The NL Central will be competitive in 2025 and the Chicago Cubs, ten years after breaking their World Series curse, are primed to strike. It was a quietly interesting offseason for the Northsiders. The Cubbies won 83 games and tied for second with the rival St. Louis Cardinals. Their pitching staff ranked 10th in baseball with a 3.78 staff ERA, compensating for a meager 101 … [Read more...] about ESNY’s MLB Preview 2025: Are the Chicago Cubs charging back?
ESNY’s MLB Preview 2025: The Minnesota Twins teardown is coming
The Minnesota Twins are Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get from them any given season. One year, they’ll be sub-.500 and out of the playoffs by mid-June. Another, they might hold onto first place for dear life before their eventual Division Series exit, usually at the hands of the Yankees. In some rare cases, they’ll rally late and steal the … [Read more...] about ESNY’s MLB Preview 2025: The Minnesota Twins teardown is coming
ESNY’s MLB Preview 2025: The playoff-ready Pittsburgh Pirates
One year after finishing last in the NL Central, the next Pittsburgh Pirates breakthrough may be coming. The Buccos, despite finishing last and 17 games out of first in 2024, still won 76 games. They weren’t a good team, but certainly weren’t awful. They matched their win total from 2023, their highest since 2018. But more importantly, the 2024 season finally saw the Pirates’ … [Read more...] about ESNY’s MLB Preview 2025: The playoff-ready Pittsburgh Pirates
ESNY’s MLB Preview 2025: The Lost Voyage of the Seattle Mariners
Maybe it’s bad luck, maybe it’s an old seaman’s curse, but one thing’s for sure. The Seattle Mariners just can’t get it done. Such is the franchise’s life story (Jon Bois’ Mariners docuseries on Secret Base covers it perfectly). Not even the most talented and electrifying of prospects can get Seattle over the hump and into a World Series. The Mariners are the only team in Major … [Read more...] about ESNY’s MLB Preview 2025: The Lost Voyage of the Seattle Mariners
ESNY’s MLB Preview 2025: Everything’s bigger on the Texas Rangers
Two years ago, the Texas Rangers rode a red-hot powerful lineup and a talented (but middling) pitching staff all the way to winning the World Series. One year later, the lineup regressed towards the pitching’s level, on the lower tier of the middle. Adolis Garcia and Marcus Semien both hit under .240, and Corey Seager missed time with injuries despite hitting 30 home … [Read more...] about ESNY’s MLB Preview 2025: Everything’s bigger on the Texas Rangers