We’ve finally reached the 2025 season, and I couldn’t be more excited. This being said, I will now move on to my National League predictions for the season.

NL West

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (108-54)

After winning the World Series last season, it’s not shocking that the Dodgers are the favorites to win their division because of their insane starting rotation, great bullpen, and the best lineup in the league. Without a salary cap, LA has utilized this to their advantage by signing all these big-time players to massive contracts, including the best reliever on the market in Tanner Scott, Japanese phenom pitcher Roki Sasaki, ace Blake Snell, and outfielder Micheal Comforto. This team just continues to sign every big name they can, and for fans across the league, they are getting irritated that the Dodgers are getting away with this. The reason this is possible for the Dodgers is that for many contracts, including Ohtani’s, they are deferring the money, which means they are only paying a small portion of contracts right now and then a big chunk of it later down the road. By doing so, this frees up space for them to continue signing players; however, they are taking a big risk because there won’t be much money to spend in later years if they’re still going to be paying players. Since the Dodgers are such a big franchise, however, they’re hoping that the revenue they will continue to generate over the years will counterbalance the payments of deferred contracts, not losing any ground. This team is just stacked every which way, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they come close to breaking the all-time wins record in a season set at 116 by the 2001 Seattle Mariners, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they came close to this record.

2. San Diego Padres (95-67)

The Padres are another great team in this division, and they will put up a fight against other playoff contenders. With really good starting pitchers and a great bullpen, this team is set for another great year with the help of a stellar offense, assuming everyone stays healthy. By adding another arm to the rotation in Nick Pivetta, it only looks like it will get better for this team. On top of the pitching staff from last year that put up the sixth best ERA of 3.86, this is shaping up to be another successful season. With a lineup that has Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Luis Arraez, it’s all high-flying from here, especially after the addition of veteran outfielder Jason Heyward. Gavin Sheets also was a power hitter that was brought in to fuel some more runs through the big flies. With rising star Jackson Merill, who finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting last year, I can’t see how he will be slowed down unless he has a sophomore slump. I think he will continue to develop and surge into one of the league’s best outfielders. This is a very well-rounded roster from top to bottom, and it will be interesting to see how they fare against LA coming down the stretch in October.

3. Arizona Diamondbacks (93-69)

This is the third team from this division that I think will make the postseason. They are truly one of the most underrated ball clubs in the league. Having already one of the best rotations in all of baseball, Arizona didn’t think that was enough, so they went ahead and got the best free agent starter in the market, Corbin Burnes, on a 6-year, $210 million contract. With the addition of another ace that will go alongside Zac Gallen, this is certainly a deadly 1-2 punch for hitters. Even after losing productive first baseman Christian Walker, the D-Backs went out and got a power hitter in Josh Naylor to fill in this hole. The bullpen, on the other hand, is the only thing that would be holding this team back from performing at the next level. Kendall Graveman was the top reliever Arizona got this offseason to help bolster the pen a little bit, but it’s still not in the greatest shape. A.J. Puk was a good addition from the Marlind last year towards the end of the year, but they lost Paul Seawld to free agency, so I am not sure the bullpen can keep pace with the offense. Good thing the rotation is solid, but there will be more pressure on this bullpen for sure that is led by Justin Martinez. If the Snakes can be a complete team from the start of the year till the end, I don’t see why this team won’t be in the postseason.

4. San Francisco Giants (82-80)

The Giants have been a streaky team over their last few seasons, but they’re just stuck in one of the best divisions. This offseason they were able to get the top shortstop available, Willy Adames, and he will add his talents on both sides of the ball. With arguably one of the league’s best catchers, Patrick Bailey, and a great outfield filled with Helliot Ramos, Jung Ho Lee, and Mike Yastrzemski, this team can make some noise throughout the year. With a great bullpen with Camilo Duval and Tyler Rogers at the helm, San Francisco may be able to put up a sneaky good season. This will weigh heavily on the starters for the Giants, even after signing a longtime veteran, Justin Verlander. With Logan Webb as the Giants first option, it’ll be up to Jordan Hicks and Hayden Birdsong to pitch well throughout the year. To add to this, both Robbie Ray and Justin Verlander will have to pitch up to their expected potential while making sure to stay healthy all year. If everything goes according to plan for this team, I don’t see why they may not even have a chance at a playoff spot.

5. Colorado Rockies (64-98)

This Rockies team will most likely finish last in this division, and the only question will be by how many games. With both a shaky rotation and bullpen, it’s not looking like this team will have much hope for this year. Especially when they play at Coors Field in the high altitude known for its many home runs, it is a very hitter-friendly ballpark. With an offense that can score runs at times headlined by Brennton Doyle, most likely there will be some high-scoring games in Colorado. What can be hopeful for this team is to see some of their young prospects produce this year, giving life to this organization that hasn’t had much success in recent years. First baseman Micheal Toglia could look to have a breakout year, being known for his power at the plate. There were offseason moves made by Colorado, but a notable signing that can be mentioned is Tyler Freeman, who will be used as a utility guy when needed. It’s too bad that there aren’t many positives to be said about this team, and with Kris Bryant not playing like he has in the past, it’s unfortunate to see what’s happened with this organization. Hopefully the younger guys on this squad can make some noise and potentially steal some wins from teams looking to contend.

