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The Arizona Diamondbacks begin their 2025 season on March 27, hosting the Chicago Cubs at 7:10 p.m.
How much success should playoff-hungry fans expect this year, and what are some key storylines to follow?
A few of us at The Arizona Republic took our shots; feel free to criticize as the season moves along!
Regular season: Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte receive MVP votes, Corbin Burnes leads a much-improved starting rotation and the Diamondbacks hang with the Dodgers at the top of the division — at least for a while.
One fearless prediction: GM Mike Hazen wanted to acquire a closer over the winter, but the Diamondbacks have two qualified candidates. Whoever Torey Lovullo selects as a long-term option — A.J. Puk or Justin Martinez — turns in one of the better seasons for a closer in club history.
PIayoffs? Yes. After 2023, we're no longer in the business of predicting how the postseason will play out other than this: It will be entertaining.
—Nick Piecoro, Republic Diamondbacks writer
Regular season: Arizona avoids a massive slump that dooms the season, and the starting pitching is as good as advertised, giving the Diamondbacks a chance to push the Dodgers for the National League West title with a 98-win season.
One fearless prediction: The new guy at first base, Josh Naylor, will flirt with 30 home runs and a .300 batting average.
PIayoffs? Yes. Don’t ask me what will happen when they get there. I still don’t believe what I saw in 2023.
—Greg Moore, Republic sports columnist
Regular season: Don’t be surprised if the offense is able to recapture much of the magic and impressive numbers from a year ago, and this time, the overall pitching delivers far better results. That should be more than enough to reach 92 or 93 wins.
One fearless prediction: Corbin Burnes wins the NL Cy Young Award.
PIayoffs? Absolutely, if they stay relatively healthy. But they don’t advance past the divisional round.
—Bob McManaman, Republic sports columnist
Regular season: Arizona's hot start in March and April allows some cushion in the race for the playoffs, and the Diamondbacks win a wild-card berth with a 90-72 record.
One fearless prediction: Corbin Carroll has a 30-30 (HRs and steals) season.
PIayoffs? Yes, and the team reaches the NLCS but falls to the Dodgers in five games.
—Jay Dieffenbach, Republic Sports Director
Regular season: The Diamondbacks' pitching depth helps them get to the All-Star break above .500, and the offense has a better second half to help the team earn an NL wild-card spot.
One fearless prediction: Drey Jameson comes up from Triple-A and plays a vital role in the bullpen in the latter part of the season, even earning a few saves.
PIayoffs? Yes, and the team reaches the NLCS but falls to the Dodgers in seven games.
—Jose A. Romero, Republic Diamondbacks writer
Regular season: The Diamondbacks' starting pitching rotation finds its groove late in the season, helping Arizona secure the final wild-card berth in the MLB playoffs with an 89-73 record.
One fearless prediction: After finishing a career-best third in NL MVP voting last season, Ketel Marte finishes second to Shohei Ohtani for the award in 2025.
PIayoffs? Yes, the Diamondbacks upset the Cubs in the wild-card round before falling to the Braves in a thrilling NLDS.
—Jeremy Cluff, Republic sports writer
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks in 2025: How The Republic sees the season
Continue reading...
How much success should playoff-hungry fans expect this year, and what are some key storylines to follow?
A few of us at The Arizona Republic took our shots; feel free to criticize as the season moves along!
Two MVP candidates lead Arizona in 2025
Regular season: Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte receive MVP votes, Corbin Burnes leads a much-improved starting rotation and the Diamondbacks hang with the Dodgers at the top of the division — at least for a while.
One fearless prediction: GM Mike Hazen wanted to acquire a closer over the winter, but the Diamondbacks have two qualified candidates. Whoever Torey Lovullo selects as a long-term option — A.J. Puk or Justin Martinez — turns in one of the better seasons for a closer in club history.
PIayoffs? Yes. After 2023, we're no longer in the business of predicting how the postseason will play out other than this: It will be entertaining.
—Nick Piecoro, Republic Diamondbacks writer
Dodgers find a challenge in NL West
Regular season: Arizona avoids a massive slump that dooms the season, and the starting pitching is as good as advertised, giving the Diamondbacks a chance to push the Dodgers for the National League West title with a 98-win season.
One fearless prediction: The new guy at first base, Josh Naylor, will flirt with 30 home runs and a .300 batting average.
PIayoffs? Yes. Don’t ask me what will happen when they get there. I still don’t believe what I saw in 2023.
—Greg Moore, Republic sports columnist
North of 90 wins for the Diamondbacks
Regular season: Don’t be surprised if the offense is able to recapture much of the magic and impressive numbers from a year ago, and this time, the overall pitching delivers far better results. That should be more than enough to reach 92 or 93 wins.
One fearless prediction: Corbin Burnes wins the NL Cy Young Award.
PIayoffs? Absolutely, if they stay relatively healthy. But they don’t advance past the divisional round.
—Bob McManaman, Republic sports columnist
Diamondbacks stack the victories
Regular season: Arizona's hot start in March and April allows some cushion in the race for the playoffs, and the Diamondbacks win a wild-card berth with a 90-72 record.
One fearless prediction: Corbin Carroll has a 30-30 (HRs and steals) season.
PIayoffs? Yes, and the team reaches the NLCS but falls to the Dodgers in five games.
—Jay Dieffenbach, Republic Sports Director
Diamondbacks find surprise in the 'pen
Regular season: The Diamondbacks' pitching depth helps them get to the All-Star break above .500, and the offense has a better second half to help the team earn an NL wild-card spot.
One fearless prediction: Drey Jameson comes up from Triple-A and plays a vital role in the bullpen in the latter part of the season, even earning a few saves.
PIayoffs? Yes, and the team reaches the NLCS but falls to the Dodgers in seven games.
—Jose A. Romero, Republic Diamondbacks writer
Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte closes in on Ohtani
Regular season: The Diamondbacks' starting pitching rotation finds its groove late in the season, helping Arizona secure the final wild-card berth in the MLB playoffs with an 89-73 record.
One fearless prediction: After finishing a career-best third in NL MVP voting last season, Ketel Marte finishes second to Shohei Ohtani for the award in 2025.
PIayoffs? Yes, the Diamondbacks upset the Cubs in the wild-card round before falling to the Braves in a thrilling NLDS.
—Jeremy Cluff, Republic sports writer
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks in 2025: How The Republic sees the season
Continue reading...
