A Casual Fan’s Guide to 2025 MLB Season

The crack of the bat, the smell of hot dogs, and the roar of the crowd. Yes, once again baseball has crept up on us. While we are all focused on March Madness, the 2025 Major League Baseball season is set to kick off, promising another year filled with drama, excitement, and unforgettable moments. Even if you’re not a die-hard fan glued to every game, there’s plenty to look forward to. I would say I am a very casual baseball fan. I try my best to cheer for the Toronto Blue Jays, and I know who is good, but after that, I am lost. That’s why this preview is designed for the casual fan, giving you the key storylines, teams to watch, and players to know as we head into the season. Oh, and I make some very uneducated predictions. Let’s go.

TL;DR:

Division Winners: Red Sox, Tigers, Rangers (AL) | Mets, Cubs, Dodgers (NL)
Wild Cards: Mariners, Orioles, Astros (AL) | Diamondbacks, Braves, Brewers (NL)
World Series Pick: Braves vs. Red Sox – Braves win it all.

Expect chaos, heartbreak, and way too many games.

Division Predictions

American League East

1. Boston Red Sox: A balanced roster of veterans and young talent makes the Red Sox AL East contenders. Acquisitions like Alex Bregman, Walker Buehler, and Aroldis Chapman strengthen the team. Garrett Crochet leads a revamped pitching staff, while an offense featuring prospects like Roman Anthony offers explosive potential. A key to success will be their bullpen performance anchored by Chapman and Hendriks.
   
2. Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles’ season hinges on their young talent. Stars like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson need to lead the way, with pitchers like Grayson Rodriguez developing quickly. Consistency on offense is key. If these young players perform to their potential, Baltimore will contend for a playoff spot.
   
3. New York Yankees: Despite their reigning champion status, the Yankees face a tough season due to significant injuries. Key players are sidelined, testing the team’s depth early on. Side note, I won’t miss Garrett Cole’s face. While the core talent remains, their ability to compete hinges on the performance of replacement players and the timely return of injured stars. Can they weather the storm and stay competitive?
   
4. Tampa Bay Rays: After a disappointing 2024, the Rays aim to rebound, relying on a healthy and talented pitching rotation and success with bullpen reclamation projects. Smart offseason moves are crucial for them to return to their winning ways and make a push for the postseason.
   
5. Toronto Blue Jays: The Blue Jays face a pivotal 2025, deciding whether to compete or rebuild. After a disappointing 2024 due to injuries and underperforming hitters, the team’s direction hinges on the performance of key players and the success of offseason acquisitions. But at least they have french fries with cotton candy.

American League Central

1. Detroit Tigers: Following an 86-win season in 2024, optimism surrounds the Tigers. With Tarik Skubal leading the pitching staff and promising prospects, Detroit aims to elevate its performance and become serious contenders in a competitive AL Central.
   
2. Minnesota Twins: ZiPS projections suggest the Twins will have a strong bullpen and rotation in 2025. However, ZiPS projects them in the 85-88 win range in a close AL Central. Jhoan Duran and Griffin Jax should be a deadly late-inning punch.
   
3. Kansas City Royals: After a successful 2024 season, the Royals’ starting rotation will be a key to success in 2025. With a rotation that was second-best in baseball in 2024, the Royals will need everybody to stay healthy. It helps to have Bobby Witt Jr.
   
4. Cleveland Guardians: The Guardians are heading into the 2025 season with cautious optimism, hoping their young talent can push them to contention in a competitive AL Central division. The Guardians are often underestimated but are always optimistic about their chances.
   
5. Chicago White Sox: The White Sox enter 2025 with the lowest projected win total in MLB, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. After a dismal 2024, the White Sox hope new manager Will Venable can turn things around, despite losing key players.

American League West

1. Texas Rangers: After winning the World Series in 2023, the Rangers are aiming to drop below the luxury tax threshold in 2025. The Rangers face a challenge of balancing their veteran contracts with the need to stay competitive.
   
2. Seattle Mariners: Despite an unsettling offseason, the Mariners can contend in 2025 with a strong pitching staff and a rebound from key players. A healthy bullpen and consistent starting pitching are crucial for a potential playoff push.
   
