MLB September 2025 Storylines
MLB.com’s 4 Biggest Questions Heading into Labor Day: A Summary
Here’s a breakdown of the four biggest questions MLB.com is posing as baseball heads into Labor Day, based on the provided text:
1. Is Cal Raleigh a Dark Horse MVP Candidate?
Shohei Ohtani is the current MVP frontrunner,having recently surpassed Aaron Judge in MLB.com’s rankings.
Though, Cal Raleigh (Seattle Mariners catcher) is gaining momentum.
To really contend, Raleigh needs to reach 60 home runs and lead the Mariners to the playoffs (only thier second playoff appearance in 24 years).2. Will There Be a Meaningful Wild Card Race?
Currently, the 12 teams in playoff position all have a 90% or higher chance of staying there, according to Fangraphs.
The Mets and Yankees have stabilized after early struggles, diminishing the chances of a late-season surge from teams like the Reds, Cardinals, Guardians, or Royals.
The Royals, Rangers, and Reds still have a chance to make it captivating, but need to improve quickly.
3. Who Will Win the NL and AL West Divisions?
The Dodgers (NL West) and Astros (AL West) are in familiar positions, leading their divisions.
The Padres are aggressively pursuing the Dodgers, having made significant trades to bolster their roster.
The Mariners are aiming for their first division title since 2001 and believe they have a strong contender.
Both West divisions are currently very tight and likely to remain competitive.
4. Can the Toronto Blue Jays Maintain Their Lead in the AL East?
Regardless of the final outcome, the Blue Jays have already had a successful season.
They’ve rebounded from a potentially dire situation last year, where they risked losing key players and their competitive window seemed to be closing.
* Their four-game sweep of the Yankees in July was a turning point, and they’ve held first place since.