Early-Season 2025 MLB Standings: A Blockbuster Season Takes Shape
By: Padraig Smith
As April puts the finishing touches on another month, the 2025 season is heating up with historic beginnings, breakout performances, and strategic moves that are weighing heavily on early playoff narratives. Below are how the current standings look and how early favorites are staking their claims in both leagues.
National League: Dodgers and Padres on Center Stage
Los Angeles Dodgers:
The Dodgers are not backing down after their 2024 World Series title. They opened their title defense with a historic record of 8-0, the best start ever for a reigning champion. With Blake Snell coming into the offseason and Michael Conforto, the rotation and offense are stacked with MVP names such as Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and Will Smith. People behind the scenes were saying that Betts would give a positive sign with his return to shortstop if he could just improve the team’s infield defense. After taking a tough 11-10 loss in ten innings to the Cubs on April 22, the Dodgers remain resilient and unrelenting. With momentum and confidence, these boys are quickly becoming fit for the title of the team to beat once more.
San Diego Padres:
If the Dodgers are on a giveaway, then the San Diego Padres are making sure the National League West remains a two-team race. As of April 18, the Padres are 15-4 and have put on one of the best pitching starts in recent history. Six shutouts in their first sixteen games—an honor only shared with the Cleveland Indians of 1966—these guys have stifled the other team’s offense by superhuman performance. Led by Joe Musgrove and Kyle Hart, the pitching rotation of the Padres just looks like a one sided contest against the inarguably slumping batters. Fernando Tatis Jr. answering for scoring and regrouping, when necessary, while Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts have been the loudly productive first in going against the Dodgers’ supremacy.
Chicago Cubs:
Flying a bit under the radar but still in the mix are the Chicago Cubs. As of April 18, they are now 14-10. Throughout their games they were not under duress nor seemed threatened by the upper-echelon teams like San Diego and Arizona. Michael Busch, Pete Crow-Armstrong, and Ian Happ were the centerpieces for early success. But inconsistency has been a problem for the team, especially in big games. Recently Dansby Swanson has been struggling at the plate, creating a major hitting problem, but if they rotate well and get hot with the bat, they could be in the wild card mix or more.
American League: The Bronx Bombers and the Red-Hot Phillies
New York Yankees:
The Yankees began 2025 with a bang. MLB records show 18 home runs from their first four games and 25 from their first eight games. Aaron Judge is on fire, batting .480 in April, and receiving solid support from Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Volpe. The Yankees are also much better defensively, and the rotation of Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodón is solid. If they continue this pace with their hitting, and their pitching holds up, they can run away with the AL East and a deep October.
Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies showed up at the 2023 World Series and were impressive in 2024. Now they’re showing up with flames again in 2025. Bryce Harper drives the team engine with a .292 batting average, 3 HRs, and 7 RBI in just a week. They made significant improvements to their outfield and bullpen with moves such as Max Kepler and Jordan Romano. All those hires as of now are paying off. Hopefully they can become the most balanced team between power and bullpen in the National Baseball League. If they can achieve that then it’s almost assured that they’ll become World Series Champions
Emerging Storylines
Juan Soto’s Mets Era
One of the most anticipated players this season is Juan Soto, who got signed by the New York Mets on a record deal of 15 years’ worth $765 million. His first home run as a Met on March 28 was something to behold and could foreshadow his stay with the Mets. Soto adds elite talent to an already strong lineup that includes Pete Alonso and Francisco Lindor. How well and how soon the Mets rally around their new star will determine the distance they’ll travel this offseason.
Diamondbacks Eyeing Top Prospect
The Diamondbacks have been watching what is shaping up to be a stellar Triple-A campaign from top shortstop prospect Jordan Lawlar, the latest golden boy at Arizona. With a .325 average and 1.049 OPS, he could be called up soon, even given their injury woes. His debut might be just what the D’Backs need to get going in the NL West.
Conclusion
The season isn’t even a month old, yet the storylines are pretty rich. The Dodgers and Padres are at it in the West, the Yankees keep rewriting the record books, and the Phillies have shown that last year’s success was no fluke. Stars are shining, rookies are rising, and every week fills the news with surprises.
