The Boys Of Summer Return Get Ready for 2025
At 12:05 p.m. PT on February 20th, the Chicago Cubs and the Los Angeles Dodgers kicked off intersquad play for spring training 2025. The regular season starts just over 4 weeks later with another Cubs-Dodgers showdown in Japan, a week later, 26 of the 28 major league teams chase one common goal—a World Series Crown. Who are the favorites this year? What teams have made the most offseason moves to be more competitive? Let’s take a look.
The Rich Get Richer…
Last year’s World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers chose not to sit on their laurels, but took the best team in Major League Baseball and appears to have made it better. In fact, a panel of baseball experts polled by USA Today tabbed the Dodgers to be the only team in 2025 to win 100 games. The New York Yankees, after dropping the fall classic and losing one of their biggest stars, made a number of moves in the offseason and should win more than 90 games this year.
The Predictions—Division by Division
Here’s what the oddsmakers think as the 2025 season gets underway:
- National League West—The Dodgers are considered a shoo-in to repeat as NL West regular season champions, but the Arizona Diamondbacks and San Diego Padres are expected to compete for a wild car.
- National League Central—Last year’s NL Central champions, the Milwaukee Brewers, are pinning their fortunes on the return of ace Brandon Woodruff after shoulder surgery. Expect them to compete, but probably fall short of the Chicago Cubs, who brought in slugger Kyle Tucker on a one-year contract.
- National League East—The Mets brought Juan Soto across town with a $765 million deal, but it likely won’t be enough to get them past the Phillies. It’s a close race, though, and the Atlanta Braves could be in the mix.
- American League West—Look for a good old-fashioned Texas shootout, as the Rangers and the Houston Astros battle it out for the AL West title. The Seattle Mariners are in the hunt as well and any of the three could easily earn a wild card.
- American League Central—Look for the Detroit Tigers to build on a strong September in 2024, with the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians both poised to fight for the AL Central title.
- American League East—The Yankees are still the cream of the AL East crop and should take home the title. The Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays are expected to vie for a wild card slot.
