After the Tokyo Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago Cubs, MLB will celebrate its Opening Day on March 27, promising a season full of excitement and great rivalries.
This year, the MLB will maintain the same format, with all 30 teams divided into the American and National Leagues, each featuring three divisions: East, West, and Central.
The two division champions with the best records in each league will advance directly to the Division Series in the postseason. Meanwhile, the division champion with the worst record, alongside the three teams with the best records that did not win their division, will compete in the Wild Card Series.
Once the Wild Card Series concludes, the two advancing teams will move on to the Division Series. This will be followed by the League Championship Series and the World Series, where the champions of the American and National Leagues will face off.
Among the changes for this season is the fact that the Athletics are leaving Oakland, as they will be moving to Las Vegas. However, since their new stadium is still under construction, they will play the next three seasons (with the possibility of a fourth) at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California.
Another team that won’t be playing in their home stadium is the Tampa Bay Rays due to the damage Tropicana Field sustained from Hurricane Milton. They will play at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the New York Yankees’ spring training stadium in Tampa. With a capacity of 11,026 people, it will be the smallest stadium in Major League Baseball.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Experts and logic suggest that the top contender to win MLB in 2025 is the Los Angeles Dodgers,<\/strong> the reigning champions of American baseball and the team with the best roster.
The main reason for their favoritism is Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani, who will be aiming for another MVP award. This year, in addition to contributing with his bat, he also returned to pitching.In 2024, Ohtani hit .310 with 130 RBIs, 54 home runs, and 59 stolen bases.<\/strong>
To complement Ohtani, the team added star pitcher Blake Snell, Japanese pitching sensation Roki Sasaki, closers Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, and retained slugger Teoscar Hern\u00e1ndez. Their lineup also features former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman.
They have already made their season debut with the Tokyo Series, winning both games against the Chicago Cubs by scores of 4-1 and 6-3. Ohtani had three hits in eight at-bats, including a home run, scored three runs, and drew two walks. Another standout was Will Smith, who went 2-for-4 with two runs, an RBI, and five walks.
Beyond the Dodgers, two other teams could make a significant impact this season: the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies. <\/strong>
For the Braves, analysts project them to surpass 90 wins, with the return of Ronald Acu\u00f1a Jr. expected to be a game-changer. Atlanta also boasts the reigning National League Cy Young winner, left-hander Chris Sale, who posted a 2.38 ERA with 18 wins and just three losses last season.
On the Phillies’ side, their leader, Bryce Harper, remains one of the best players in MLB, guiding his team into serious contention in the National League.
Last season, Harper finished sixth in the MVP voting thanks to his 30 home runs and 87 RBIs.
Pitcher Taijuan Walker impressed in Spring Training, while Max Kepler could prove to be a solid addition to cover left field. <\/p>\n\n\n\nMLB 2025 Season Outside picks <\/h2>\n\n\n\n