Predicting Every MLB Team's 2025 Opening Day Lineup, Version 4.0
With spring training now in full swing and the bulk of the free-agent class officially signed for the 2025 season, Opening Day rosters are really starting to take shape.
Position battles, rising prospects and the inevitable injury will still shake things up between now and the official start of the 2025 MLB season, but for now it's time for another round of Opening Day lineup predictions.
Lineup data from Baseball Reference, roster data from FanGraphs and a healthy amount of speculation on where free agents will sign went into compiling each team's batting order. This time around, we also took into account the projected starting pitcher for the opposing team, which opened the door for platoon-specific lineup decisions.
This will be updated again once more just before Opening Day with a full 26-man roster prediction, so stay tuned!
Note: Names in bold indicate a projected signing.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. LHP Shota Imanaga, CHC)
RF Corbin Carroll
CF Jake McCarthy
2B Ketel Marte
3B Eugenio Suárez
1B Josh Naylor
DH Randal Grichuk
LF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
C Gabriel Moreno
SS Geraldo Perdomo
Notes
-Veteran Randal Grichuk was re-signed to a one-year, $2 million deal in early February that includes a $5 million mutual option for the 2026 season, and he should once again see the bulk of the designated hitter action with a lefty on the mound.
-If Alek Thomas shows a bit more offensively than he has in years past, he could push his way into the starting outfield picture, with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. shifted to designated hitter on days he starts.
Athletics
2 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Logan Gilbert, SEA)
RF Lawrence Butler
DH Brent Rooker
CF JJ Bleday
C Shea Langeliers
1B Tyler Soderstrom
2B Zack Gelof
LF Seth Brown
3B Gio Urshela
SS Jacob Wilson
Notes
-Expect Gio Urshela and Luis Urías to both see action at third base early in the season, with the hot hand carving out a bigger portion of the playing time as the season unfolds.
-Speedy Esteury Ruiz and slugger Miguel Andujar are also options to join JJ Bleday and Lawrence Butler in the outfield. The most likely outcome might be Andújar and Seth Brown functioning as a straight platoon, while Ruiz serves as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner off the bench.
Atlanta Braves
3 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Dylan Cease, SD)
CF Michael Harris III
LF Jurickson Profar
3B Austin Riley
1B Matt Olson
DH Marcell Ozuna
2B Ozzie Albies
C Sean Murphy
RF Jarred Kelenic
SS Orlando Arcia
Notes
-Jarred Kelenic and Bryan De La Cruz will handle right field until Ronald Acuña Jr. returns from the ACL tear he suffered last June, and that has a chance to be a quietly productive tandem if both guys play up to their potential.
-One of the more compelling roster battles here is whether Chadwick Tromp can hold off top prospect Drake Baldwin and non-roster invitees Curt Casali and Sandy León for the backup catcher job. Tromp is out of minor league options and will likely be scooped up on waivers if he is not on the Opening Day roster.
Baltimore Orioles
4 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Kevin Gausman, TOR)
CF Cedric Mullins
C Adley Rutschman
SS Gunnar Henderson
3B Jordan Westburg
RF Colton Cowser
LF Tyler O'Neill
DH Ryan O'Hearn
1B Ryan Mountcastle
2B Jackson Holliday
Notes
-The Orioles have some interesting platoon options when a left-hander is on the mound, with outfielder Ramon Laureano potentially spelling Cedric Mullins in center field, Gary Sanchez likely seeing action at designated hitter and Ramón Urías as a fill-in option for Jackson Holliday.
-Heston Kjerstad and Coby Mayo are both capable of being this year's version of Colton Cowser and hitting their way into an everyday role with a strong start to the season. Both have minor league options remaining, so they could start the year at Triple-A to see regular at-bats.
Boston Red Sox
5 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Jacob deGrom, TEX)
LF Jarren Duran
3B Rafael Devers
2B Alex Bregman
1B Triston Casas
SS Trevor Story
DH Masataka Yoshida
C Connor Wong
RF Wilyer Abreu
CF Ceddanne Rafaela
Notes
-Ideally, the Red Sox would have Alex Bregman at third base, Rafael Devers at designated hitter, top prospect Kristian Campbell at second base and Masataka Yoshida's salary off the books in a salary dump.
