On Facebook
On Flipboard
NL best-case scenarios: Why Braves, Cubs have high ceilings
The Major League Baseball season will open in Tokyo on March 17-18 with a two-game series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs. The other big-league teams, meanwhile, will open their seasons later in March.
Ahead of Opening Day, Yardbarker MLB writers offer a best-case scenario record for every team in the National League.
NL East
ATLANTA BRAVES (Best-case record: 97-65) | With the return of right fielder and 2023 NL MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. and ace Spencer Strider, the Braves will ideally reclaim the division they've won 18 times. A healthy Atlanta can contend with just about anybody in the league.
MIAMI MARLINS (Best-case record: 54-108) | A playoff team in 2023, the Marlins are set to lose 100 games for the second straight season. Anything less than 100 losses would be ideal for this inexperienced club that’s severely lacking in star power, with the exception of former NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara.
NEW YORK METS (Best-case record: 86-76) | You know what they say: Pitching wins championships, and the Mets’ staff is not pennant-caliber as it stands. Should the club overcome the countless injuries they’ve suffered in spring training, OF Juan Soto and SS Francisco Lindor can lead them to nearly 90 wins and perhaps a wild-card berth.
PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (Best-case record: 92-70) | A second consecutive division title isn't in the cards for the Phillies, but their pitching staff will carry a somewhat disappointing offense to a postseason appearance for the fourth year in a row. After falling short in recent years, it’s World Series or bust for their veteran core.
WASHINGTON NATIONALS (Best-case record: 78-84) | The Nationals have talented players (OFs James Wood and Dylan Crews and pitcher MacKenzie Gore), but they are not ready to contend. A year of growth for their young players to help solidify a promising future is the most they can ask for. — Lauren Amour
NL West
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS (Best-case record: 90-72) | With 90 wins, the Diamondbacks would likely leapfrog their division rivals in San Diego and also possibly be back in the postseason for the second time in three years. After getting to the World Series in 2023 and barely missing the postseason last year, Arizona is in position to play meaningful October baseball, a big step forward in the desert.
COLORADO ROCKIES (Best-case record: 75-87) | The Rockies likely won’t contend for a postseason spot this year, but new faces (right-hander Chase Dollander and OF Zac Veen) are expected to debut in 2025. If they join a young core that can break Colorado’s two-year skid of logging more than 100 losses, there could be hope for the Rockies in 2026.
LOS ANGELES DODGERS (Best-case record: 100-62) | The Dodgers are the odds-on favorite to once again win the World Series. They have a plethora of talent to make it happen. Los Angeles finished with 98 wins last year, so winning another title and hitting triple-digits in regular-season wins could arguably make 2025 even more special than 2024.
SAN DIEGO PADRES (Best-case record: 88-74) | The Padres were agonizingly close to knocking off the Dodgers in last year’s National League Division Series, so a best-case scenario would be that San Diego meets the Dodgers again in the 2025 postseason…and beats them. If the Padres can get into October, anything is possible with a star-studded roster.
SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS (Best-case record: 79-83) | It’s a new era in San Francisco with SS Willy Adames becoming the face of the franchise after signing a seven-year, $182M deal in the offseason. With six games against the Diamondbacks and eight against the Dodgers in September, the Giants, with Adames playing the lead role, could be spoilers. But this team is not headed for the postseason. — Kevin Henry
NL Central
CHICAGO CUBS (Best-case record: 91-71) | The Cubs haven’t found themselves finishing the season atop the NL Central in a full-length season since 2017. With big offseason moves — most notably trading for three-time All-Star OF Kyle Tucker — they put themselves in the best position to take back the division. Per FanDuel, the Cubs are favored to win the division.
CINCINNATI REDS (Best-case record: 86-76) | With some of the best young talent in baseball, including 2024 All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz, the Reds could make a push to win the division. Cincinnati is in position to win more than 83 games, something it hasn’t done since 2013 (90).
MILWAUKEE BREWERS (Best-case record: 90-72) | The Brewers are one of four teams to make the playoffs in at least five of the past six seasons (Dodgers, Astros and Braves), but they are the only team in the group to win no rounds in the span. With postseason expectations high, second-year manager Pat Murphy must not only guide Milwaukee back to the playoffs but also advance past the wild-card round — where they've played in four of their past five appearances — to relieve the team's lingering burden.
PITTSBURGH PIRATES (Best-case record: 83-79) | Pittsburgh has struggled to compete in the NL Central over the past nine seasons, last achieving a top-two division finish in 2015, which was also the last time they achieved more than 82 wins in a season. However, with promising young talent and a relatively weak division, the team has a chance to reestablish itself.
