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NEW YORK – You’ve made it through the long, harsh winter.
Welcome to Opening Day, when hope is renewed all around MLB – except in South Beach and the South Side of Chicago.
Here in the South Bronx, there’s reason to believe the Yankees can repeat as a division winner in the formidable but not-quite-spectacular AL East.
There’s no denying this is a tougher road with Juan Soto gone, Gerrit Cole lost for the year, Giancarlo Stanton out indefinitely and Luis Gil hopeful of returning in July to his Rookie of the Year form.
And there’ll be more challenges to navigate, but every team faces them; at least the Yanks are equipped to make the playoffs now and to add championship-caliber pieces down the road.
5 bold Yankees predictions for 2025: Cody Bellinger, Anthony Volpe and Devin Williams
How’s that for optimism on Day One of 162?
Now, let’s get into what to watch in today’s opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium, and some predictions for the 2025 season:
It’s the debut of a new lineup configuration, beginning with Austin Wells, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger replacing the Gleyber Torres-Soto-Judge dynamic atop the order.
And that Soto-Judge tandem was historic, combining for 99 homers, 262 walks and 253 RBI.
We’ll never see that again.
Move on, we must. These are just exhibition stats, but Wells (.372 average, 1.263 OPS) and Bellinger (.400, 1.124) looked great in camp.
Related: Yankees' projected Opening Day lineup and our final thoughts as 2025 season begins
At their best, that’s a solid start to a lineup that has the potential to score 750-plus runs.
We’ll see if Paul Goldschmidt, at 37, can summon one more solid season, and we’ll watch how Jazz Chisholm Jr. can impact the lineup in his first full Yankee season.
Can Anthony Volpe add to his on-base and power numbers? Will Jasson Dominguez hit enough to stay in left field?
We start finding out today.
Beginning his third season in pinstripes, Rodon’s health and performance are critical to the Yankees’ success.
Max Fried’s addition had moved Rodon (at $27 million per year) to the No. 3 spot, until Cole’s elbow surgery changed everything.
Now, Rodon, 32, is making his second career Opening Day start. More importantly, can the veteran lefty duplicate last year’s durability and match his career-high 32 starts?
If so, that goes a long way toward stabilizing a rotation that will still require an upgrade before the trade deadline.
There wasn’t a better story in Yankees camp than JC Escarra, who made the club after years of toiling in the minors and independent leagues and driving for Uber to supplement his income.
He turns 30 in April and today might be his big-league debut.
Should he get an at-bat today, expect a Stadium roar that’s usually reserved for the stars in Yankees Universe.
How much impact the lefty-hitting catcher has as Wells’ backup is hard to quantify, but – whether or not he plays today – this Opening Day will be one to savor for Escarra.
Just like there’s no replacing Juan Soto, there is no one like the legendary John Sterling.
This will be the Yankees’ first Opening Day without Sterling in the radio booth since 1988, but it’s the debut of Dave Sims at the mic.
And we’ll bet that Sims quickly becomes a fan favorite for his excitable style, wit, charm, knowledge and East Coast flair, with decades of broadcasting experience.
What to expect: 'All in' on the Yankees, Dave Sims is set to call play-by-play in the Bronx
Sims mentioned he might slip in a “Deep to left…’’ home run call, to honor another legend, Bill White. But he’s uniquely Dave Sims, and his Yankees journey begins today alongside yet another legend, Suzyn Waldman.
AL Division champs: Yankees, Twins, Rangers
AL Wild Cards: Orioles, Red Sox, Athletics
NL Division champs: Phillies, Reds, Dodgers
NL Wild Cards: Mets, Braves, Cubs
AL Championship Series: Rangers over Red Sox
NL Championship Series: Dodgers over Braves
World Series: Rangers over Dodgers
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees Opening Day 2025: Things to Watch, MLB season predictions
Continue reading...
Welcome to Opening Day, when hope is renewed all around MLB – except in South Beach and the South Side of Chicago.