-Rob Refsnyder should again see plenty of action in right field against left-handed pitching after hitting .302/.393/.548 with seven doubles, eight home runs and 23 RBI in 145 plate appearances against southpaws last season.
Chicago Cubs
6 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, LAD)
LF Ian Happ
RF Kyle Tucker
DH Seiya Suzuki
1B Michael Busch
SS Dansby Swanson
CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
3B Matt Shaw
C Miguel Amaya
2B Jon Berti
Notes
-Starting second baseman Nico Hoerner has already announced that he will skip the Tokyo Series to continue focusing on his recovery from flexor tendon surgery on his right forearm. Utility man Jon Berti is the leading candidate to handle second base duties until he returns, though top prospect James Triantos is also one to watch.
-Veteran Justin Turner will likely see the bulk of his playing time against left-handed pitching, giving Michael Busch the occasional day off or handling the DH role when Seiya Suzuki gets a start in the outfield.
Chicago White Sox
7 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. LHP Yusei Kikuchi, LAA)
RF Mike Tauchman
LF Austin Slater
CF Luis Robert Jr.
1B Andrew Vaughn
DH Brandon Drury
3B Miguel Vargas
2B Josh Rojas
SS Colson Montgomery
C Korey Lee
Notes
-With Andrew Benintendi expected to start the year on the injured list after suffering a fractured hand, a platoon of Austin Slater and non-roster invitee Joey Gallo appears to be the likely route to handling left field.
-Will Colson Montgomery win the starting shortstop job and make his MLB debut on Opening Day? Can Miguel Vargas take a step forward and deliver on his top prospect pedigree? Will non-roster invitees Gallo and Brandon Drury make the team?
Cincinnati Reds
8 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Logan Webb, SF)
CF TJ Friedl
2B Matt McLain
SS Elly De La Cruz
DH Spencer Steer
C Tyler Stephenson
RF Jake Fraley
1B Jeimer Candelario
3B Gavin Lux
LF Austin Hays
Notes
-Spencer Steer got a cortisone shot in his right shoulder on Saturday, and even if he avoids an IL stint to start the year, he might be limited to DH work in the early going until those shoulder issues are in the rearview.
-Christian Encarnacion-Strand (DH), Santiago Espinal (3B) and Stuart Fairchild (RF) will all be right-handed hitting options when there is a lefty on the mound, and Encarnacion-Strand in particular could play his way into a prominent role with a hot start.
Cleveland Guardians
9 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. LHP Cole Ragans, KC)
LF Steven Kwan
CF Lane Thomas
3B José Ramírez
1B Carlos Santana
RF Jhonkensy Noel
DH Kyle Manzardo
C Bo Naylor
2B Juan Brito
SS Brayan Rocchio
Notes
-The spring position battle between Juan Brito and Gabriel Arias for the starting second base job is truly a wide-open competition, though Arias will likely find his way onto the Opening Day roster regardless since he is out of options and can serve as a backup all over the infield.
-Kyle Manzardo tallied just 19 plate appearances against left-handed pitching last season, so there's a chance he will be on the bench with southpaw Cole Ragans on the mound for the Royals, but the Guardians could also try to get him more exposure against lefties in his first full season in the majors.
Colorado Rockies
10 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. LHP Shane McClanahan, TB)
CF Brenton Doyle
SS Ezequiel Tovar
3B Ryan McMahon
DH Kris Bryant
1B Michael Toglia
LF Nolan Jones
2B Thairo Estrada
RF Jordan Beck
C Jacob Stallings
Notes
-Outfielder Jordan Beck hit .319/.402/.558 with 21 extra-base hits in 189 plate appearances at Triple-A last season, though he batted just .189 with 65 strikeouts in 184 plate appearances after he was called up to the majors.
-It's a toss-up who will start at second base between Thairo Estrada and Kyle Farmer who were both signed to one-year deals in free agency after Brendan Rodgers was non-tendered at the start of the offseason.
