Thu Mar 27 05:00:00 UTC 2025: **FanGraphs’ Preseason Projections Reveal Dodgers, Braves as Top Contenders**

**DENVER, CO** – FanGraphs, a leading baseball analytics website, released its annual season preview, ranking MLB teams based on projected performance. While the Dodgers and Braves emerged as the top contenders, projected to win 97 and 93 games respectively, the analysis highlights significant disparities across the league.

The projections, a blend of ZiPS and Steamer projections and RosterResource playing time estimates, reveal the Dodgers and Mariners as the only teams with multiple number-one positional finishes. The Braves and Dodgers also boast a significant number of top-five finishes. However, the rankings also underscore the volatility of baseball, as evidenced by several player trades and injuries since the initial projections were published. Notable examples include the Rockies’ trade of Nolan Jones, and Jordan Montgomery’s season-ending Tommy John surgery.

While the Dodgers and Braves dominated the top rankings, the Orioles, despite a strong outfield and bullpen, project a lower overall WAR due to a weaker rotation. Teams like the Mariners and Mets show high highs and low lows in their positional rankings, highlighting their roster inconsistencies. Conversely, the Rangers and Yankees show relative balance, minimizing bottom-ten finishes.

At the other end of the spectrum, the Rockies and Marlins face significant challenges, each with multiple last-place positional rankings. The White Sox, despite a historically poor 2024 season, still project slightly better than the Rockies.

FanGraphs acknowledges the limitations of ordinal rankings, emphasizing the importance of considering the magnitude of differences between team rankings and their deviation from the league average. Z-scores were calculated to quantify each team’s performance relative to the league average at each position.

The article concludes by reminding readers of baseball’s inherent unpredictability and the potential for significant shifts in team performance throughout the season. With many teams clustered closely in projected wins, the author anticipates a highly competitive season. The projections, while aiming for precision, acknowledge the likelihood of inaccuracies, suggesting a dynamic and exciting season ahead.

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