thejosechannel’s Predictions for the 2025 MLB Season: Who takes the AL East? Will the Dodgers repeat? Is Ohtani MVP?
Yankees OF Aaron Judge, Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani, Mets OF Juan Soto
The MLB Offseason is officially over, and today is OPENING DAY! The game's landscape has changed, with marquee players going to crosstown rivals, the rich getting richer, and youth being the next step for upcoming franchises. Ultimately, the big question on the 2025 season is, will the Dodgers repeat, or will they be fought off by a formidable team on the come-up? And who will come out of the AL? Here are thejosechannel's predictions for the regular season, postseason, and award winners:
AL East Winner: Toronto Blue Jays
The AL East will be a dog fight, but with Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero on contract years, I fully expect the Blue Jays to surprise many fans this season and finally win this division. With the Yankees as injured as they are, the division is open and waiting for a powerhouse to take over. Although Boston has had a big offseason, they lack the "superstar" in the batting lineup. Devers, an aging Bregman, and Duran leading the lineup aren't enough to take this division. However, if the rotation is as good as advertised, led by Garrett Crochet, they could make a run but that isn't a guarantee. The Yankees will need a lot to win this division. If Judge replicates his 2024 campaign, the rotation heals, and Dominguez/Bellinger produces the numbers Soto did, they can contend for first place. However, there are too many IFs to place them first. The Orioles lack the pitching to take this division, and Tampa will have a unique season ahead of them.
AL Central Winner: Detroit Tigers
After the 2024 postseason, the Tigers showed that the potential is there and I'm not voting against it. With Tarik Skubal emerging as one of the best pitchers in baseball, the Tigers could run away with this division. AJ Hinch has done a great job turning this franchise into a contender. Although the Royals have Bobby Witt Jr. and aspirations for a championship run, I don't see them taking the division by storm. I don't see the Guardians repeating their 2024 magic, but I expect manager Stephen Vogt to have his boys play hard. Lastly, Minnesota has a lot of work to do to prove they are contenders. Detroit has a chance to turn lots of heads.
AL West Winner: Texas Rangers
The Rangers have an excellent amount of youth and experience on this roster and will take this division. Names like Jack Leiter and Kumar Rocker are part of the official rotation, and Nathan Eovaldi and Jacob deGrom are leading the rotation, which gives great optimism for the rotation. However, this prediction is fully based on the fact that this rotation will deliver. The lineup looks great, but they won't contend without a strong pitching performance. The Mariners are the team to watch to catch up to Texas, but their offense must show up. Houston is the team on the outside for me; losing Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman was a big loss, and I can see that affecting them harshly. The Athletics have a lot of work to do, and the signing of SP Luis Severino will need to be backed up this season. However, the young talent is there to make a bid for the division. The Angels are hard to take seriously because the offense collapses if Mike Trout is hurt. Seeing him consistently ailing from injuries these past few years is a true travesty.
NL East Winner: Philadelphia Phillies
The division will be a dogfight between Philly and Atlanta, but due to health concerns, I see Philly walking away with it. The Phillies rotation has incredible potential, and the lineup is incredible. The Braves will have SP Spencer Strider and OF Ronald Acuña Jr. returning from injuries later in the season, and it is too much of a risk to pick them. The Mets' landing of Juan Soto immediately brought championship aspirations for fans, but former relief pitcher Clay Holmes leads their rotation. The Mets are hard to take seriously when Holmes is the opening-day starter; although the offense has the potential to be incredible, pitching will always win in baseball. The Nationals and Marlins still have lots of work. I can't see them contending, especially when Miami might trade former Cy Young-winning SP Sandy Alcantara after one badseason.
NL Central Winner: Chicago Cubs
Although Milwaukee finds a way to excel with their loaded farm system, it is hard to ignore the Cubs' acquisition of OF Kyle Tucker, and I fully expect them to make a run for the playoffs. The Cubs have loaded their team and can have a special season in a fairly weak division. Two losses to start the season against the defending champions shouldn't steer fans away from Chicago winning the NL Central. Elly De La Cruz and Hunter Greene will try to make the Reds competitive, but I can't see them taking the division away from the Cubs or the Brewers. The Cardinals and Pirates will have young talent in the ranks, but I don't see them contending. It would be nice to see Paul Skenes make a bid for Cy Young, though.