3. Houston Astros: The Astros enter 2025 with questions surrounding their roster construction. After trading away key players, the Astros will rely on their pitching staff and the performance of veterans like Jose Altuve. They are like a bad rash, they just never seem to go away.
4. Los Angeles Angels: The Los Angeles Angels have not appeared in the postseason since 2014, the longest active playoff drought of any MLB team. Despite having superstars like Mike Trout, the Angels have struggled to find success. Going to guess this continues.
   
5. Oakland Athletics: The Athletics are starting a new chapter in Sacramento before their move to Las Vegas, with uncertainty about their location. Oakland offered a five-year lease at the Coliseum covering the 2025-29 seasons, with an opt-out clause after 2027.

National League East

1. New York Mets: The Mets enter 2025 with high expectations after adding Juan Soto, but face pitching questions in a tough division. Soto can’t solve every Mets problem. Instead, the Mets must forge forward, knowing they possess an elite lineup. They might be my favourite NL team.
   
2. Atlanta Braves: The Braves are banking on their bats in 2025 but have a fragile roster with key players returning from injury. After winning 89 games in 2024, the Braves aim for a better season with Jurickson Profar as a key addition.
   
3. Philadelphia Phillies: The Phillies exemplify contrasts, with a strong regular season in 2024 but an early playoff exit. With a seasoned roster and the third-largest payroll in MLB, the Phillies are focused on October. At least they will distract everyone from how bad the Sixers were this year.
   
4. Washington Nationals: The Washington Nationals pitching staff went through a lot of changes with key pitchers heading to free agency. The Nationals have signed new pitchers to fill the vacant spots.
   
5. Miami Marlins: The 2025 Miami Marlins have multiple bold predictions including Xavier Edwards putting up at least 4.0 WAR. A bold prediction is that the Marlins pitchers will allow the most walks in the National League.

National League Central

1. Chicago Cubs: The Chicago Cubs have not made the postseason after a full, 162-game slate since 2018. The Cubs have a talented team that can compete in the NL Central. ZiPS projects the Cubs to have a good offense but less confidence in the pitching.
   
2. Milwaukee Brewers: The Milwaukee Brewers ran away with the National League Central last year after trading Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles. However, they lost a few key pieces this past offseason with Willy Adames and Devin Williams leaving.
   
3. Cincinnati Reds: The Reds look a lot like a .500 team in 2025, but they don’t appear to be a doomed, hopeless one, which is something. Even with some regression toward the mean, De La Cruz is the team’s most important player, and if healthy, McLain will upgrade to second base.
   
4. Pittsburgh Pirates: With fun, young talent, the Pirates enter 2025 in a fairly open NL Central. All eyes are on Skenes after his Rookie of the Year campaign, and Cruz moves to center, looking to take the next step as a star.
   
5. St. Louis Cardinals: Nolan Arenado is returning, but don’t expect much playoff drama. Veterans express optimism for the 2025 Cardinals, citing energy and talent. With a mix of established talent and promising prospects, the Cardinals look to key players to surprise and improve after missing the playoffs.

National League West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers: The Dodgers are heavily favoured to win the division, entering the season as the team to beat after adding pitching depth and bullpen pieces. They are projected to cruise to a division title with their stacked roster.
   
2. Arizona Diamondbacks: The Diamondbacks led the league in scoring last season, but they still missed the playoffs, primarily due to their pitching struggles. They should improve but may not win the division.
   
3. San Diego Padres: To achieve an unlikely division title, the Padres will need to replicate the pitching luck that benefited them in 2024, as they used only eight starters throughout the season. They also need a boost from their star-studded lineup.
   
4. San Francisco Giants: The Giants boast two former Cy Young Award winners aiming to reclaim their former greatness, alongside one of the last classic inning-eaters in baseball. Success will hinge on consistent performances from veterans or unexpected contributions from younger hitters.
   
5. Colorado Rockies: The Rockies have consistently ranked as the least improved team in this division for several years, and this trend continues. After finishing in last place for the third consecutive year, their only offseason signing was infielder Kyle Farmer.

