Sure, two games of the 2,430 scheduled MLB games have already been played for the 2025 regular season (with the Dodgers taking both games against the Cubs in Tokyo last week). Everything else is still to come, though, and the real Opening Day arrives on Thursday. And as the season gets going in earnest, it’s time to get to the predictions.
As is always the case, there will be surprises and, unfortunately, some predictable things will happen. Having unpredictable occurrences unfold during the course of our marathon season is part of the fun. If everything were as obvious as the White Sox finishing last in the AL Central, we wouldn’t bother watching.
Here at CBS Sports, our MLB staff has put together our 2025 season predictions. Below are our individual attempts to nail it down for the standings in each of the six divisions. We’ve also made World Series picks and awards picks.
American League predictions
R.J. Anderson: I’m higher on the Red Sox than the forecast models, though I am hedging a little here because of the uncertainty surrounding Garrett Crochet (health) and Walker Buehler (performance). I feel most confident in the Orioles, so they get the top slot. You could tell me that basically any combination of these teams make the playoffs and it wouldn’t surprise me.
Mike Axisa: Any margin of error the Yankees had coming into 2025 is gone now that they’ve lost Gerrit Cole for the year, Luis Gil for at least two months, and Giancarlo Stanton for who knows how long. Depth wins division titles and they’re already at the limit of theirs. The Red Sox are the division’s most improved team thanks to Garrett Crochet and Alex Bregman, and I love their offense. They have contact, they have power, they have speed. And also an excellent farm system they can use to upscale their roster (through call ups and trades) in a way the Yankees and Orioles can’t. Someone has to finish in last place and that’s the Blue Jays for me, though I expect them to be better this year. I could see all five AL East teams finishing at least .500.
Kate Feldman: I liked the Yankees’ offseason. I really did. (At least as far as offseasons where you lose Juan Soto can go.) But they needed to do more. Max Fried was a good pickup but all of a sudden he needs to be an ace with Gerrit Cole out for the year. They still don’t have a third baseman. Are we supposed to think Aaron Judge can just carry an entire offense again? The Red Sox opened the winter by trading for Garrett Crochet and finished it by signing Alex Bregman. It just feels like a better team (riveting analysis, I know). The Orioles are good but GM Mike Elias just won’t take them over the hump and the Rays always find a way. Are the Blue Jays going to trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. at the deadline after failing to reach a contract extension? Maybe!
Julian McWilliams: The Yankees losing Gerrit Cole for the year is a huge blow to their rotation. The Red Sox could very well win the division, too, but its hard to bet against New York with the club’s proven track record and ability to put together such great regular seasons.
Dayn Perry: I’ll be honest, I don’t know what to do with this division. I think the Jays, while they aren’t necessarily a bad team, are the weakest in the division. The other four I could put in any order with some level of justification. I think the Red Sox have the most balanced roster and increasing levels of upside as the impressive young talent trickles in. I don’t feel strongly about this pick, though. If the O’s had done anything more to address the rotation, they’d be my easy pick here.
Matt Snyder: I think this is the strongest division in baseball, top to bottom. I thought my Red Sox pick would be an outlier, but instead several of us agree. I really like the look of their roster and they always seem to play above their heads anyway. The Orioles and Yankees are also decent bets to win the division, though the Gerrit Cole injury really sours me on the latter.
Anderson: Again, another division where the top four is tough to discern. The Twins have the widest error bars, particularly as it relates to health. I have them winning the Central, but they could just as easily finish third or fourth, depending on the availability of their best players. I do agree that the White Sox feel like the only team “locked” into their spot here, with the other clubs being neck and neck.
Axisa: As long as the White Sox are at the bottom, I think you could put the other four teams in any order and defend it. This division will come down to which team stays healthiest. I don’t love Cleveland’s rotation depth or lineup — trading Josh Naylor’s bat for Carlos Santana’s glove doesn’t make sense to me — and I wish the Tigers had done more to address their pitching. The Guards and Tigers are right there with the Twins and Royals though. Royce Lewis is already hurt, so putting Minnesota first after saying the division will come down to the team that stays healthiest is kinda silly, but I think it’s the highest upside roster in the division.