NL Central

1. Chicago Cubs (86-76)

In a division that’s so up in the air, I believe the Cubs will be able to land on top this year. After making some big moves this offseason, it’s clear to see Chicago isn’t playing around, especially when this division could honestly belong to anybody. While having Justin Steele and Shota Imanaga lead the charge on the mound for this team, the rest of the starters include Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, and either Ben Brown or Colin Rea to round it out. These guys are going to have to pitch phenomenally well this year if they want to secure this division in a tight playoff race where most likely one of these teams in this division will make the postseason. As for the bullpen, it’s not the greatest looking on paper, but as the season goes along, I think they can get more comfortable, and with the addition of veteran closer Ryan Pressly, he should help them secure more games in the final innings. Chicago, after last season, was still looking for that star power player, and in free agency they were able to do just that by signing outfielder Kyle Tucker. This move should allow more offense for this team and play alongside Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, and youngster Pete Crow-Armstrong. As the season goes on, I think that third baseman Matt Shaw will prove himself after some more experience, and this should be enough, in my opinion, to win this division.

2. Milwaukee Brewers (84-78)

Unfortunately for this team, I think there will be a little regression this season coming off last year. By losing a great asset in Willy Adames to free agency, this is a big blow to this team. This puts a lot of pressure on Joey Ortiz to produce as much music as he needs to, and I just don’t think he’ll be ready for that yet, or at least not all year. Outside the bigger bats of Christian Yelich, William Contreras, Rhys Hoskins, and Jackson Chourio, the rest of the lineup is a little questionable, but certainly they are able to produce; I just don’t think the consistency the Brewers need will be all there. With a rotation that has depth, there shouldn’t be too much of an issue for them led by Freddy Peralta, and they will look to get Brandon Woodruff back from his injury. Nestor Cortes was acquired in a trade that included sending reliever Devin Williams over. While adding Cortes could be a good fit, I’m just not sure he’ll perform at the level he should based on his ending to the season with New York. If he can turn it around, it should be a good addition for this team. On the other hand, with the loss of Deevin Williams, it’s going to be difficult to fill this spot, but with how good this Brewers bullpen is, I don’t see why it wouldn’t be fine without him. The only question for this Brewers bullpen would be if Trevor Megill will be able to match his career-best season this year. Eventually losing so much talent will catch up to you, and I think this is where it does. It will be a close call towards the end of the year in the NL Central, and it will be interesting to see who lands on top.

3. Cincinnati Reds (83-79)

This Reds team is also right in the mix for this division, and they could even have the highest ceiling, but I’m not sure I can fully trust this team to get it done. On the offensive side of things, however, Cincinnati made some good offseason signings that I think will fit nicely into the lineup. Second baseman Gavin Lux is a great option to fill in Jonathan India’s old spot next to Elly De La Cruz up the middle, and outfielder Austin Hays will produce even more power for this team. When guys like Chirtsian Encarnacion-Strand, Jeimer Candelario, and Tyler Stephenson are on their game, this can turn out to be a scary offense. On the flip side though, the starting rotation and bullpen are not the prettiest. Led by ace Hunter Greene and the addition of Brady Singer from free agency, these starters are going to be asked to do a lot, including Nick Martinez, who recently has pitched well, and Nick Lodolo as well as Carson Spiers. This team has a lot to look forward to, and if I were a Reds fan, I would be anxiously waiting to see what this team can do throughout the year.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates (82-80)

Again, this is another ball club that could be right in contention for being a dark horse division winner because of the starting rotation that is led by young superstar Paul Skenes, who is adding both a cutter and 2-seam fastball to his arsenal this year. Pitching beside him are guys like Mitch Keller, who got a 5-year extension this winter; Andrew Heaney, who was brought in as well; and developing Jared Jones. If Jones is able to be a good asset for this rotation, they can be able to win more games than most people think. After having an abysmal bullpen ERA last season of 4.49, this was a major concern for this team entering this season. This made it possible for the Pirates to add arms to their bullpen like Claeb Ferguson, Tim Mayza, and Carson Fulmer. These guys aren’t expected to make a drastic impact, but having these guys on the roster now will hopefully help this team limit opponents to help the starters out. For the lineup, Tommy Pham was brought in for a veteran presence to help mentor guys like Ke’Bryan Hayes and Nick Gonzales get off and running this season, as well as the young star Oneil Cruz. Seeing what Pittsburgh has done this offseason, I expect them to be close to a playoff berth but more than likely to finish in the back end of the division.

5. St. Louis Cardinals (74-88)

As for the Cardinals, I just don’t see a world where this team can come close to being competitive. When you have Sonny Gray and Erick Fedde as the best starters for your team without much help after that, it’s not going to shape up to be a good year. For a bullpen that had a 3.64 ERA last year, I don’t see how this team could be any better this year when their only addition was Phil Maton. Without having much pitching depth, this is going to force the offense to score a lot of runs, but with the lineup they currently have, it doesn’t look like that’ll happen, unfortunately. While having bright spots for young guys Masyn Winn and Jordan Walker to look forward to, there aren’t many guys to be stoked for if you’re a Cardinals fan. After losing one of the team’s best players in Paul Goldschmidt to free agency and with Nolan Arenado most likely being traded at the deadline, there isn’t much to look forward to. If St. Louis is going to be successful, then they should try and get some prospects of players in exchange for players at the trade deadline. I think what’s best for the Cardinals is to focus on the future and what’s to come.

