The Main League Baseball season will open in Tokyo on March 17-18 with a two-game collection between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. The opposite big-league groups, in the meantime, will open their seasons later in March.
Forward of Opening Day, Yardbarker MLB writers supply a best-case situation document for each group within the Nationwide League.
NL East
ATLANTA BRAVES (Finest-case document: 97-65) | With the return of proper fielder and 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. and ace Spencer Strider, the Braves will ideally reclaim the division they’ve received 18 occasions. A wholesome Atlanta can deal with nearly anyone within the league.
MIAMI MARLINS (Finest-case document: 54-108) | A playoff group in 2023, the Marlins are set to lose 100 video games for the second straight season. Something lower than 100 losses can be ultimate for this inexperienced membership that’s severely missing in star energy, apart from former NL Cy Younger Award winner Sandy Alcantara.NEW YORK METS (Finest-case document: 86-76) | You realize what they are saying: Pitching wins championships, and the Mets’ employees will not be pennant-caliber because it stands. Ought to the membership overcome the numerous accidents they’ve suffered in spring coaching, OF Juan Soto and SS Francisco Lindor can make them almost 90 wins and maybe a wild-card berth.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (Finest-case document: 92-70) | A second consecutive division title is not within the playing cards for the Phillies, however their pitching employees will carry a considerably disappointing offense to a postseason look for the fourth yr in a row. After falling quick lately, it’s World Collection or bust for his or her veteran core.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (Finest-case document: 78-84) | The Nationals have gifted gamers (OFs James Wooden and Dylan Crews and pitcher MacKenzie Gore), however they don’t seem to be able to contend. A yr of progress for his or her younger gamers to assist solidify a promising future is probably the most they’ll ask for. — Lauren Amour
NL West
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (Finest-case document: 90-72) | With 90 wins, the Diamondbacks would probably leapfrog their division rivals in San Diego and in addition probably be again within the postseason for the second time in three years. After attending to the World Collection in 2023 and barely lacking the postseason final yr, Arizona is in place to play significant October baseball, a giant step ahead within the desert.
COLORADO ROCKIES (Finest-case document: 75-87) | The Rockies probably received’t contend for a postseason spot this yr, however new faces (right-hander Chase Dollander and OF Zac Veen) are anticipated to debut in 2025. In the event that they be a part of a younger core that may break Colorado’s two-year skid of logging greater than 100 losses, there may very well be hope for the Rockies in 2026.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (Finest-case document: 100-62) | The Dodgers are the odds-on favourite to as soon as once more win the World Collection. They’ve a plethora of expertise to make it occur. Los Angeles completed with 98 wins final yr, so profitable one other title and hitting triple-digits in regular-season wins may arguably make 2025 much more particular than 2024.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (Finest-case document: 88-74) | The Padres have been agonizingly near knocking off the Dodgers in final yr’s Nationwide League Division Collection, so a best-case situation can be that San Diego meets the Dodgers once more within the 2025 postseason…and beats them. If the Padres can get into October, something is feasible with a star-studded roster.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (Finest-case document: 79-83) | It’s a brand new period in San Francisco with SS Willy Adames turning into the face of the franchise after signing a seven-year, $182M deal within the offseason. With six video games in opposition to the Diamondbacks and eight in opposition to the Dodgers in September, the Giants, with Adames enjoying the lead function, may very well be spoilers. However this group will not be headed for the postseason. — Kevin Henry
NL Central
CHICAGO CUBS (Finest-case document: 91-71) | The Cubs haven’t discovered themselves ending the season atop the NL Central in a full-length season since 2017. With massive offseason strikes — most notably buying and selling for three-time All-Star OF Kyle Tucker — they put themselves in the very best place to take again the division. Per FanDuel, the Cubs are favored to win the division.
CINCINNATI REDS (Finest-case document: 86-76) | With among the greatest younger expertise in baseball, together with 2024 All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz, the Reds may make a push to win the division. Cincinnati is in place to win greater than 83 video games, one thing it hasn’t accomplished since 2013 (90).
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (Finest-case document: 90-72) | The Brewers are one among 4 groups to make the playoffs in at the least 5 of the previous six seasons (Dodgers, Astros and Braves), however they’re the one group within the group to win no rounds within the span. With postseason expectations excessive, second-year supervisor Pat Murphy should not solely information Milwaukee again to the playoffs but in addition advance previous the wild-card spherical — the place they’ve performed in 4 of their previous 5 appearances — to alleviate the group’s lingering burden.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES (Finest-case document: 83-79) | Pittsburgh has struggled to compete within the NL Central over the previous 9 seasons, final reaching a top-two division end in 2015, which was additionally the final time they achieved greater than 82 wins in a season. Nevertheless, with promising younger expertise and a comparatively weak division, the group has an opportunity to reestablish itself.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (Finest-case document: 79-83) | The lone group to not add a free agent, the Cardinals are anticipated to see a large lower in manufacturing in 2025. Projected for simply 75.5 wins in 2025, per FanDuel, St. Louis, if its younger expertise rises, may high the projection. — Taylor Bretl