Feldman: While the Tigers may not be as good as they were last season, there is a possibility that they could be close to that level. With no clear front-runner in the division and minimal changes over the offseason, Detroit could surprise everyone. The Twins’ injury concerns, the uncertainty of the Guardians’ bullpen, and the Royals relying solely on Bobby Witt Jr. don’t make them strong contenders. As for the White Sox, I refuse to discuss them.
McWilliams: The AL Central is shaping up to be a competitive division with the emergence of the Tigers and Royals. Led by CY Young winner Tarik Skubal, the Tigers are poised to take the crown in the division.
Perry: The Tigers have a good mix of star power and young talent, making them a team to watch. The addition of Gleyber Torres and Alex Cobb’s presence in the rotation provide depth and strength.
Snyder: While the Tigers have a chance to win the division, a slight regression may be expected. The Royals are strong contenders, and the Twins’ injury issues and the Guardians’ underestimation on paper make them less favorable. The White Sox may improve but are still predicted to finish last.
Anderson: Any of the top three teams in the AL Central could come out on top. The Mariners are due for an offensive boost, and the Astros and Rangers have their strengths and weaknesses.
Axisa: The AL West seems wide open this year, with the Astros facing uncertainties and the Rangers having a solid shot at the title. The A’s could also surprise, but the Mariners’ disappointing offseason may hold them back.
Feldman: Predicts the end of the Astros’ reign in the AL West, giving the Rangers the edge. The Mariners’ lackluster offseason and the improvements made by the Angels and Athletics may not be enough to challenge the top spot.
McWilliams: Until someone proves otherwise, the Astros remain the team to beat in the AL West despite significant changes in their roster.
Perry: The Mariners’ offseason may have been lackluster, but their strong rotation and potential breakout performances could make them contenders in the division.
Overall, the predictions suggest that the AL Central and AL West divisions are up for grabs, with multiple teams having a shot at the title. None of the teams in this division will reach 90 wins. The player in question has the ability to shift the power dynamics in a division race. The Cardinals are currently in a transitional phase, labeled as a “reset” by POBO John Mozeliak, despite not making any significant moves in the offseason. However, there is still a possibility for them to secure a postseason spot with around 89 wins by improving their performance with runners in scoring position. The Pirates, on the other hand, had a disappointing offseason, failing to capitalize on key opportunities and leaving their fans wanting more.
As I analyze the top two teams in the division, I find myself hesitating, adding an element of excitement to the prediction process. The Cubs made notable additions, especially Kyle Tucker, while the Brewers made headlines by trading Devin Williams. Will these moves be enough to change the standings? Only time will tell. The Pirates missed the mark in reinforcing their strong rotation, while the Reds are hoping for better health to boost their performance. The Cardinals’ supposed reset plan, centered around trading Nolan Arenado, did not come to fruition as expected.
Looking at the division as a whole, it appears to be a tight race with all five teams vying for the top spot. While my prediction places the Cubs slightly ahead, the outcome is uncertain. The Brewers are a strong contender, and the Reds have the potential to improve significantly. Despite having the talent to dominate, the Cardinals are currently projected to finish last in the division.
In the National League wild-card race, the Padres and Diamondbacks stand out as potential contenders, with the Rockies likely to face challenges in the upcoming season.
Moving on to the NL West, the Dodgers are undoubtedly the team to beat, having established themselves as a powerhouse led by Shohei Ohtani. Their recent World Series win has only fueled their determination to secure more titles in the Ohtani era. The D-backs emerge as strong contenders, while the Padres have a chance to return to the playoffs with the right moves. The Giants, on the other hand, seem destined for a middle-of-the-pack finish.
In conclusion, the Dodgers are the clear favorites to win the NL West, with the D-backs and Padres closely following behind. The NL Central and NL West divisions promise exciting and competitive baseball action in the upcoming season. following sentence: “The cat chased the mouse around the house.”
The mouse was chased around the house by the cat.