2025 Arizona Diamondbacks: Expectations and Analysis

2025 MLB Season: Arizona Diamondbacks – A Team on the Rise with Strong Pitching and a Rebounding Offense

As we approach the 2025 MLB season, the Diamondbacks are once again a team to keep an eye on. With a solid foundation of young talent and some exciting offseason moves, Arizona is primed to make a real push in the National League. While their offense remains a bit volatile, the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff is shaping up to be one of the most formidable in the league. Can they break into the postseason and make some noise? Let’s dive into their chances, both on the field and in the fantasy realm.

Corbin Carroll: The Comeback Kid?

The biggest story heading into 2025 for Arizona is Carroll. After being taken in the first round last year, Carroll’s 2024 was a tale of two halves. His first three months were a disaster, with a .230 batting average, leaving many fantasy managers wondering if they had made a massive mistake. Fortunately, Carroll showed some life toward the end of the season and managed to salvage his numbers, finishing with a more respectable line. However, with so much hype surrounding him, the question remains: will Carroll take the next step in his development and be the player that many projected him to be?

Betting Angle: Corbin Carroll’s Total Home Runs (Over/Under 26.5)

If you believe in a bounce-back season, betting the Over on 26.5 home runs for Carroll could be a solid move. His athleticism and power potential make this a reachable target, especially if he can get off to a faster start this year. However, if he struggles again in the first half, the Under could be in play.

Ketel Marte and the Supporting Cast: Can They Keep Up the Momentum?

While Carroll is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the Diamondbacks’ offense, Marte has quietly emerged as one of the best all-around second basemen in baseball. After a stellar season in 2024, where he showcased elite hitting, it’s reasonable to ask if he can replicate that MVP-caliber performance. With Marte slotted in at second base, he’ll continue to be the backbone of Arizona’s lineup, providing stability and production.

Joining Marte at the top of the lineup is Josh Naylor, who was acquired in the offseason to replace Christian Walker (Houston Astros) at first base. While Walker is solid defensively, Naylor brings similar offensive production, which should keep the first base spot consistent. However, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in the cleanup spot, Arizona has a bit of a miscast power hitter. Gurriel is a solid contact hitter but isn’t known for his power, so this could lead to some imbalance in the lineup.

Players like Jake McCarthy, Eugenio Suárez, and Pavin Smith round out the middle of the order, offering decent value in fantasy leagues, but with limited upside. McCarthy provides speed, and Suárez brings power, but both have significant holes in their games. Overall, the offense is good, but it’s not necessarily one to rival the elite lineups in the league.

Betting Angle: Arizona’s Total Wins (Over/Under 83.5 Wins)

Arizona’s offense should be at least league-average, if not a tick above, but the real strength lies in their pitching. Still, with a decent mix of hitters, I’d bet the Over on 83.5 wins. Arizona is likely to be competitive in the NL West and should make a strong push for a Wild Card spot.

Pitching Depth: Corbin Burnes, Zac Gallen, and the Rotation’s Strength

If the Diamondbacks are going to make a serious playoff push, it will be on the back of their starting pitching. The offseason addition of Burnes gives Arizona a true ace to pair with Gallen, who has been one of the best pitchers in baseball in recent years. The duo forms one of the most dominant 1-2 punches in the league, and both pitchers are top-tier fantasy assets in 2025.

Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodríguez provide solid depth in the rotation, with Brandon Pfaadt looking to build on a solid 2024 season. Pfaadt has breakout potential this year, making him a great late-round fantasy target. If he can take the next step, Arizona will have one of the deeper rotations in baseball.

The Diamondbacks‘ starting five is strong, and they will rely on this unit to keep them in games, especially with a somewhat volatile offense.

Betting Angle: Burnes’ Total Strikeouts (Over/Under 205.5)

With Burns at the top of the rotation, betting on the Over on 205.5 strikeouts is a solid move. Burns is a strikeout machine, and with the Diamondbacks needing him to lead the rotation, he’ll have plenty of opportunities to rack up K’s this season.

The Bullpen: A Muddled Closer Situation

While the Diamondbacks’ rotation is solid, the bullpen presents a bit more uncertainty. They have a few options for closing duties, including Justin Martinez, Scott McGough, and newly-acquired A.J. Puk. Arizona employed a committee approach in 2024, and it’s unclear if they will stick with that in 2025.

This creates some challenges in fantasy baseball, where having a reliable closer can be crucial. If you’re eyeing an Arizona reliever, you might want to hedge your bets and take a flyer on a few of these guys, but it’s unclear who will take control of the role.

Betting Angle: Arizona’s Save Leader (Any Closer with 25+ Saves)

If you’re betting on a clear closer emerging, it’s worth considering the Under on 25 saves for any single closer in Arizona’s bullpen. With a likely shared workload, it’s more probable that no one reaches that 25-save threshold, so this might be a situation to avoid.

Fantasy Focus: Targeting Key Players

• Carroll: Despite his struggles last year, Carroll is a high-risk, high-reward player. He has the potential to be a 30/30 player, and with another year of adjustments under his belt, he could take a huge leap. He’s a potential first-round talent, but there’s some risk involved based on his 2024 performance.
• Marte: Marte is one of the best second basemen in fantasy and should be drafted as such. He’s consistently produced across all categories and offers good value, particularly in 5×5 leagues.
• Naylor: Naylor’s bat is solid, and while he doesn’t have the same power as Christian Walker, he should produce at a similar rate. He’s a fine mid-round pick, particularly in deeper leagues.
• Pfaadt: As a potential breakout pitcher, Pfaadt is a name to target later in drafts. He could be the next Gallen for the Diamondbacks, and with a deep rotation behind him, he should get plenty of opportunities to succeed.
• Puk: If you’re in a saves league, Puk is a good dart throw. While the bullpen situation is murky, he has the stuff to take the job if given the opportunity.

Conclusion: Arizona Diamondbacks – A Contender to Watch

The Diamondbacks are a team on the rise in 2025. Their pitching staff, anchored by Burnes and Gallen, is one of the most formidable in the league, while their offense, led by Carroll and Marte, has enough firepower to compete in a tough NL West.

While their bullpen remains a bit of a question mark, Arizona’s overall depth and talent should put them firmly in the Wild Card race. Their strong rotation will likely carry them, and if the offense can exceed expectations, they could even make a deeper playoff run. For betting, the Over on 83.5 wins and the Over on 26.5 home runs for Carroll seem like solid picks for the Diamondbacks’ 2025 season.

This is a team worth keeping an eye on, both in the standings and in your fantasy drafts. With some solid veterans and exciting young talent, the Diamondbacks could be one of the surprises of the year.

You can read all about what’s going on in Major League Baseball at SportsGrid.com.