Dodgers Favorites as 2025 MLB Season Opens Amid A’s Vegas Transition
The Dodgers have jumped out as favorites in the 2025 season with an outstanding early record and key acquisitions, while the Athletics prepare for a move to Las Vegas and a new stadium slated for 2028, intensifying competitive balance debates.
Published on April 8, 2025
The 2025 MLB season has kicked off with the Los Angeles Dodgers emerging as early favorites. The team has built momentum with an impressive 8-0 start and key moves in the offseason, including acquiring center fielder Esteury Ruiz from the Athletics. Standout moments, such as Shohei Ohtani’s walk-off home run against the Atlanta Braves, have fueled talk of a near-perfect season as of early April 2025.
Meanwhile, the Oakland Athletics are in the midst of a major transition as they prepare to relocate to Las Vegas. Despite unveiling plans for a new $1.75 billion stadium on the Vegas Strip—with groundbreaking planned for spring 2025—the ballpark is not expected to be ready until the 2028 season. This ongoing shift, coupled with the financial might of teams like the Dodgers, has renewed debates about competitive balance and whether smaller market teams can keep pace in today's game.