The 2025 season closes in and with it comes many engaging storylines throughout the MLB. From the debut of one other star Japanese pitcher to a number of groups taking part in in minor-league parks, there’s actually no scarcity of intrigue. However only for enjoyable, listed below are 10 extra arbitrary storylines to concentrate to this yr. Whereas every has a basis based mostly on stats and/or vibes, I wouldn’t essentially put cash on these coming true.
However, on the off likelihood they do occur, I’ll be capable of say “I instructed you so!” and fake that I can see the longer term. And at a minimal, they need to hopefully be capable of spotlight some good draft-day values in fantasy leagues which can be definitely worth the gamble.
Disclaimer: These daring predictions are predominantly centered on redraft roto-style fantasy leagues. Draft place is predicated on latest NFBC draft information. Finish-of-year participant rankings will use the Fangraphs Public sale Calculator.
1. Nick Pivetta Finishes the Season as a High-25 Beginning Pitcher
Going into his age-32 season as a Padre, Nick Pivetta has been a comparatively recognized commodity all through his profession. He’s repeatedly proven indicators of promise whereas persistently returning a 4.00+ ERA in every of his eight MLB seasons. Whereas these subpar outcomes may make fantasy managers flip a blind eye to Pivetta, he isn’t the identical oatmeal-ly pitcher he was once. For the reason that begin of the 2023 season, Pivetta has quietly struck batters out on the eighth-highest fee within the MLB amongst starters.
Highest Ok/9 Amongst Starters from 2023-2024 with Min. 120 IP
In early June of 2023, Pivetta reportedly found the important thing to his revitalization: an adjustment to his slider, turning it right into a sweeper with drastically extra horizontal break. Since this discovery, Pivetta regularly tinkered with and labored it into his repertoire, utilizing it alongside his slider in 2023 however leaning on it far more closely in 2024. Making up 23% of his pitches, this sweeper profiles out nicely, producing elite chase charges that helped Pivetta end 60 of his 172 strikeouts in 2024 off the pitch. Unsurprisingly, his Ok% jumped as he began utilizing the sweeper extra. Whereas FanGraphs doesn’t differentiate between sweepers and sliders, his sweeper slowly phased out most of his slider utilization and commanded most of his SL-pitch bucket in 2024.
Whereas his ERA over these previous two seasons have been career-best marks, they’ve nonetheless been over 4.00, disguising the enhancements he’s made. The underlying metrics acknowledge these enhancements together with his SIERA dropping beneath 3.40 in each seasons. His transfer into the extra pitcher-friendly Petco Park must be helpful and may assist him get even nearer to those pleasant underlying numbers.
Although Pivetta averages because the SP#61 in NFBC drafts for the 2025 season, he’s posted eerily comparable numbers on a per-inning foundation to SP#17 Pablo López over the previous two seasons. Not fairly the workhorse that López is, Pivetta nonetheless has the possibility to complete the 2025 season as a top-25 pitcher due to his elite strikeout fee, sturdy WHIP, and ERA upside.
2. Michael Conforto has a Resurgent 30-HR/100-RBI Season
After a two-year stint in Oracle Park, Michael Conforto will probably be getting a change of surroundings as he slots into the juggernaut Dodgers offense. He’s projected to bat seventh on this lineup which ought to nonetheless turnover sufficient for him to not take an enormous hit to his per-game quantity. Whereas he won’t have put up the flashiest numbers over his previous few seasons, Conforto’s underlying numbers final yr paint the image of a useful hitter. He continues to hit the ball exhausting with out promoting out his contact fee or stroll fee.
As a hitter, Conforto must be excited to depart Oracle Park for Dodger Stadium. Over his two seasons with the Giants, Conforto was far more productive in his away video games than his residence video games, evidenced by a 31-point leap in WRC+ when on the street. Albeit a small pattern dimension, Conforto hit high-value pulled fly balls far more typically when away from Oracle Park over these two years.
That is probably a acutely aware effort to keep away from focusing on Oracle Park’s power-sapping proper subject, however he ought to really feel extra assured hitting them as he goes from Oracle Park’s lefty HR park issue of 77 to Dodger Stadium’s 119. In his new residence, Conforto has an opportunity to replace his method and absolutely faucet into his energy potential. Whereas his well being is at all times in query, Conforto has the potential to publish a 30 HR/100 RBI season on this high-octane lineup.