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (Best-case record: 79-83) | The lone team to not add a free agent, the Cardinals are expected to see a sizable decrease in production in 2025. Projected for just 75.5 wins in 2025, per FanDuel, St. Louis, if its young talent rises, could top the projection. — Taylor Bretl
More must-reads:
- Braves' Spencer Strider looks ready to dominate once again
- Why Mike Shildt chose Michael King as Padres Opening Day starter
- The 'American League WAR leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
TODAY'S BEST
Brewers officially have a legit MVP candidate
On Tuesday night, the Milwaukee Brewers extended their winning streak to 11 games, and a key part of the team's momentum is a player who is in the National League MVP race. The red-hot Brewers entered Tuesday night facing one of the biggest threats to their winning streak, Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes. Milwaukee torched Skenes for two home runs and four earned runs in 4.0 innings pitched. Brewers first baseman Andrew Vaughn added extra damage in the sixth inning with a three-run home run that increased Milwaukee's lead to 12-0. Per Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Vaughn is in the NL MVP race after his home run on Tuesday night. "Andrew Vaughn suddenly in top 10 NL MVP discussion with another 3-run HR, giving him 32 RBI since joining the Brewers," Nightengale posted on X. "He is the gift that keeps on giving from the White Sox. They are about to go 24-4 since his arrival." Vaughn has helped the Brewers overrun and then take a commanding lead on the Chicago Cubs in the NL Central. Following their 14-0 win Tuesday night, the Brewers extended their lead to 7.5 games over the Cubs for first place. Vaughn is turning out to be a steal for the Brewers, as Milwaukee only gave up veteran pitcher Aaron Civale and cash considerations for the first baseman on June 13. While Vaughn might have a case to be in the top 10, he has much work before he becomes a legitimate contender for the NL MVP. Per FanDuel, Los Angeles Dodgers star slugger Shohei Ohtani leads the race with -20000 odds. Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber is second with +1800 odds. Those two players have been more consistent this season, whereas Vaughn has come on strong since leaving Chicago.
Celtics' ownership move should concern Lakers governor Jeanie Buss
Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is supposed to remain in charge of the team for years even after the sale. Given what just happened with the Boston Celtics, it might only be months. When the Grousbeck family sold the Celtics for $6.1B in March, ESPN reported that Wyc Grousbeck would stay on as the Celtics CEO and governor through the 2027-28 season. Now, new owner Bill Chisholm will take over once the sale is final. That should concern current Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss, whose family sold a majority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers to investor Mark Walter. Buss is supposed to stay on as team governor for "at least a number of years," according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, but new NBA owners haven't been keen on waiting to take control of teams recently. Mark Cuban thought he would continue running the Dallas Mavericks when he sold a controlling interest to the Adelson family in November 2023. Before the end of that season, when Dallas advanced to the NBA Finals, new team governor Patrick Dumont, the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, was firmly in charge. General manager Nico Harrison reported directly to Dumont, which is how Luka Doncic ended up traded to the Lakers despite Cuban's objections. It might be different with the Lakers. Walter has owned a minority share in the Lakers since 2021, so he's had a working relationship with Buss. Her role as team governor may be a condition of the sale itself. With the team preparing for a long-term future with Doncic, Walter and his fellow owners might opt for continuity in the team governor role. But in general, people do not spend billions of dollars on a professional sports team so that someone else can be in charge. Buss is in charge of the Lakers now. Recent history says she won't be for long.
Oregon suspends former five-star WR recruit indefinitely
Oregon wide receiver Jurrion Dickey has struggled to live up to expectations in his first two seasons with the Ducks, and he is now in a terrible position heading into 2025 as well. Dickey has been suspended indefinitely by Oregon, head coach Dan Lanning announced on Tuesday. Lanning also suggested that Dickey may not play for the Ducks again. "We have two team rules; that’s respectful, be on time,” Lanning said, via James Crepea of The Oregonian. “There’s some pieces of that where I felt like he needed a break from us and we needed a break from that so we could focus on what’s in front of us right now. "Wishing him nothing but the best, as far as success and want to see him get back to where he can be a contributor somewhere; that might be here that might be somewhere else.” Dickey was a five-star recruit and rated as one of the top wide receivers in the country when he came out of Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, Calif., in 2023. He suffered an injury in his senior year in high school and redshirted as a freshman at Oregon. Dickey has two catches for 14 years during his time with the Ducks. Oregon went 13-1 in Lanning's third season with the program last season. The Ducks lost to eventual national champion Ohio State in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals.
Packers HC Matt LaFleur makes a telling comment about Jordan Love
The Green Bay Packers always had a vision for Jordan Love. That's why they shocked the world by taking him in the first round, even if that meant infuriating Aaron Rodgers. Fast forward to today, and Love has proved to be up to the task of being a starter, and he's even looked like a potential star at times. That's why, despite some inconsistencies and questionable decision-making, head coach Matt LaFleur still has the utmost confidence in him. "I’d hate to put a ceiling on him because I think he can be one of the elites in this league," LaFleur told The Athletic. Love took some pages out of Rodgers' book. He's been great at making the most of free plays, and his sidearm throws are just too similar to No. 12. What he didn't get from his mentor, however, was the consistency and the ability to take care of the football. Even so, Love knows he has what it takes to be among the best of the best. "What those guys do at such a high level is just consistency with everything," Love said. "I know I’m just as good as those guys and can be even better, so I think it comes down to going out there and making those plays on Sunday." Love is currently out with an injury that will most likely keep him sidelined until Week 1. The Packers wide receiver corps has been the most decimated in the league, and with sky-high expectations for the season, all eyes will be on Love in 2025.
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
