtown core of those major metropolitan areas.
- Overlooking international representation: Major League Baseball is frequently viewed as strictly domestic, but the Toronto Blue Jays operate out of Ontario, Canada, making them a fully international franchise playing north of the border.
Track overarching sports governance updates and historical milestones directly through Britannica.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many total teams play in Major League Baseball?
There are thirty active franchises in Major League Baseball. Fifteen compete in the American League, and fifteen play in the National League.
Are all MLB teams based in the United States?
No. Twenty-nine teams are based in the United States, while one franchise—the Toronto Blue Jays—is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
How many games does each team play per season?
Every club plays a 162-game regular-season schedule running from late March or early April through late September or early October.
Which league uses the designated hitter rule?
Both leagues currently utilize the designated hitter rule, meaning pitchers generally do not bat for themselves during regular season or postseason games.
