MLB News and Notes -- Good and Bad to Start 2025

Los Angeles Dodgers (20-10) - Last year's World Series Champions have looked really good again so far. Los Angeles has the three Japanese superstars -- Ohtani, Yamamoto and Sasaki. Sasaki is still getting settled into his new team and new country and hasn't even picked up his first win yet. But, the Dodgers keep winning and are the top team in the NL West right now. They are the favorites to win the World Series this year and we can see exactly why.

New York Mets (21-9) - Juan Soto has not been up to his standards after making the move from the Yankees to the Mets. He hasn't even hit a home-run at Citi Field yet this season. But, New York is still winning even with the tough start for one of the top baseball players in the MLB. The Mets are the top team in the loaded NL East division and they lead by 4.5 games. It will probably even out as the season moves along but the Mets have the best record in the MLB so far and will be dangerous once Soto catches fire.

Detroit Tigers (18-12) - The Tigers made the playoffs last season and beat the Astros in the Wildcard Series. They don't have the best team overall on paper. But, the youth and style of play that they play is hard for teams to go up against. They also have maybe the top pitcher in the American League -- Tarik Skubal has a 2.34 ERA this year and has been the pinnacle of pitching over the past year. We think that the Tigers have a good shot at being even better than last season with the American League having slightly less competition at the top than the National League has (our opinion.)

San Francisco Giants (19-11) - Surprising to some, but expected for Bob Melvin and the Giants. They have began this season really well and it's because of their defense and the long ball. San Francisco has the best fielding percentage in the MLB right now and doesn't allow teams to get any baserunners that they don't earn. The Giants also have 23 home runs in 30 games -- top five out of all the teams right now. We think that the NL West will catch up to the Giants with San Diego/Arizona below them ever so slightly. But, it's been a rock solid start for SF. 
 

Philadelphia Phillies (16-13) - Streaks of winning and losing have been what has happened to the Phillies this season. They went on a five games losing streak during the middle of April and have now won three games in a row to have them where they are right now. Aaron Nola has been worse than expected but there's still a lot of year left for him to get back to where he has been over the last few years. Philadelphia also has a really good offense with a top on base percentage in the MLB. We know that they are better than 16-13 and we think that they will improve to 'The Good' at the end of this season.

Boston Red Sox (17-14) - The Red Sox are on a winning streak of three games right now and are improving by the day. Boston went out and got Alex Bregman and Garrett Crochet in the offseason. Those two guys help make the Red Sox a really good team. Boston is top five in hits, on base percantage, ops, slugging and stolen bases a fifth intho the season. We think that Boston will challenge New York at the end of the season for the best team in the American League East Division.

Kansas City Royals (15-15) - Kansas City made the playoffs last year and beat the Orioles in the Wildcard Series. The Royals have won half of their games this season. They got their top pitcher Cole Ragans on a great deal for the team in the offseason (not the best for Ragans) and will be a team that people should look out for when the Royals' farm system brings up players to the Major Leagues. Bobby Witt Jr is a bright superstar and will provide the Royals with his great player for a long time. 

Atlanta Braves (14-15) - Slowly improving after a really bad start, the Braves will soon be in 'The Okay' group of these rankings. Atlanta still doesn't have the record that it would want though this season. The Braves got back Spencer Strider and will get back Ronald Acuna Jr really soon. Ozzie Albies and Matt Olson have not been where they want to be in terms of hitting. But, the Braves shouldn't have any trouble in overcoming the bad start and making the playoffs again this year with how many good players they have on their team. 

Baltimore Orioles (11-18) - After the Orioles lost Corbin Burnes and Anthony Santander in the offseason, they didn't replace either of them with anyone of the same caliber. Baltimore does not have as good of a team as it did last year and it lost in the Wildcard Series last year to the Kansas City Royals. Grayson Rodriguez was just transferred to the 60-Day IL and hasn't pitched for the Orioles this season. They are really lacking with their pitching this year with Kyle Gibson making his first start and allowing four home runs in the first inning. Charlie Morton has also been really bad this year. 

St. Louis Cardinals (12-17) - St. Louis wasn't supposed to be great. But, the Cardinals don't have as bad as a team as they continue to play like. St. Louis did give up Paul Goldschmidt in the offseason -- who has been a terrific addition to the Yankees. St. Louis still has really good power hitting and should have decent pitching too in one of the worst Divisions in the MLB. The Cubs are a lot better this season so the Cardinals have to really pick it up if they want to make the playoffs this season. We don't think that they get there.