Baseball is back! For those who can’t wait until April, now could be the perfect time to place some MLB bets. Here are my three favorite preseason futures going into the 2025 campaign on DraftKings Sportsbook:
Pittsburgh Pirates finish Top 2 in division (+210)
Every year, there always seems to be an unexpected team that reaches the postseason. In 2024, that applied to both the Royals and Tigers; in the three-wildcard era, expect this trend to continue. This season, a National League squad with a similar focus on pitching could shock the world. Heading into spring training, the consensus worst division in baseball is the NL Central. While the Cubs made a splash with the acquisition of Kyle Tucker, the same can’t be said for the rest of this group. The Brewers lost All-Stars Willy Adames and Devin Williams, while the Reds and Cardinals did next to nothing. If there was ever a time for the Pirates to make a postseason push, it’s now.
Nearly all of the discussion around Pittsburgh revolves around Paul Skenes, and for good reason. The NL Rookie of the Year was nothing short of spectacular, pitching to a 1.93 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 214 ERA+ over 133 innings. However, the young fireballer has some company in this rotation. Jared Jones is another high-upside arm, pitching to a 4.14 ERA and a 9.8 K/9 rate as a rookie. Former All-Star Mitch Keller is a proven talent, recording a 4.13 ERA and 8.7 K/9 rate over the past three seasons. Top prospect Bubba Chandler, ranked #15 on MLB.com’s Top 100 list, could make his debut this summer as well.
If the Pirates can evolve into a top-ten rotation, the sky is truly the limit. However, they’ll need more offense this season. Bryan Reynolds (career 120 wRC+) and Oneil Cruz (108 wRC+) are solid pieces, but this lineup is thin. Offseason pickups Spencer Horwitz (125 wRC+) and Tommy Pham (113 wRC+) will hope to provide depth. An infield defense led by Gold Glovers Ke’Bryan Hayes and Isiah Kiner-Falefa could also make up for a lack of scoring. As long as Pittsburgh avoids being absolutely awful at the plate, an 80+ win season is very realistic. The Buccos are a fun, young team that have the makings of a 2025 Cinderella.
Atlanta Braves #1 seed in National League (+425)
Did you know that the Dodgers are really good? The defending champs have gotten all the headlines after adding pitchers Blake Snell and Roki Sasaki this offseason. While Los Angeles are the overwhelming favorites to win a World Series (+300), a few squads could give them trouble. The 2024 Braves were plagued by injuries, but the team did manage to reach the postseason. Now, with Spencer Strider and former MVP Ronald Acuna Jr. (hopefully) healthy, Atlanta is poised for another championship push.
The loss of starting pitcher Max Fried to the Yankees hurts, but this is still a deep rotation. Reigning Cy Young winner Chris Sale should be great once again, while Strider has some of the best stuff in baseball. Spencer Schwellenbach is a sneaky breakout candidate, having compiled a 3.35 ERA and 9.24 K/9 rate in 2024. Another 1.99 ERA, All-Star season from Reynaldo Lopez might be wishful thinking. However, the veteran can be a terrific fourth starter even with a dip in production.
The real key for Atlanta will be its hitting, which has the potential to pace the league. Down seasons from All-Stars Matt Olson (2024: 117 wRC+), Ozzie Albies (95 wRC+) and Michael Harris III (99 wRC+) are unlikely to continue. Jurickson Profar (139 wRC+) was a terrific offseason pickup, capable of filling in at several positions. All of that is without mentioning Acuna Jr., one of baseball’s true superstars. The former MVP might not be ready by the start of April while recovering from an ACL tear. Still, there’s enough depth to carry this roster through the spring. If you’re looking for a regular season pivot from the Dodgers, the Braves are great value at 4-1 odds.
Texas Rangers to win the American League (+1000)
Almost everything went right for the Rangers in 2023, culminating in a World Series victory over the Diamondbacks. However, nearly everything went wrong for Texas in 2024. Injuries and underperformance plagued star hitters Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. The pitching staff got a combined 54 innings out of veterans Jacob DeGrom and Max Scherzer. Other than Kirby Yates and David Robertson, the bullpen was erratic.
It wasn’t the most exciting offseason for Texas. The front office resigned starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and acquired a handful of relievers. On offense, the additions of Jake Burger (2024: 106 wRC+) and Joc Pederson (151 wRC+) were offset by trading away Nathaniel Lowe (121 wRC+). Still, the biggest boost for the Rangers is improved health. Injuries to Seager (123 games), Josh Jung (46 games), and Evan Carter (45 games) hindered a once-dominant lineup. A bounce-back for both Semien (99 wRC+) and Adolis Garcia (92 wRC+) is also likelier than not. In the rotation, DeGrom and Tyler Mahle are high-upside starters, while Eovaldi and Jon Gray offer quality depth. Rookie Kumar Rocker, #44 on MLB.com’s Top 100, could earn a starting spot out of spring training.
One major factor that works in Texas’ favor is experience. This team won a title only two years ago, led by future Hall of Fame manager Bruce Bochy. Even if a few players don’t return to form, this should be a vastly improved roster. That could be good enough to win a weak American League, where only the Yankees, Astros and Orioles look like true contenders. With just the fourth-highest odds in the AL, don’t be shocked if the Rangers make a return to the Fall Classic.
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