2025 MLB Predictions: Expert Division Picks and Standings Insights

The MLB 2025 season is shaping up to be an exhilarating roller coaster, packed with fierce division races, unpredictable surprises, and the promise of breakout performances.

CBS Sports’ expert panel has unveiled its division picks and standings projections, shedding light on the teams favored to dominate, the underdogs poised to fight back, and the dynamics that could shape one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory.

From AL East intrigue to NL West supremacy, here’s a closer look at what the year in baseball could bring.

AL East: Red Sox Rule, but Depth Reigns Supreme

The AL East has earned its reputation as potentially the strongest division heading into 2025, and this year seems no different.

CBS experts have given the edge to the Boston Red Sox, citing their offseason acquisitions of star third baseman Alex Bregman and dynamic left-hander Garrett Crochet as game-changing moves.

Despite the Yankees’ storied franchise mystique, losing ace Gerrit Cole for the year to injury is a major blow, leaving them vulnerable in a division stacked with talent.

Will All Five Teams Finish .500 or Better?

One of the most fascinating predictions centers around the possibility of all five teams in the division finishing at or above .500—a rare feat in baseball history.

Depth and parity give the AL East a unique competitive edge, with experts predicting this division to be a bloodbath where no game is taken for granted.

Could this be the year baseball witnesses a division sweep where there’s hardly a weak link? Time will tell.

AL Central: Wide Open, Except at the Bottom

If the AL East represents stability at the top, the AL Central embraces unpredictability.

Four teams in the division are considered contenders, setting the stage for an evenly matched race to the playoffs.

However, one team is conspicuously absent from serious discussion: the Chicago White Sox.

Unanimously projected to finish last, the rebuilding White Sox appear destined for another tough season as they watch their rivals jockey for postseason positioning.

Who Will Take Command of the AL West?

The AL West, meanwhile, is a division of divergence among CBS Sports experts.

The Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners, and Houston Astros each have vocal proponents backing them as potential winners.

The Rangers have bolstered their roster with a mix of youth and experience, while the Mariners and Astros, perennial contenders, rely on proven cores.

This divisional race could come down to late-season heroics and which team best withstands the grind of a 162-game campaign.

NL East: Phillies vs. Braves in a Heavyweight Fight

Over in the National League, the NL East promises fireworks, particularly between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves.

Both teams boast deep lineups brimming with All-Star-caliber talent, making this a matchup of baseball titans.

While CBS analysts see this as the tightest two-team race of the year, mentions of underlying depth and pitching strengths could tip the balance in favor of either squad.

NL Central: A True Battle Top-to-Bottom

The NL Central may not have the star power of other divisions, but what it does have is unparalleled competition from top to bottom.

CBS experts unanimously agree that this division will be baseball’s most tightly contested, featuring the Cubs and Brewers as projected frontrunners.

The Cubs have improved in key areas, narrowly edging out Milwaukee in the projections, though every team in the division is expected to scrap for wins.

NL West: Dodgers Dominate While Diamondbacks Lurk

Moving west, the NL West finds the Los Angeles Dodgers firmly entrenched as the class of baseball.

Everyone from CBS agrees that this team will dominate its division, buoyed by a seemingly endless pipeline of talent and disciplined roster construction.

The Dodgers are simply on another level compared to their divisional peers.

Are the Diamondbacks the Best Non-Division Leader?

The Arizona Diamondbacks have emerged as legitimate contenders, but their aspirations are stymied by the misfortune of sharing a division with the behemoth Dodgers.

Some analysts suggest that the Diamondbacks could conquer several other divisions if placed elsewhere, making their unique challenge a cruel twist of scheduling fate.

Expect the Unexpected in MLB 2025

Looking ahead to the 2025 MLB season, experts remind fans of one timeless truth: baseball loves its surprises.

Whether it’s a breakout player flipping playoff odds or a trade reshaping a team’s trajectory, the season’s marathon nature ensures that anything can happen.

This unpredictability is part of the fun—and it’s exactly why millions will tune in for every pitch.

As division races tighten and predictions evolve, one thing is certain: MLB 2025 stands ready to deliver intensity, drama, and moments destined for the history books.

Buckle up, because this promises to be a season like no other.

 
Here is the source article for this story: 2025 MLB predictions: Expert picks for every division, full standings projections as baseball season begins