It goes without saying that all 12 MLB fanbases whose teams reach the postseason badly want to see a World Series victory. The energy of October baseball is contagious, and once you get a taste of it, you want as much as possible.

There are certain fanbases that are more desperate than others, though. There are regions of the country where pro sports are more a part of the fabric of the community than others. Additionally, the window for certain teams is closer to shutting than it is for others, increasing the urgency in 2024.

So here's a ranking of the desperation of all 12 postseason fanbases in ascending order.

12. Atlanta Braves

The Braves won the World Series in 2021, but after consecutive early playoff exits at the hands of the NL-East rival Phillies, there's no doubt that their fans would like to see a deep postseason run.

At the same time, Chris Sale's back kept him from being on the NLDS roster. Ronald Acuña Jr., Spencer Strider and Austin Riley have been lost for the season. It took the Braves until the literal last game of the MLB regular season to even clinch their playoff spot.

There has to be some contingent of the Braves fanbase that knows it's a minor miracle manager Brian Snitker's team even made the playoffs given all the injuries they had to overcome in 2024. If they catch fire and make a run, that's great. But it shouldn't be expected.

11. Detroit Tigers

The Tigers haven't won a World Series since 1984, so there's no doubt that a great sports city like Detroit is desperate for a title.

At the same time, the Tigers sold at the trade deadline, moving veterans like Jack Flaherty and Mark Canha. It's taken an improbable run over the final six weeks of the season to even reach the playoffs. In doing so, the Tigers also snapped an eight-year postseason drought, which was tied with the Los Angeles Angels for the longest such ongoing stretch in the sport.

Again, it's not that Detroit fans don't badly want to see the Tigers hoist the World Series trophy. But it does feel like whatever happens in the postseason is icing on the cake to a regular season that will always be remembered fondly in Michigan. And the No. 1 focus in Detroit is on the Lions getting to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history.

10. Houston Astros

There is an element of trying to get greedy here that kept the Astros from being last on this list. Jose Altuve is 34, while Alex Bregman and Justin Verlander (who has looked the part of a 41-year-old) can become free agents after this season. This may be the last chance for this group to win a third title together, cementing the greatest era in team history as a dynasty.

But if the Astros don't win a World Series, life will go on. Since the start of the 2017 season, the Astros have played in the postseason every year, making seven consecutive ALCS appearances, winning four AL pennants and taking home a pair of World Series titles.

Would another World Series be nice? Absolutely. Are Houston fans as starved as some of the other fanbases on this list? Nope.

9. Milwaukee Brewers

On one hand, the Brewers have never won a World Series. The only time Milwaukee reached the Fall Classic was in 1982 when they were still in the American League. Without a doubt, there's hunger for the first title in the history of the team.

On the other hand, the Brewers have massively outperformed Spring Training expectations, which is why Pat Murphy is going to win NL Manager of the Year. Willy Adames may depart in free agency, but former NL MVP Christian Yelich and two-time All-Star Brandon Woodruff will be back next year from injuries that ended their 2024 seasons. Jackson Chourio is still only 20 years old. There's a real chance the Brewers will be even better in 2025 than they are in 2024.

So while the Brewers would love to leave the five-team club of teams without World Series titles—along with the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, Colorado Rockies and Tampa Bay Rays—their window isn't going to shut if they don't do it in 2024.

8. Baltimore Orioles

Is there a stadium that looks better for October baseball? Camden Yards is one of the most beautiful stadiums in baseball, but it feels a little extra special when the stadium is juiced and everyone is wearing orange in the fall.

The Orioles are in a weird place, because it's entirely possible they lose ace Corbin Burnes and/or slugger Anthony Santander in free agency this winter. From that sense, the 2024 Orioles may be set up better to win a title than the 2025 iteration of the team will be.

But Orioles fans are aware of the shortcomings in the bullpen. They know that the starting pitching depth behind Burnes probably isn't good enough to win a title this season. And above all else, with Gunnar Henderson, Adley Rutschman, Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser, the O's are set up to be competitive for at least the next five years, even if they lose some key pieces this offseason.

Fans in Baltimore would obviously love to see the Orioles win their first World Series since 1983, but unlike some other fanbases, there's not going to be the same urgency that it has to come this year.

7. Kansas City Royals

There was desperation in Kansas City for the Royals to get back to the postseason for the first time since 2015, and they've accomplished that.

This may be the best chance for franchise icon Salvador Perez to win his second World Series title, and it's unclear how much longer Seth Lugo—who will turn 35 in November—will be able to continue pitching at this level.

Still, Bobby Witt Jr. is only 24 years old and signed through at least 2030. Ace Cole Ragans won't become arbitration-eligible until 2026. President of baseball operations J.J. Picollo has shown an ability to spot talent, so it's unlikely it will be very long before the next playoff appearance in Kansas City.

