MLB Is About To Get Even Crazier

TL;DR

The 2025 MLB season has been defined by shocking collapses, brawls, gambling scandals, and no-name teams outperforming baseball's most expensive rosters.

Key Points

• 1.The Dodgers ($400M+ payroll, 97% preseason playoff odds) went 12-21 from July 4th, lost the division lead for the first time in 103 days, and Shohei Ohtani faces a $240M civil lawsuit over a real estate deal gone wrong.
• 2.The Padres-Dodgers rivalry exploded into a full brawl series: Tatis Jr. was hit by Dodgers pitchers three times in 10 days, and Ohtani was drilled twice, including by a 100 mph Robert Suarez fastball.
• 3.The Red Sox traded Raphael Devers — one of baseball's best hitters — for an injured pitcher with a 6+ ERA and minor league prospects, yet have the third-best record in baseball since the trade while the Giants, who received Devers, have the worst record in baseball.
• 4.The Milwaukee Brewers, with a payroll three times less than the Dodgers and no top-30 WAR position players, went 30-5 over one stretch and have the most wins, best run differential, and best starting ERA in baseball.
• 5.Cal Raleigh (nicknamed "Big Dumper") is on pace for 60 home runs, already broke the catcher All-Star break HR record with 38, and won the Home Run Derby — challenging Aaron Judge's AL single-season record.
• 6.The All-Star Game ended tied, triggering MLB's first-ever home run swing-off, which Kyle Schwarber won by hitting 3 homers on 3 swings for the NL.
• 7.Cleveland Guardians closers Luis Castillo and Emmanuel Clase are under investigation for gambling — Castillo for allegedly throwing intentional balls on the first pitch of innings, and Clase for being statistically 3x more likely to throw a first-pitch ball way outside the zone.