Playoff Predictions

American League

AL East – Boston Red Sox
AL Central – Detroit Tigers
AL West – Texas Rangers

WC1 – Seattle Mariners
WC2 – Baltimore Orioles
Wc3 – Houston Astros

National League

NL East – New York Mets
NL Central – Chicago Cubs
NL West – Los Angeles Dodgers

WC1 – Arizona Diamondbacks
WC2 – Atlanta Braves
WC3 – Milwaukee Brewers

World Series Prediction

Atlanta Braves vs. Boston Red Sox

The Atlanta Braves will win the 2025 World Series. The Braves, despite injury concerns, possess a potent offense led by Acuña, Riley, and Olson. If Strider returns strong, their rotation will be formidable. Atlanta’s offense needs to avoid the struggles they have had recently in the postseason and approach each at bat with a purpose. While the Red Sox have improved, Atlanta’s overall depth and playoff experience will propel them to victory. Health, as always, is key for the Braves

10 Things to Watch in 2025

1. The Dodgers’ Pursuit of History: Can the Dodgers challenge the record of 116 regular-season wins?
2. Shohei Ohtani’s Return to the Mound: When will Ohtani return to pitching, and how will he perform?
3. Elly De La Cruz’s Continued Development: Can De La Cruz build off his impressive 2024 season and become an MVP candidate?
4. Paul Skenes’ Second Year: What will Skenes’ second year hold after his impressive rookie season?
5. The New York Mets’ Performance with Juan Soto: How will Soto perform for the Mets, and can he help them win the NL East?
6. Young Players Making an Impact: Keep an eye on young stars like Corbin Carroll, Julio Rodríguez, Bobby Witt Jr., and Jackson Chourio.
7. The Oakland Athletics’ Move to Sacramento: How will the Athletics adjust to playing in a minor league ballpark?
8. The Tampa Bay Rays’ Temporary Home: How will the Rays perform while playing at the Yankees’ spring training facility?
9. Key Players Returning From Injury: Jacob deGrom is hoping to pitch his first full season since 2019.
10. Mookie Betts at Shortstop: How will Betts perform full-time at shortstop?

Betting Odds to Win World Series in 2025

Los Angeles Dodgers +240

Atlanta Braves +850

New York Yankees +900

Philadelphia Phillies +1000

New York Mets +1100

Baltimore Orioles +1600

Houston Astros +1800

Boston Red Sox +1800

Texas Rangers +1900

Chicago Cubs +3000

Seattle Mariners +3000

Minnesota Twins +3000

Detroit Tigers +3000

Arizona Diamondbacks +3300

San Diego Padres +3300

Cleveland Guardians +3500

Kansas City Royals +4000

Tampa Bay Rays +5000

Milwaukee Brewers +5000

Toronto Blue Jays +6500

Cincinnati Reds +7500

San Francisco Giants +10000

St. Louis Cardinals +14000

Pittsburgh Pirates +15000

Los Angeles Angels +18000

Oakland Athletics +22000

Washington Nationals +30000

Miami Marlins +50000

Colorado Rockies +50000

Chicago White Sox +50000

From FanDuel.

Best Food

In 2025, MLB teams are stepping up their food game with innovative ballpark concessions. One of the top items is the Chicago White Sox’s “Celebration Cake Shake,” made with birthday cake ice cream, a pinwheel cookie, and other ingredients.

Other new ballpark food items include:

Washington Nationals: Jake and Jake’s Smoked Brisket Sandwich

Philadelphia Phillies: S’mores Quesadilla

New York Yankees: Petroni / Mister Softee Sundae

Pittsburgh Pirates, San Francisco Giants: Popcorn Bat

Kansas City Royals: Sluggerrr Dog and Z-Man Sandwich

Colorado Rockies: Dessert Nachos

New York Mets: The Fiesta Burger

Los Angeles Dodgers: The Slugger

Chicago Cubs: Jibarito Sandwich

Arizona Diamondbacks: Chicken Parm Sub and Filthy Mac Fries

Toronto Blue Jays: Cotton Candy Fries and more.

Go Baseball!

What do you think?

How do you see the 2025 MLB season shaking down? Let me know in the comments.