As the miserable month of February comes to an end, spring time is almost here. The snow starts to melt, the days start to get longer, and Baseball is right around the corner. This winter had no shortage of big time deals and many familiar faces changed their threads. With free agency finally behind us, it is time for everybody’s favorite part of sports:predicting. All fans love to do it, some are better at it than others, and I will be making my case for each division, win totals included.
NL East
1.Atlanta Braves (99-63)
2.New York Mets (94-68)
3.Philadelphia Phillies (89-73)
4.Washington Nationals (78-84)
5.Miami Marlins (58-104)
The NL East has been a highly competitive division for the past few years. Last year, the Phillies ran away with it while the punt year Mets and the Atlanta Hospital (Everybody was hurt) fought for second place, however this year both those teams are flipping the script. The Braves will return to form with Spencer Strider back in their rotation and former MVP Ronald Acuna JR, lest we forget the highly talented Austin Riley. Pair that with last year’s team and they are easily favorites to win the east. As for the Mets, they only seemed to get better. They basically took last year’s team and threw Juan Soto in the lineup. The rotation is shaky, but it was last year as well, and the Mets have been a pitching factory over the past year reviving the careers of both Sean Manaea and Luis Severino, and will aim to do the same with Clay Holmes and Frankie Montas. Not to mention rookie of the year runner up Kodai Senga returning from injury as well. As for the Phillies, I cant see this ballclub contending with these two teams. They took advantage of the NL East struggles last season, but this year is a different story. Their window for a championship is fast closing, especially after rumors of the front office trying to move pieces like Alec Bohm and Nick Castelannos. They hardly got better this offseason, and have been exposed by two wild card teams that squeaked into the playoffs two years in a row. I believe the Phillies will still see success in 2025, just not nearly as much now that the Braves have recovered and the Mets are serious contenders once again. As for Washington and Miami, these two simply are not good enough. The Nationals have a bright future ahead of them, but need to improve in so many areas before they can contend. As for Miami, they are going nowhere but the gutter, and I cannot see them contending anytime soon. There is unfortunately not one bright spot or positive to being a fan of the Marlins, which is sad considering they made the playoffs just 2 years ago.
NL Central
1.Milwaukee Brewers (92-70)
2.Chicago Cubs (86-76)
3.Cincinnati Reds (84-78)
4.Pittsburgh Pirates (74-88)
5.Saint Louis Cardinals (71-91)
In my opinion, this is the most boring division in Major League Baseball. The Brewers are a solid team regardless, even after trading all star closer Devin Willaims. The division is theirs to win, and the chances of any other team contending with them is slim. Chicago improved this offseason with the acquisition of Kyle Tucker to an already solid roster. The Reds are close to contention, but need to keep building their roster around the talented Elly De La Cruz. The Pirates on the other hand, despite having one of the best young talents in sports, are lacking at nearly every position. Their lineup is a black hole with some bright spots like Oneil Cruz, and their pitching is just solid, but it will be a while before we see this team turn into contenders. As for Saint Louis, they have made it clear they are in full rebuild mode. They haven’t made the postseason since 2022, and since then have tried to compete but their roster is simply lacking. With plans to trade Nolan Arenado, it seems like the Cardinals are about to enter a rebuild stage, and it could be multiple years before we see this team return to contention.
NL West
1.Los Angeles Dodgers (106-56)
2.Arizona Diamondbacks (88-74)
3.San Diego Padres (85-77)
4.San Francisco Giants (83-79)
5.Colorado Rockies (58-104)
Everybody and their Mother knows LA will be winning this division. Unless either the Diamondbacks or Padres have a historical, documentary worthy, underdog run, it is inevitable. When you can defer all the money you want with no repercussions, it comes easy. Arizona is a playoff contender in my eyes, and the only reason they did not make the playoffs last year was because the Mets and Braves tied their doubleheader and both clinched the playoffs in front of them. With the additions of Corbin Burnes and Josh Naylor, this team will undoubtedly be a wild card contender. San Diego is in a tough spot. With their owner spending big, unfortunately passing away he left behind a big spending deficit, so expect to see some stars moved from this team to cut payroll, for example, Juan Soto being moved to the Yankees just last offseason. Overall I see the Padres coming third in this year’s division. The Giants are in an awkward position right now. They have a solid team, but they are in such a tough division it’s hard to contend. While they definitely have holes up and down the roster, I believe it may be a few years before we see San Francisco back in the playoffs. Losing an ace in Blake Snell and a good bat in Michael Conforto to a division rival is tough, but there are bright spots in San Fran. With Justin Verlander there both to pitch and coach the young guys, I believe the future is bright in the bay. I cannot say the same however for Colorado, who have no bright spots whatsoever and don’t have a chance at coming anywhere but fifth in this division.
The reigning champs are ready to defend their throne, and they have the tools to do it, but the NL is stacked with challengers that stand in their way. The Atlanta Braves who look to make a return to dominance with a healed roster, the New York Mets trying to justify a history of failure with a future of success, the Philadelphia Phillies striving to silence the haters yet again, the Milwaukee Brewers who look to prove they still have what it takes, the Chicago Cubs seek to yet again taste the glory it took them 108 years to claim, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, hungry for another deep playoff run after their miraculous 2023. But who knows? Maybe an underdog will make a run? Maybe a contender may not be who we thought they were? With all these questions, there is one thing we know for certain-The National League will be must see TV in 2025.
