MLB Division and Playoff Predictions: Can Anyone Stop the Dodgers? Who will Come Out of the AL?
Morgan offers his division and playoff predictions for the 2025 MLB season.
The MLB regular season begins this week! Well, there's two games this week at least, as the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers open the season with the Tokyo Series.
With that in mind, I wanted to offer my predictions for the upcoming season. I'll provide my division standings predictions and also offer up my postseason projections. Let's dive right in!
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American League
East Division
With a couple New York pitchers out, I see the Baltimore Orioles taking the AL East this season. They have some injury news to worry about themselves, but I like their roster top to bottom a bit more.
I also see the Boston Red Sox making the postseason, and think they could be one of the league's biggest surprises. I still have the Yankees making the postseason as a wild card team, but finishing third in the division. A move or two for pitching help could vault the team back on top of the division, and AL overall.
I have the Toronto Blue Jays fourth in the division and missing out on the playoffs again. I think a slow start will lead the team to sell at the trade deadline. While I see the Tampa Bay Rays improved from a season ago, I think they also are going to fall short of the postseason.
Central Division
I'm taking the Detroit Tigers to win the AL Central. I like how they ended 2024 and think they will win a tight division race.
I see the Kansas City Royals taking second in the division and claiming the other wild card spot in the AL.
That leaves the Cleveland Guardians, Minnesota Twins and Chicago White Sox on the outside looking in, and I think that's the order they finish in. I think the White Sox are the only team in that trio that sells at the trade deadline, but his finish coming true probably means Cleveland would retool the roster a bit after the season ends.
West Division
In the West, I have the Texas Rangers bouncing back and running away with the division. I think they will actually be one of the better teams in the big leagues.
I have the Houston Astros in second, but missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. I got the Seattle Mariners coming in third, and being neck-and-neck with the Astros.
I have the Athletics pushing for a playoff spot, but eventually falling several games short. The Los Angeles Angels will stick in the playoff race for a while, but injuries will eventually derail their season.
National League
East Division
I have the Atlanta Braves taking the NL East this season. Their lineup is stacked, and I think their pitching improves to help them win the division in a bit of a surprise.
I have the New York Mets in second. I'm skeptical of their pitching, but their lineup will carry the team to a playoff spot as a wild card team. I also have the Philadelphia Phillies in the playoffs as a wild card.
The Washington Nationals will be fun to watch with all their young talent, but eventually will fizzle out down the stretch. The Miami Marlins might push for the worst record in the big leagues this season.
Central Division
I'm taking the Chicago Cubs to claim the Central title. Their offseason moves will push them to the top of a tight division race.
I got the Milwaukee Brewers in second and claiming the other wild card spot in the NL.
I have the Pittsburgh Pirates in third, falling a few games behind the Brewers. I then have the Cincinnati Reds, finishing near the Pirates. In a bit of a surprise for most, I got the St. Louis Cardinals in last place, and selling off big pieces at the trade deadline.
West Division
The Los Angeles Dodgers are the easy choice in the West. If they don't reach 100 wins, I'd be shocked.
I have the Arizona Diamondbacks in second place, but outside the playoff picture. The San Diego Padres are another good team who will miss the postseason, but be in the hunt until the final days.
I then have the San Francisco Giants and Colorado Rockies bringing up the rear of the division. I expect San Fran to be in the playoff hunt until the last week of play, while Colorado sells by the time the trade deadline nears.
Playoff Predictions
In the AL, I have the Orioles as the top seed, barely edging the Rangers for that top spot. Detroit is the No. 3 seed, while Boston (No. 4), New York (No. 5) and Kansas City (No. 6) are the wild cards.
In the NL, the Dodgers are my top seed, and they will have the best record in all of baseball. I got the Braves in second and Cubs in third among the division winners. Then the Mets (No. 4), Phillies (No. 5) and Brewers (No. 6) get the wild card slots.
Detroit and Kansas City would be a fun wild card series, but I got the Royals taking down the Tigers to advance to the ALDS for a second straight season. I got the Red Sox over the Yankees in the other must-watch wild card series.
Over in the NL, I have the Brewers taking down the Cubs in another inter-division battle in the wild card round. I'd take the Mets over the Phillies is the other NL wild card division battle.
Back in the AL for the divisional games, I got the Royals upsetting the top-seeded Orioles. I have the Rangers dispatching the Red Sox in the other series.
In the NL, I see the Braves edging the Brewers in a fun series, while the Dodgers take down the Mets.
In the respective league championship series, I got the Rangers over the Royals and Dodgers over Braves in what would be two fantastic series.
In the World Series, I'd then take the Dodgers over the Rangers.
Before, I said I'd be shocked if the Dodgers don't win 100 games. Now I'm going to say I'd be shocked if they don't win the title.
The Dodgers' offseason acquisitions simply made the team a juggernaut, and I think it'd be one of the biggest failures in sports history for that team to not repeat in 2025.
LA has a ridiculous starting lineup, and depth in the minor leagues to overcome struggles from a projected starter or an injury. If there's any season-ending injuries, that depth in the minor leagues will be used to replenish the big league roster through trades.
The team's pitching staff is banged up to begin the season, but with all the depth the team has acquired, there's no reason that group shouldn't be able to withstand some struggles or more injuries. The team's injured list of starting pitchers would be better than a lot of team's actual rotations this season.
Baseball fans were annoyed with how much talent the Dodgers added this offseason, or maybe rather that their teams did very little during the offseason. The pressure on the Dodgers will be immense, but I just don't see a way this team doesn't win it all.
Anything can happen in a 162-game regular season, and during shorter playoff series, but I'd simply be stunned if the Dodgers don't raise another World Series banner by the end of the season.
