Who’s in and out for the beginning of October
Spring Training will be here before you know it and the 2025 MLB regular season is less than two months away. We all miss baseball, but it’s never too early to think about your favorite team possibly making it to the Postseason and/or winning the World Series. In this story, I’ll focus on potential Wild Card teams that might accomplish either one or both aforementioned objectives. If you want to see my picks of every 2025 Division Winner from both the American and National League, I’ll have links to those stories at the end of this story.
Here are some of my Wild Card picks that I believe will excel in the Postseason and the ones that will fall short of making it to October. I’ll focus on the American League for the first part of this story and the National League in part two of a separate story. Please note that the teams with the three best records from each league will make it to the Wild Card round. Here we go!
IN: Texas Rangers
I know I’ve stated in my previous story about my AL Division picks that I predicted them to win the American League West. I included my beloved team as a “just in case” pick. In case they do fail to win the division. With the resigning of 2023 World Series hero Nathan Eovaldi, as well as the notable signings of Kyle Higashioka, Jake Burger, and most recently, Joc Pederson, whom I’ll discuss in a bit. By the looks of these recent moves, the Rangers are serious about not only winning the AL West crown but a World Series title. They haven’t won the AL West title since 2016, while their rivals, the Houston Astros, have won it for nine consecutive years. I predict that their reign of keeping that streak going will be snapped by the Rangers.
On the topic of Joc Pederson, this was a move I didn’t see coming. However, any move is welcome for the Rangers. He has won a World Series title and that was with the Atlanta Braves in 2021. What about the other title he’s won, you ask? With all due respect to Joc, I’m not willing to acknowledge a World Series title that he won with the Dodgers in 2020 due to it being a pandemic year. To me, it was a half season, no actual fans were in attendance, and it would’ve been inappropriate for me to acknowledge that victory while millions of people were quarantined. In other words, it didn’t count. I still refuse to acknowledge it, no matter how much Dodgers fans and others get mad at me for speaking the truth about it. I’ll refer to Joc as a World Series champion and not a two-time World Series champion. I like Joc, but I’m not willing to say he’s won a World Series title twice.
Recently during a press conference being introduced as a Texas Ranger, Joc declared that this team will “take over the AL West.” Sure, the Rangers were unable to repeat as World Series champions last season, but I feel that 2025 will be a redemption year. And all of you Rangers haters out there, we’re not one-hit wonders, so cut that out.
OUT: New York Yankees
After being so God awful during last year’s World Series, I don’t see them returning to the Fall Classic again. Aaron Judge struggled during the entire Postseason. It was unlike him to perform so terribly. I do see him bouncing back and returning to his normal self in the upcoming regular season. With Juan Soto now a New York Met and the addition of players during the offseason such as Pitcher Max Fried, I do see them struggling throughout the 2025 regular season and end up finishing at .500 or a few games below that. Speaking of Max Fried, their bullpen is a concern, because will struggle to stay healthy.
IN: Detroit Tigers
After making it to the Postseason for the first time in 10 years, I believe that this team is destined to make a deeper run in the playoffs. They’re a really young team that shouldn’t be overlooked. The Tigers made it to the ALDS last year before being defeated by the Cleveland Guardians. Players like AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal, Parker Meadows, Colt Keith, and Kerry Carpenter are a must-watch, come this spring. Just to note, Tarik Skubal and National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale made history by becoming the first Triple Crown Winners in pitching. If you’re curious about what their stats were, here they are:
Tarik Skubal: 18 wins, 2.39 ERA, and 228 K
Chris Sale: 18 wins, 2.38 ERA, and 225 K
OUT: Houston Astros
One fact to pass along to everyone is that the Astros had lost seven straight home playoff games, dating back to 2023. The were swept in last year’s Wild Card round to the Detroit Tigers. It was sweet karma, because many of you know that I really don’t like them. As I mentioned earlier, they won the AL West title nine straight times. The main reason why they won’t win it again and also won’t make it to the playoffs is mainly because of one player: Justin Verlander. He’s in his early 40s and not as good as he once was. I believe that he needs to consider retiring before it gets any worse. They’re still the most hated team in baseball and I still won’t acknowledge them as World Series Champions. I also still refuse to praise those cheaters to this day.
IN: Kansas City Royals
The 2015 World Series Champions are the final American League Wild Card pick I predict will return to the playoffs. Despite Bobby Witt, Jr.’s subpar performance during last year’s Wild Card round against the Yankees, the Royals are capable of going even further in the playoffs. 2025 will mark 10 years of them winning the World Series, which was their first since 1985. If they somehow miraculously wow everyone by making it to the Fall Classic, that would be something. With players like Salvador Perez and the aforementioned Bobby Witt, Jr., you can never say never.
OUT: Seattle Mariners
For a brief period of time during the 2024 regular season, the Mariners were in the hunt for a Wild Card spot. Unfortunately, they lost so many games the last couple of months of the season that they were an afterthought. Despite having players like Julio Rodríguez and Pitcher Bryan Woo, I see the Mariners being a year or two away from returning to the Postseason. 2025 is simply not their time yet.
Which AL teams do you see making it as Wild Card teams this upcoming season? Sound off in the comments section below.