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By Those Deferred BenchWarmers

Opening Day is finally upon us! As the Dodgers take the field for their first series back in the States, they approach perhaps the most anticipated Dodger season in many fan’s lifetimes. With this great anticipation, The Deferred BenchWarmers are offering our Bold Predictions for the 2025 season.

Now, we are trying to make these BOLD predictions: predicting an NL West Crown, Ohtani repeat MVP, or even a World Series aren’t too far out there, so we’re looking beyond that.

Major Baseball Awards:
Derek Chen: Cy Young: Blake Snell

Rob Diaz: Gold Glove : Andy Pages

Riley Saxon: Comeback Player of the Year: Clayton Kershaw

Team Cy Young:
Derek: Blake Snell

Rob: Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Riley: Tyler Glasnow

New Fan Favorite:
Derek: Tommy Edman – What’s not to like about Tommy Tanks, another Swiss Army knife for the team who can play anywhere and hit for power and contact.

Rob: Blake Snell – Not sure if he still does his video game streams, but the ones I’ve seen have been entertaining. Could give Kike a run for his money.

Riley: I really think Conforto is going to go the Teó route of last year: a bit of an under-the-radar signing, but comes on strong and embraces the Dodgers… and become a guy that fans clamor to re-sign in the offseason.

HR Celebration (does seed throwing stay or go?):
Derek: don’t see a need to change the hr celebration, I like this simple celebration more than the props used by other teams.

Rob: Hopefully stays! But it would be awesome if they bring back the bubble machine to piggy-back off the seed throwing.

Riley: I am sure they’ll think of a new one, but I really just want Kiké back in the Banana Suit at least one time this season

Trade Deadline Acquisition (position-wise):
Derek: bullpen, can never have too many arms

Rob: Surprisingly another starting pitcher.

Riley: I think another Edman type trade – a versatile veteran who brings some surprising pop

Most Starts at 2B:
Derek: Alex Freeland

Rob: Tommy Edman

Riley: Edman

Team Leader in Strikeouts (pitching)
Derek: Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Rob: Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Riley: Tyler Glasnow

Team Leader in Saves
Derek: Kirby Yates

Rob: Blake Treinen

Riley: Tanner Scott

All Stars:
Derek: Shohei, Freddie, Mookie, Snell, Glasnow, Yamamoto

Rob: Shohei, Yamamoto, Will Smith, Teoscar Hernandez, Treinen

Riley: Ohtani, Betts, Freeman, Conforto, Smith, Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell, Scott

Predict the Playoff Rotation:
Derek: Snell, Yamamoto, Shohei, Glasnow

Rob: Yamamoto, Glasnow, Snell, Bullpen game

Riley: Glasnow, Snell, Yamamoto, Kershaw

How many times will Dave Roberts be ejected for arguing calls? (Career: 12 ejections in 10 years):
Derek: 0

Rob: 2

Riley: 1

One BOLD Prediction:
Derek: Alex Freeland makes his major league debut and takes over at 2nd for good.

Rob: 1) Andy Pages hits 25 home runs. 2) Lefty hitters attempt to bunt at least 10 times to beat the shifted 3rd basemen. 3) At least one Dodger pitcher has 200 strikeouts (last time was Walker Buehler in 2021)

Riley: Landon Knack becomes a bullpen force and the Dodgers have what many call one of the best bullpens ever.