How Many Baseball Teams Are in MLB? Full 2025 Breakdown

By Sarah Miller · July 3, 2027

There are 30 teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), split evenly between the National League and American League, with each league consisting of 15 teams organized into three divisions: East, Central, and West.

Overview of MLB Team Structure

Major League Baseball (MLB) is the premier professional baseball league in North America and one of the most popular sports leagues globally. As of 2025, MLB consists of 30 franchises—15 in the National League (NL) and 15 in the American League (AL). This balanced structure has been in place since the addition of the Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins (now Miami Marlins) in 1993 and 1998, respectively.

Key Features of MLB's Team Organization

Each league is divided into three geographic divisions: East, Central, and West.
Teams compete within their division and league during the regular season.
The structure supports balanced scheduling and playoff qualification paths.
Expansion beyond 30 teams is under discussion but not currently planned.

National League vs. American League Teams

The two leagues operate under slightly different rules, most notably the use of the Designated Hitter (DH). Since 2022, both leagues use the DH rule, eliminating a historic distinction. However, team identities and traditions remain rooted in their respective leagues.

National League Teams

Atlanta Braves
Miami Marlins
New York Mets
Philadelphia Phillies
Washington Nationals
Chicago Cubs
Cincinnati Reds
Milwaukee Brewers
Pittsburgh Pirates
St. Louis Cardinals
Arizona Diamondbacks
Colorado Rockies
Los Angeles Dodgers
San Diego Padres
San Francisco Giants

American League Teams

Baltimore Orioles
Boston Red Sox
New York Yankees
Tampa Bay Rays
Toronto Blue Jays
Chicago White Sox
Cleveland Guardians
Detroit Tigers
Kansas City Royals
Minnesota Twins
Houston Astros
Los Angeles Angels
Oakland Athletics
Seattle Mariners
Texas Rangers

MLB Expansion History and Future Possibilities

MLB has undergone several expansion phases since its inception. The league began with fewer teams and gradually expanded to accommodate growing interest and market opportunities across the United States and Canada.

Historical Expansion Milestones

1961: Los Angeles Angels and Washington Senators (first expansion)
1962: Houston Colt .45s (later Astros) and New York Mets
1969: Four new teams added—Montreal Expos, San Diego Padres, Kansas City Royals, Seattle Pilots (became Milwaukee Brewers)
1977: Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners
1993: Colorado Rockies and Florida Marlins
1998: Tampa Bay Devil Rays (now Rays) and Arizona Diamondbacks

Potential for Future Expansion

While no official expansion is scheduled, cities like Nashville, Portland, and Monterrey have been mentioned as possible candidates. Discussions about adding two additional teams to reach 32 have gained traction, particularly to improve competitive balance and global outreach.

League	Division	Team Name	Founded	City	State/Province	Championships (as of 2024)
National League	East	Atlanta Braves	1871	Atlanta	Georgia	4
National League	East	Miami Marlins	1993	Miami	Florida	2
National League	East	New York Mets	1962	New York	New York	2
National League	East	Philadelphia Phillies	1883	Philadelphia	Pennsylvania	2
National League	East	Washington Nationals	1969	Washington	District of Columbia	1
National League	Central	Chicago Cubs	1870	Chicago	Illinois	3
National League	Central	Cincinnati Reds	1882	Cincinnati	Ohio	5
National League	Central	Milwaukee Brewers	1969	Milwaukee	Wisconsin	0
National League	Central	Pittsburgh Pirates	1882	Pittsburgh	Pennsylvania	5
National League	Central	St. Louis Cardinals	1882	St. Louis	Missouri	11
National League	West	Arizona Diamondbacks	1998	Phoenix	Arizona	1
National League	West	Colorado Rockies	1993	Denver	Colorado	0
National League	West	Los Angeles Dodgers	1883	Los Angeles	California	7
National League	West	San Diego Padres	1969	San Diego	California	0
National League	West	San Francisco Giants	1883	San Francisco	California	8
American League	East	Baltimore Orioles	1901	Baltimore	Maryland	3
American League	East	Boston Red Sox	1901	Boston	Massachusetts	9
American League	East	New York Yankees	1901	New York	New York	27
American League	East	Tampa Bay Rays	1998	St. Petersburg	Florida	0
American League	East	Toronto Blue Jays	1977	Toronto	Ontario	2
American League	Central	Chicago White Sox	1901	Chicago	Illinois	3
American League	Central	Cleveland Guardians	1901	Cleveland	Ohio	2
American League	Central	Detroit Tigers	1901	Detroit	Michigan	4
American League	Central	Kansas City Royals	1969	Kansas City	Missouri	2
American League	Central	Minnesota Twins	1901	Minneapolis	Minnesota	3
American League	West	Houston Astros	1962	Houston	Texas	2
American League	West	Los Angeles Angels	1961	Anaheim	California	1
American League	West	Oakland Athletics	1901	Oakland	California	9
American League	West	Seattle Mariners	1977	Seattle	Washington	0
American League	West	Texas Rangers	1961	Arlington	Texas	1

Table data source:1, 2

The table illustrates the full roster of MLB teams as of 2025, including founding years, locations, and World Series titles. Notably, the New York Yankees lead all franchises with 27 championships, while several teams, including the Seattle Mariners and Milwaukee Brewers, have yet to win a title. The distribution highlights regional representation and historical continuity across decades of professional baseball.

About MLB Team Relocations and Rebranding

Over time, some teams have relocated or rebranded to reflect new markets or ownership visions. Examples include the Montreal Expos moving to Washington D.C. in 2005 to become the Nationals, and the Seattle Pilots' brief tenure before becoming the Milwaukee Brewers in 1970. These shifts reflect demographic changes and economic factors influencing franchise sustainability.

Geographic Distribution of MLB Teams

MLB teams are primarily located in major U.S. metropolitan areas, with one team based in Canada—the Toronto Blue Jays. The concentration of teams in populous states like California (5 teams) and Florida (3 teams) reflects fan base size and media market potential. Expansion discussions often focus on underserved regions such as the Pacific Northwest and Mexico.

Frequently Asked Questions About How Many Baseball Teams

How many baseball teams are in Major League Baseball?

As of 2025, there are 30 teams in Major League Baseball (MLB), equally divided between the American League and National League, with 15 teams in each league.

Are there any plans to expand MLB to more than 30 teams?

While no official expansion has been announced, MLB has expressed interest in potentially adding two more teams in the future, possibly bringing the total to 32. Cities like Nashville, Portland, and Monterrey are frequently mentioned as potential hosts.

Which league has more teams, the American League or National League?

Both leagues have an equal number of teams—15 each—as of 2025. This balance was achieved after the Houston Astros moved from the NL to the AL in 2013.

How many teams make the playoffs in MLB?

Under the current format, 12 MLB teams qualify for the postseason—six from each league. This includes the three division winners and three wild card teams per league.

Why does MLB have an uneven number of teams per division?

Each division has five teams, making the structure balanced across all six divisions (three per league). This ensures fair scheduling and competitive integrity. The alignment has remained stable since the Astros' move to the AL West in 2013.

Which MLB team has won the most World Series titles?

The New York Yankees have won the most World Series championships in MLB history with 27 titles, the last of which came in 2009.

How many MLB teams are located outside the United States?

There is one MLB team located outside the United States: the Toronto Blue Jays, based in Ontario, Canada. They are the only non-U.S.-based franchise in the league.