2025 MLB Season Preview

 I didn’t do this last year, but here’s a quick take on this year’s season:

 

American League

 

East

 

Boston Red Sox

            Ok, I’m on the bandwagon like a lot of people, I think they did a lot to upgrade this offseason.

Baltimore Orioles

            Still love their young offense, but they need some more starting pitching to win the division.

Toronto Blue Jays

            Perhaps a reach, but I think Bichette has a big bounce-back year, Vlad has a huge contract year, and they get enough pitching to finish around 85 wins.

New York Yankees

            Massive question marks in their rotation, and I do not believe in Bellinger backing up Judge (who will probably get hurt this year).

Tampa Bay Rays

            Not a lot to like this year, though there rarely ever is and they still are usually successful.  This is the best division in baseball and someone has to finish last.

 

Central

 

Minnesota Twins

            I keep believing in this team, and they keep underperforming.  One of these years they will actually play up to potential.  Maybe this year?  (So I actually wrote that in 2023 and just decided the sentiment still applies.

Kansas City Royals

            Ok, the offense has a lot of questions after Witt and maybe Pasquantino, but that pitching is for real.

Cleveland team

            I will never believe in this team, outside of Jose Ramirez.

Detroit Tigers

            A good team, but they got lucky/hot at the right time last season and that won’t happen again.  Still, they should battle for a playoff spot.

Chicago White Sox

            LOL

 

West

 

Oakland…I mean Sacramento? Athletics

            They are one of those teams that are becoming a hot sleeper pick, and I’m on board.  I think that offense will be massive in a AAA ballpark, and they’ll have just enough pitching to get past the rest.

Seattle Mariners

            The opposite of the A’s, excellent pitching and ZERO offense.

Texas Rangers

            I really missed on their World Series win two years ago, and I’m down on them again because of the number of injuries they tend to have.

Houston Astros

            The dynasty is over.  My Astros should have good pitching, but they will struggle to score runs unless Cam Smith is the real deal and McCormick/Meyers have big bounce-back seasons.

Los Angeles Angels

            They should lose 100 for the first time in franchise history.

 

National League

 

East

 

Atlanta Braves

They have to be better than last year, but I am concerned with Acuna coming back from a second knee injury.

Philadelphia Phillies

            I’ve seen a lot of people picking them as the second-best team in baseball and even winning the World Series, but I don’t see it.  They’re good, strong, but also aging quickly.

New York Mets

            Yes, they “won” the offseason with Soto, but I don’t think they have a well-rounded team.

Washington Nationals

            A young, up-and-coming team who could threaten in the next couple of years.

Miami Marlins

            I’m not exactly the first to say they have a chance to be worse than the White Sox last year.  They need to move or fold.

 

Central

 

Milwaukee Brewers

            Plug-and-play team at its best.  I love the young guns and, while the pitching isn’t as strong in past seasons, it’s still good enough to win the division.

Pittsburgh Pirates

            Yep, I am much higher on them then most people, and this is a bit of wishful thinking, but that rotation is so good (the best in baseball?) and they have to add a bat at some point.  Watch out for Skenes/Jones/Keller if they make the playoffs.

Chicago Cubs

            I will never pick them to be successful, even if they did steal half the Astros.

Cincinnati Reds

            They have a good amount of “talent,” but they’re not as good as a lot of people think.  Elly de la Cruz is incredibly overrated.

St. Louis Cardinals

            Blow it up.  They’re bad.

 

West

 

Los Angeles Dodgers

            Booooooooo

Arizona Diamondbacks

            Please make a push to knock LA off.

San Diego Padres

            Too much turmoil in the front office to really push for the division.

San Francisco Giants

            I love Verlander, but I think he’s done, and I’m just not that thrilled with them.

Colorado Rockies

            What a joke of a team. (Again, a copy from 2023)

 

Playoffs:

 

AL:

            Red Sox

            Twins

            Athletics

            Orioles

            Mariners

            Royals

 

NL:

            Braves

            Brewers

            Dodgers

            Phillies

            Diamondbacks

            Pirates

 

World Series: Red Sox over Brewers

            I don’t really know, maybe the Brewers will actually have a successful postseason?

 

AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr.

AL Cy Young: Cole Ragans

AL ROY: Cam Smith

 

NL MVP: Ketel Marte

NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes

NL ROY: Dylan Crews (I’ll just follow everyone else)