6. New York Mets

There's desperation in New York in the sense that the Mets have a very passionate fanbase and haven't won a title since 1986. The Mets also have been one of the best teams in baseball since starting 24-33, so it wouldn't be delusional for their fans to dream of a World Series title.

However, this wasn't supposed to be the year the Mets became World Series contenders. It's been a lost season for Kodai Senga. Pete Alonso will be a free agent this offseason, but president of baseball operations David Stearns will certainly have the financial blessing of owner Steve Cohen to re-sign him—if he doesn't choose to spend on Juan Soto and/or Corbin Burnes.

Like many of the other teams below them on the list, the Mets might actually be better in 2025 than 2024, which reduces the desperation to win this year—at least by a little bit.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers did win a title as recently as 2020. But while they competed under the same rules as everyone else, there will always be some who put an asterisk next to that title because it came during the pandemic-shortened season.

Los Angeles also didn't have Shohei Ohtani or Freddie Freeman during their last title. It's unclear how long those two and Mookie Betts will continue to be at the height of their respective powers. We don't know if Teoscar Hernández will re-sign in the offseason.

Still, the Dodgers have a shocking lack of certainty in their starting rotation for a team that won 98 games during the regular season. There's desperation from the fanbase to win a title again, which may mean manager Dave Roberts is on the hot seat if the Dodgers have an early postseason exit, while also forcing president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman to reconsider how he constructs the pitching staff.

4. Cleveland Guardians

Eight years after Cleveland lost Game 7 of the World Series at home to the Chicago Cubs, the franchise now known as the Guardians is still looking for their first title since the 1948 season. This year may provide them with the best opportunity since.

Granted, there are some shortcomings in first-year skipper Stephen Vogt's starting rotation. But he has one of the best bullpens in modern history, with Cade Smith, Emmanuel Clase and Hunter Gaddis all among the top eight in terms of WAR among AL relievers, along with Tim Herrin, who has an ERA under 2.00 himself.

Offensively, the Guardians have enough to potentially emerge from a wide-open AL, particularly if the recently-activated Steven Kwan recaptures his All-Star form. José Ramírez is one of this era's best players, while Josh Naylor and David Fry each have had career years in 2024.

Progressive Field is one of the most underrated stadiums in sports, and Cleveland is a great sports town. They are a fanbase that deserves a championship.

3. San Diego Padres

While they couldn't quite catch the Dodgers, the Padres were baseball's best team in the second half of the season and might be better set up to make a deep October run than their division rivals.

Even without Ha-Seong Kim, this lineup is loaded with Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Jurickson Profar and Luis Arráez. Robert Suarez has struggled since making the All-Star team, but if he gets back on track, the Padres will have an elite bullpen trio with him, Jason Adam and Tanner Scott. Plus, Dylan Cease, Joe Musgrove, Michael King and Yu Darvish should be a pretty strong playoff rotation.

The Padres have never won a World Series. To win the first title in the season dedicated to late owner Peter Seidler would be particularly special.

2. New York Yankees

Not only have the Yankees not won a World Series since 2009, but they haven't been back to the Fall Classic since winning their 27th title, a lifetime for the fanbase most accustomed to winning in North American sports.

The Yankees may be top-heavy, but their top three players may all be future Hall of Famers. And there's no guarantee that this trio will remain intact beyond this year.

Aaron Judge: He's signed through 2031, so he's not going anywhere. But Judge is going to win his second AL MVP in three years, a continuation of one of the greatest power stretches in MLB history. The 32-year-old is healthy now and hitting home runs at a historic clip.

Juan Soto: In his first year in pinstripes, Soto is going to post a top-five finish in AL MVP voting. It would seem hard to imagine the Yankees not re-signing Soto in the offseason, but the crosstown rival Mets are among the clubs who will try to woo away the four-time All-Star in free agency.

Gerrit Cole: The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner had a strong finish to the season after right elbow inflammation sidelined him until mid-June. But the 34-year-old can opt out of his contract this winter and become a free agent if the Yankees don't agree to add a 10th year onto his nine-year, $324 million deal.

1. Philadelphia Phillies

As you may have heard, Philadelphia is a very passionate sports town. When you add in the fact that the Phillies collapsed in the NLCS a year ago after losing in the World Series in 2022, this is the most desperate fanbase for a title currently.

Another reason Phillies fans are desperate to win this year is the recognition that the window might be closing on this current core. Zack Wheeler is 34. J.T. Realmuto is 33. Nick Castellanos and Matt Strahm are 32. Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Aaron Nola and Jeff Hoffman are 31. The Phillies aren't going to have a better opportunity to win than right now.

It's difficult to make three consecutive deep playoff runs, but the Phillies are set up well to do so. The fans that will pack Citizens Bank Park will be disappointed by anything short of a parade in 2024.