NL West Winner: Los Angeles Dodgers
I mean, come on, who else? Even if they get hit with massive injuries, this team is so deep in depth that they will recover or trade for an all-star to replace that player. It's sad to be a Padres, Giants, or D-Backs fan because there is potential for a good season, but the division crown is unrealistic. The Rockies are still finding their way, and I can't see them contending.
AL Wild Card Teams: (4) Kansas City Royals, (5) New York Yankees, (6) Boston Red Sox
The Royals won't lose the division by much, so I see them as the best team out of all the other teams. The Yankees have lost key players to season-ending injuries, but they still have the talent for a playoff run. The Red Sox have a good rotation that could deliver a wild-card place. The two teams I see in the bubble are the Mariners and Orioles. The Mariners still lack the scoring to make a playoff run, and the Orioles lack the pitching.
NL Wild Card Teams: (4) Atlanta Braves, (5) Arizona Diamondbacks, (6) New York Mets
The Braves might not be healthy enough for a division crown, but the Wild Card is definitely possible. The D-Backs have such a loaded rotation that the offense could score two runs and still get away with a win. However, the lineup is still pretty good. The Mets have a lot of work to do, but I can see them squeezing in. If they don't, the headlines will be tremendous.
Awards:
AL MVP: Yankees OF Aaron Judge
If the Yankees are going to make a run for the playoffs, then Aaron Judge will have to deliver at an MVP level. He's won an MVP without Soto and will be the biggest factor for the Yankees this season. My only doubt is his health, but so far, he's been fine in that category. I expect the race to be closer than last season, with Witt and Judge neck and neck for the award.
NL MVP: Mets OF Juan Soto
The NL MVP race seems like Shohei Ohtani's to lose. He will soon begin to pitch and bat later this season, and it could either make his case for MVP or deteriorate his health so that he does not perform as well. The Mets PAID Juan Soto a ton, and he must prove his salary. He will be the star of this lineup, and Francisco Lindor will back him up. He had an almost similar situation with Judge in the Bronx, but I expect him to play better than Lindor and take the MVP.
AL Cy Young: Tigers SP Tarik Skubal
Skubal has emerged as the best pitcher in the game, and I can see him easily winning back-to-back Cy Young awards. I expect Detroit to have an incredible season, and Skubal will be the catalyst behind the division crown. Max Fried will be the Yankee ace in 2025 and could make a case, but I see Skubal taking this one.
NL Cy Young: Pirates SP Paul Skenes
If he had started the season in the majors, he would've likely won it last year. Paul Skenes' emergence as one of the premiere young pitchers in baseball has been a sight to see, and I expect it to culminate in a Cy Young title in 2025. The award might be his to lose.
AL Rookie of the Year: Tigers SP Jackson Jobe
There are many candidates for this award, but Jackson Jobe is in an incredible position to win it. He's sitting behind the best pitcher in the league and has the chance to learn from him. Yankees OF Jasson Dominguez could contend for it, as his role is going to be crucial in the Yankees' chase for the postseason, but I see Jobe running with it.
NL Rookie of the Year: Nationals OF Dylan Crews
Many expect Roki Sasaki to win this easily, but I don't see that happening. After his performance against the Cubs in Japan, I don't know how smoothly his transition to the majors will be. He only landed 25 out of 56 pitches in the strike zone and could hint at a control issue with five walks. Crews is on a Nationals team with no expectations and will the future in Washington, I expect him to have a monster season.
World Series Matchup: Texas Rangers vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (C)
The Rangers have a fantastic lineup and could have a special rotation with a great mesh of experience and youth. I see them matching up against the Tigers in the ALCS but winning in seven games. The Dodgers need no explanation, but I see them defeating the Phillies in six games. The only way LA doesn't make it this far is if they get hit with a nasty injury bug like in years past before they finally won in 2024. The matchup of Texas and LA could be a very entertaining series. Both have potentially explosive offenses, but it's hard to bet against this Dodgers roster. Dodgers win in six, Ohtani WS MVP.