Here in the South Bronx, there’s reason to believe the Yankees can repeat as a division winner in the formidable but not-quite-spectacular AL East.
There’s no denying this is a tougher road with Juan Soto gone, Gerrit Cole lost for the year, Giancarlo Stanton out indefinitely and Luis Gil hopeful of returning in July to his Rookie of the Year form.
And there’ll be more challenges to navigate, but every team faces them; at least the Yanks are equipped to make the playoffs now and to add championship-caliber pieces down the road.
5 bold Yankees predictions for 2025: Cody Bellinger, Anthony Volpe and Devin Williams
How’s that for optimism on Day One of 162?
Now, let’s get into what to watch in today’s opener against the Milwaukee Brewers at Yankee Stadium, and some predictions for the 2025 season:
Yankees' lineup: New top-of-the-order dynamic
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It’s the debut of a new lineup configuration, beginning with Austin Wells, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger replacing the Gleyber Torres-Soto-Judge dynamic atop the order.
And that Soto-Judge tandem was historic, combining for 99 homers, 262 walks and 253 RBI.
We’ll never see that again.
Move on, we must. These are just exhibition stats, but Wells (.372 average, 1.263 OPS) and Bellinger (.400, 1.124) looked great in camp.
Related: Yankees' projected Opening Day lineup and our final thoughts as 2025 season begins
At their best, that’s a solid start to a lineup that has the potential to score 750-plus runs.
We’ll see if Paul Goldschmidt, at 37, can summon one more solid season, and we’ll watch how Jazz Chisholm Jr. can impact the lineup in his first full Yankee season.
Can Anthony Volpe add to his on-base and power numbers? Will Jasson Dominguez hit enough to stay in left field?
We start finding out today.
Carlos Rodon’s importance to Yankees' staff
You must be registered for see images
Beginning his third season in pinstripes, Rodon’s health and performance are critical to the Yankees’ success.
Max Fried’s addition had moved Rodon (at $27 million per year) to the No. 3 spot, until Cole’s elbow surgery changed everything.
Now, Rodon, 32, is making his second career Opening Day start. More importantly, can the veteran lefty duplicate last year’s durability and match his career-high 32 starts?
If so, that goes a long way toward stabilizing a rotation that will still require an upgrade before the trade deadline.
Yankees rookie JC Escarra’s debut
You must be registered for see images attach
There wasn’t a better story in Yankees camp than JC Escarra, who made the club after years of toiling in the minors and independent leagues and driving for Uber to supplement his income.
He turns 30 in April and today might be his big-league debut.
Should he get an at-bat today, expect a Stadium roar that’s usually reserved for the stars in Yankees Universe.
How much impact the lefty-hitting catcher has as Wells’ backup is hard to quantify, but – whether or not he plays today – this Opening Day will be one to savor for Escarra.
Dave Sims' Yankee broadcast debut
Just like there’s no replacing Juan Soto, there is no one like the legendary John Sterling.
This will be the Yankees’ first Opening Day without Sterling in the radio booth since 1988, but it’s the debut of Dave Sims at the mic.
And we’ll bet that Sims quickly becomes a fan favorite for his excitable style, wit, charm, knowledge and East Coast flair, with decades of broadcasting experience.
What to expect: 'All in' on the Yankees, Dave Sims is set to call play-by-play in the Bronx
Sims mentioned he might slip in a “Deep to left…’’ home run call, to honor another legend, Bill White. But he’s uniquely Dave Sims, and his Yankees journey begins today alongside yet another legend, Suzyn Waldman.
Our fearless 2025 MLB predictions
You must be registered for see images attach
AL Division champs: Yankees, Twins, Rangers
AL Wild Cards: Orioles, Red Sox, Athletics
NL Division champs: Phillies, Reds, Dodgers
NL Wild Cards: Mets, Braves, Cubs
AL Championship Series: Rangers over Red Sox
NL Championship Series: Dodgers over Braves
World Series: Rangers over Dodgers
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees Opening Day 2025: Things to Watch, MLB season predictions
Continue reading...