NL East

1. Philadelphia Phillies (96-66)

The Phillies’ mission this year is to win this division again but without being knocked out early in the playoffs. I could see either the Braves or Mets winning this division as well, but I just think that with this team that’s experienced as it is, it will win it again. The rotation is phenomenal from top to bottom, the only problem being that Ranger Suarez is currently injured, and last year he played a key role on the bump. The bullpen also again looks very good, especially with the additional arms of Jordan Romano and Carlos Hernandez. The offense continues to look sharp; all the same guys are back from last year, and Max Kepler was also added to this squad, so the depth for this team continues to grow. With as deep a lineup as Philly does, I just can’t see a world where they don’t continue to perform at the highest. With this being said, I think the Phillies will once again land atop the NL East.

2. Atlanta Braves (93-69)

The Braves are once again another powerhouse team in this division, and it will most certainly be a battle in every single division game there is this season. This is a Braves team that has one of the deepest lineups and is loaded with talent and all-stars on every side of the ball. With another stellar rotation, this team is in line to be extremely competitive all year long, and I’m not hesitant to say this team could easily take this division. The only reason I have them second is because of the injuries starting out for pitcher Spencer Strider, Sean Murphy, and Ronald Acuna Jr. These guys are all expected to be back shortly; I just think it will set them back just a tad. By adding Jurickson Profar this winter, this move just makes this team a whole lot better. With a lineup that looks exactly the same as last season, this team will make its way right back into the playoffs. When star outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. returns, this should give this team an even greater boost and increase their chances at a close division win. By adding Enyel De Los Santos and Hector Neris to this bullpen as well, I just think this team will continue to be dominant both pitching-wise and defensively and offensively, and you just can’t let this team get hot or it’s game over.

3. New York Mets (89-73)

Obviously the Mets made the biggest free agency signing in superstar Juan Soto for a 15-year, $765 million contract. This will most certainly be the biggest addition the Mets have had in history, and I think it will put them right in the mix for the division. Coming out of last season and making it to the NLCS, there’s a lot to expect from this team, and they should strive to at least be in the same situation this year. The only thing that’s holding them back from being at the top of the NL is their starting pitching, just because I think the Phillies and Braves both have better rotations. With Frankie Montas starting the season on the IL and signing Clay Holmes to move into a starter role, it isn’t the most ideal situation. Holmes will have to prove himself, and Griffin Canning, who was signed this offseason, will also need to display his skill as best he can. Kodai Senga will continue to be good as long as he can stay healthy, and we will see if they’ll be able to hold the line. Hopefully for the Mets, their starters can work late into innings because of their lack of bullpen strength. Having the 22nd-ranked bullpen last season is not going to help you get to the next level. By signing A.J. Minter, this will help them at least have a good arm to shut down some more innings, and they will get Edwin Diaz back from his injury, but it looks like he’s lost some of his velocity. The offense should do just fine after ending the season on a high note, and by bringing Pete Alonso back this winter, they shouldn’t be going anywhere offensively. As Mark Vientos has started to break out, it will be good to see him take alongside Brandon Nimmo and Francisco Lindor.

4. Washington Nationals (76-84)

In coming years, I think this Nationals team can prove some doubters wrong with the kind of team they’re putting together. By having these young players on this team, they will continue to develop into great ball players, and the pitching will gradually get better. This team will be able to compete in a lot more games than I think people realize, and they will be making some noise all season long. By having a young core in Luis Garcia Jr., CJ Abrams, James Wood, Jacob Young, and Dylan Crews, I think this team will show off the kind of talent they are capable of this year. By bringing in some more experienced players like Josh Bell, Nathaniel Lowe, and Paul DeJong this offseason, I don’t see why this team shouldn’t be excited. While the pitching is a problem that will hold the team back quite a bit, there is still some potential for this rotation and even the bullpen in the future. These players will continue to gain playing time to boost their confidence, and before you know it, soon down the road in future years, the Nationals may be looking to compete for a playoff spot.

5. Miami Marlins (60-102)

It’ll be another long year for this franchise as they will just continue to not perform with their lack of talent and inexperienced players. The only positive you can really say is that Sandy Alcantara is back and they signed Cal Quantrill to add to the rotation, but there are already injuries for the rotation, including Eury Perez, and it’s just not a promising look for the other starters and bullpen pitchers. There really isn’t a big bat in this lineup that will produce any kind of fireworks, and Otto Lopez may be the best hitter in the lineup after Jake Burger and Jesus Luzardo left in free agency. The clock is ticking for when Sandy Alcantara will be traded at the deadline; it’ll just be interesting to see where he lands. There really isn’t a whole lot going for this team, and I imagine them losing more than 100 games.