MLB Season Preview: Playoff Predictions, Award Picks and Division Reports

Opening Day is finally upon us. Here’s how we see the 2025 MLB season playing out.

Skenes started the 2024 All-Star Game as a rookie and has his sights set even higher for this season. / Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images

Division Reports

• AL East
• AL Central
• AL West
• NL East
• NL Central
• NL West

Award Picks

AL MVP: Bobby Witt Jr., Royals SS
Last year Witt was worth 9.4 WAR and won the AL batting title—in his age 24 season. He also won a Gold Glove. In other words: He’s valuable.

AL Cy Young: Logan Gilbert, Mariners SP
Breakout alert: Seattle’s workhorse led the AL in innings and WHIP while striking out nearly six times as many hitters as he walked.

AL Rookie of the Year: Kristian Campbell, Red Sox 2B
He played at three levels in the minors last sason and his worst OPS was .898. Meanwhile, Boston’s second basemen were worth -2.3 WAR in 2024.

AL Manager of the Year: Alex Cora, Red Sox
Cora has the Sox poised to break their three-year playoff drought (their last four-year dry spell was in the early 1990s).

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NL MVP: Shohei Ohtani, Dodgers SP/DH
Now that he’s back on the bump, Ohtani is a strong bet to become the first player (non-Bonds division) to threepeat as MVP.

NL Cy Young: Paul Skenes, Pirates SP
For those concerned about his durability: As a rookie last year, his best month was September (0.75 ERA, 12.8 strikeouts/9 IP).

NL Rookie of the Year: Roki Sasaki, Dodgers SP
The Dodgers own this award. They’ve had 18 winners; no other team has more than 10. Sasaki, who can touch 102 mph, should make it 19.

NL Manager of the Year: Carlos Mendoza, Mets
Expectations are high in Queens after a 67–40 finish last year—and a new addition you might have read about.

Aaron Judge and the Yankees are seeking New York’s 28th championship after falling short in the World Series last year. / Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

Postseason Predictions

AL Wild Card

135. . . 87–75. 63. . Tigers over Astros in 3. AL Wild Card prediction. 87–75

88–74. 11. AL Wild Card 2025 prediction. . . . Red Sox over Orioles in 2. 93–69. 14

AL Division Series

. AL Division Series prediction 1. 97–65. 43. . . 93–69. 14. Yankees over Red Sox in 5

63. . ALDS prediction 2. 5. . 87–75. Tigers over Guardians in 4. 88–74.

AL Championship Series

87–75. . Yankees over Tigers in 6. ALCS 2025 prediction. 43. . 63. 97–65.

NL Wild Card

NLWC prediction 1. 90–72. 9. . . 17. Braves over Cubs in 3. . 88–74

90–72. 8. Phillies over Diamondbacks in 2. 92–70. 6. . . NLWC prediction 2.

NL Division Series

90–72. 109–53. 71. . . 6. . Dodgers over Phillies in 4. NLDS prediction

17. 3. . 88–74. . Braves over Mets in 5. NLDS prediction 2. 92–70.

NL Championship Series

. 17. . NLCS prediction. 109–53. 71. . 88–74. Dodgers over Braves in 5

World Series

109–53. . . 43. Yankees over Dodgers in 7. World Series prediction. 71. . 97–65

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