Will Arizona Diamondbacks make MLB playoffs in 2025? Writers high on wild-card chances

The Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in a tough situation in 2025 (and every other season, lately).

They are in the same division as the Los Angeles Dodgers, the record-spending World Series champions who continue to spend and spend improving their roster.

That makes it tough for Arizona, which has to compete against the Dodgers throughout the season and then, with LA likely winning the division title, leaves the Diamondbacks with the wild-card route through the MLB playoffs.

Will the Diamondbacks make the playoffs in 2025?

Here's what MLB writers are saying about Arizona's chances in their 2025 MLB predictions before the start of the season.

CBS Sports: 3 of 5 writers predict Arizona Diamondbacks to be a wild-card team

Dayn Perry writes: "This is a tough division, but there's simply no competing with the Dodgers right now. Are the D-backs the second-best team in the NL? It's a fair question."

Mike Axisa writes: "I would pick the D-backs to win three of the other five divisions. I don't expect them to be the game's highest scoring offense again, but they have power (even without Christian Walker) and speed (lots of it), and Corbin Burnes improves an already strong rotation. Arizona is stuck in the wrong division. The Dodgers are the class of baseball right now."

Matt Snyder writes: "There is nothing in baseball in 2025 of which I'm more certain than the Dodgers winning the NL West. I still love the D-backs and think there's a chance the Padres or even the Giants could be formidable playoff teams, but the Dodgers are 100% winning this division. I just can't envision any realistic scenario where it doesn't happen."

Bleacher Report: Diamondbacks will be top wild-card team in NL

Tim Kelly writes: "If the Diamondbacks were in any other division, we'd probably pick them to win it. Even though they are stuck in one with the Dodgers, we're going to bet they blow past their over/under total and claim the top wild-card spot in the NL. With the addition of Naylor, the Diamondbacks should have a top-five offense. And that's not even the best part of their team, as Corbin Burnes has joined a starting rotation with Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodríguez, Brandon Pfaadt ... in the mix. If injuries don't decimate their pitching like they did last season, the Diamondbacks might be the biggest threats to the Dodgers winning a second straight NL pennant."

Action Network: Diamondbacks are fourth-best team in National League

Sean Zerillo writes: "I view Arizona as the fourth-best team in the NL, and I project them as a very likely playoff team (my projection -209); public projections put them closer to -125, which is about where I'd set my price target. Using the composite projection (-159) as a guide, bet the Snakes to make the postseason up to -130. Additionally, I'd find a way to bet the Diamondbacks to finish in exactly 2nd place in the NL West at +150 or better."

Picks Wise: Diamondbacks legitimate contender in National League

Caleb Wilfinger writes: "Even though this number has ticked up a bit over the course of the offseason, the Diamondbacks to win at least 87 games is still one of my favorite preseason MLB futures on the board. Unlike many teams this offseason, Arizona is a team that actively made a concerted effort to improve its roster and make a push to challenge the juggernauts at the top of the National League. And while I don’t think they’ll be quite on the level of the Dodgers or whoever comes out on top in the NL East, there’s no reason the Diamondbacks can’t win at least 90 games and make it back to the postseason. For starters, Arizona’s deep rotation — now bolstered by the addition of Corbin Burnes — should be a force to be reckoned with, provided it stays healthy. Burnes joins Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and Brandon Pfaadt to make up one of the better units in the National League, which is a necessity when going up against the likes of the Dodgers and Padres all season long. At the dish, the Diamondbacks boast a rock-solid lineup that can hit for power and average, and should be one of the best base-stealing units in the sport. As long as the bullpen can come close to regaining its 2023 form, Arizona should be in great shape to be a legitimate contender in a loaded National League."

Bleacher Report: Diamondbacks a playoff team in 2025

The site has Arizona making the NLDS as the top wild-card team, where they have to take on the Dodgers. It has the DBacks losing to the Dodgers in four games.

Zachary D. Rymer writes: "This is one of those moments where you can feel the upset, and we indeed know from 2023 what the D-backs shocking the Dodgers in the playoffs looks like. This is a different Dodgers team, however. The '23 iteration basically ran out of pitching, which will only happen in 2025 if some sort of blight that only affects No. 1-caliber starters sweeps through Los Angeles. Assuming Rōki Sasaki builds on his rough debut in Japan, the Dodgers will have at least four No. 1 types in their rotation to begin this season. And as tough as Arizona's offense is, it does not have a Shohei Ohtani."

Fangraphs: Diamondbacks have a 61.2% chance to make MLB playoffs

The site gives Arizona a 9.2% shot to win the NL West and a 52% shot to earn a wild-card berth in the 2025 season.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

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