3. Tyler Soderstrom Leads the Athletics in Dwelling Runs
One of the vital intriguing groups going into this season is the Athletics, and that’s not simply due to the brand new residence. This workforce will subject a strong lineup with not simply top-end expertise however loads of depth with 6 batters projected for 20+ residence runs. Whereas Brent Rooker and Shea Langeliers might headline that group, Tyler Soderstrom has sneaky potential to steer the workforce in residence runs.
Down the stretch in 2024 for the Diamondbacks, right-hander Justin Martinez was the first choice for saves whereas lefty A.J. Puk was used a bit extra situationally. Although Torey Luvullo’s feedback present a slight lean in direction of Puk because the workforce’s nearer for 2025, with no large shakeup of their bullpen workers it’s exhausting to imagine they don’t proceed maximizing Puk’s utilization flexibility. All main projections agree with this and nonetheless mission Martinez for extra saves, even whereas Puk is the higher arm.
This makes predicting Puk’s 2025 fantasy worth tough, as there’s likelihood he will get neither the saves of a better nor the wins of a starter. However because the MLB regularly strikes away from the “workhorse” fashion of relievers, these with elite ratios and strikeout upsides change into an increasing number of related in fantasy baseball. By Fangraphs public sale {dollars} final season, many elite non-closer relievers put up top-15 RP values like Jason Adam (inexperienced) and Cade Smith (orange).
Although this won’t be an ideal portrayal, it does display how relievers can nonetheless present sturdy worth to fantasy groups with out reliance on saves. And whereas Adam and Smith had been incredible pitchers final yr, Puk was even higher. After his brief early-season scuffle, Puk was high 3 amongst all of those top-30 relievers in nearly every part from June 1st onward. He topped the charts in ERA, WHIP, SIERA, Ok-BB%, and even innings pitched. If he’s in a position to hold this tempo up by means of all the 2025 season, he’ll return extra worth than Adam and Smith did final yr. Add in a possible for a handful of saves behind Justin Martinez and a top-10 RP season must be simply achievable.
9. Carlos Correa Finishes as a High-10 SS
Carlos Correa averaging an ADP of 235 because the SS#23 in NFBC drafts is wild. Positive, he’s missed time over the previous couple of years because of his lingering plantar fasciitis, however he’s being far too discounted by drafters for his most up-to-date season the place he missed about half of the yr. Whereas taking part in simply 86 video games is actually not preferrred, he reportedly had a wholesome offseason and remains to be anticipated to play because the on a regular basis shortstop this season. However the Twins will probably be extra deliberate of their DH rotations to higher handle his situation and assist get him off his toes.
Correa confirmed final season that his bat expertise have aged like a superb wine by posting elite ratios, counting stats, and residential run energy en path to a 155 WRC+ yr. Going into his age-30 season, he hasn’t proven a susceptibility to typical age-related decline due to his elite bat pace and nice chase/whiff charges, so there must be no doubts about Correa’s expertise going into 2025. Together with his nice per-game manufacturing, he was nonetheless in a position to put up a top-20 season amongst shortstops final season in solely half a yr’s price of video games. Even when his harm propensity limits his quantity this season, he ought to return worth nicely above his muted ADP and must be of venture price taking.
10. Hayden Wesneski Wins 10+ Video games for the Astros
Hayden Wesneski has proven some potential in his time with the Cubs earlier than being traded to the Astros as a part of the blockbuster Kyle Tucker deal. He’s pitched each as a starter and out of the bullpen for the Cubs with a complete of 190 innings over his 3-year MLB profession. He throws a robust sweeper as his major providing, producing excessive whiff charges and a paltry .235 xwOBA towards over his profession. His different main providing is his average-pace four-seamer which has been ticking up in velocity over the previous couple of years. Whereas it doesn’t have nice form, it performs up due to his elite extension.
Theoretically, the Astros wouldn’t add Wesneski to the Tucker deal in the event that they didn’t have a plan for him. Their sturdy pitching improvement group ought to be capable of tinker with Wesneski’s mechanics to get probably the most out of his skills. Whether or not that’s bettering his four-seamer form or transferring to higher make the most of his sinker, Wesneski brings a strong basis with loads of room for enchancment. Anticipated to have loads of quantity firstly of the 2025 season, he ought to be capable of solidify himself as a contributor to this Astros workforce. Wesneski ought to be capable of leverage his above-average 41% High quality Begin fee to earn double-digit wins this yr for the Astros.
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