With the beginning of the 2025 MLB season simply over a month away, official statistical projections for the upcoming season have been launched, portray fairly a special image for the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox.
The projections, launched by Fangraphs and Baseball Prospectus, respectively, are launched yearly forward of every season and undertaking every staff’s win-loss document, together with statistical projections for particular person gamers.
The White Sox, who’re coming off the worst season in trendy MLB historical past with a document of 41-121, had been predicted by each publications to point out a modest enchancment in 2025, although they’re clear that nobody needs to be anticipating October baseball on the South Facet.
Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projections have the White Sox remaining in final place by a major margin, although doing so with a 21-game enchancment over their 2024 season with a projected document of 62-100.
PECOTA predicts a step again for the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Guardians, who’re projected to complete under .500 after making the postseason in 2024, whereas forecasting a division win for the Minnesota Twins at an 86-76 document, meager for a typical division winner.
PECOTA reveals rather more optimism on the North Facet, with Baseball Prospectus projecting a major enchancment for the Cubs in 2025 with a 91-71 document and first-place end.
Baseball Prospectus predicts the Cubs will run away with an unremarkable NL Central, projecting a second-place Brewers staff to complete 10 video games behind the Cubs with a .500 document.
Fangraphs doesn’t maintain the identical optimism for the Cubs, predicting an identical end to the 2024 season with an 84-78 document.
Regardless of the extra muted prediction for the Cubs, Fangraphs nonetheless believes the North Siders will finish the season as NL Central champions, with the outlet projecting an equivalent 81-81 document for a second-place Brewers staff.
As for the White Sox, Fangraphs is forecasting an identical enchancment for the South Siders, going a sport additional than PECOTA by predicting a 22-game enchancment, which might spare the White Sox from 100 losses with a 63-99 document.
PECOTA tasks the White Sox won’t be the worst staff within the MLB as effectively, predicting a ghastly 55-107 season from the Colorado Rockies, who misplaced 101 video games final season and did little to complement their roster this offseason.
Fangraphs is considerably extra optimistic on the Rockies, predicting a 65-97 end whereas nonetheless pitting the White Sox as MLB’s worst staff with a document two video games worse.
Each shops agree on the Los Angeles Dodgers being the league’s finest staff within the upcoming season, with PECOTA projecting a 103-59 document whereas Fangraphs predicts a extra measured 97-65 end.