Detroit Tigers
11 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto, LAD)
CF Parker Meadows
LF Riley Greene
2B Gleyber Torres
DH Kerry Carpenter
1B Colt Keith
RF Wenceel Pérez
3B Jace Jung
SS Trey Sweeney
C Jake Rogers
Notes
-Versatile Matt Vierling was penciled into the starting right field spot prior to suffering a rotator cuff strain that will sideline him to start the season. He also saw semi-regular time at third base last year and could once again this year until Jace Jung finds his footing in the big leagues.
-Javier Baez (SS) and Andy Ibáñez (DH) will both see time against left-handed pitching, and Ibáñez is also one of the best pinch-hitters in baseball, tying for second in the majors with 10 pinch hits in 2024.
Houston Astros
12 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Kodai Senga, NYM)
2B Jose Altuve
DH Yordan Alvarez
1B Christian Walker
C Yainer Diaz
3B Isaac Paredes
SS Jeremy Peña
RF Chas McCormick
LF Ben Gamel
CF Jake Meyers
Notes
-There is still a chance the Astros will decide Jose Altuve fits best in left field going forward, which would then open the door for non-roster invitee Brendan Rodgers and versatile Mauricio Dubón to battle for playing time at second base.
-Shay Whitcomb and Zach Dezenzo are two up-and-comers to watch on the 40-man roster who could shake things up if they play well enough this spring to warrant an expanded role to open the year.
Kansas City Royals
13 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Tanner Bibee, CLE)
DH Jonathan India
SS Bobby Witt Jr.
1B Vinnie Pasquantino
C Salvador Pérez
2B Michael Massey
RF Hunter Renfroe
LF MJ Melendez
3B Maikel García
CF Kyle Isbel
Notes
-Michael Massey is a superior defender to Jonathan India at second base, so when both are in the lineup expect India to be the designated hitter, and both should see everyday playing time.
-When Salvador Perez is taking a day off behind the plate and penciled in at designated hitter, the Royals could also give India some playing time at third base which was his primary position at the University of Florida.
Los Angeles Angels
14 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. LHP Martín Pérez, CWS)
2B Luis Rengifo
RF Mike Trout
LF Taylor Ward
DH Jorge Soler
C Logan O'Hoppe
1B Nolan Schanuel
CF Jo Adell
3B Yoán Moncada
SS Tim Anderson
Notes
-With Zach Neto still recovering from November shoulder surgery, non-roster invitee Tim Anderson has a clear path to win the starting shortstop job out of camp. Otherwise, utility man Kevin Newman was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal in free agency to provide depth across the infield.
-Jo Adell and Mickey Moniak could serve as a platoon in center field, or the hot hand could end up seizing the bulk of the playing time while the other serves as a fourth outfielder.
Los Angeles Dodgers
15 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. LHP Shota Imanaga, CHC)
DH Shohei Ohtani
SS Mookie Betts
1B Freddie Freeman
RF Teoscar Hernández
C Will Smith
3B Max Muncy
LF Michael Conforto
CF Tommy Edman
2B Hyeseong Kim
Notes
-Michael Conforto actually had better numbers against left-handed pitching (106 PA, .886 OPS, 6 HR) than he did against right-handed pitching (382 PA, .724 OPS, 14 HR) last year, so don't expect him to sit just because there is a lefty on the mound.
-The trio of Miguel Rojas, Chris Taylor and Enrique Hernández provide the Dodgers with a wealth of versatility off the bench, and all three could end up tallying 250-plus plate appearances this year in a utility role.
Miami Marlins
16 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Paul Skenes, PIT)
SS Xavier Edwards
3B Connor Norby
RF Jesús Sánchez
DH Jonah Bride
1B Deyvison De Los Santos
2B Otto Lopez
LF Kyle Stowers
CF Derek Hill
C Nick Fortes
Notes
-Aside from Xavier Edwards at shortstop, Connor Norby at third base and Jesus Sánchez somewhere in the outfield, the Marlins lineup is extremely fluid based on who is swinging it best when camp breaks.
-Infielder Graham Pauley and outfielder Griffin Conine are two players on the 40-man roster who could easily end up in starting roles with a strong showing this spring, while top prospect Deyvison De Los Santos is projected for a starting role here following a 40-homer, 120-RBI season in the minors in 2024.
Milwaukee Brewers
17 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Gerrit Cole, NYY)
RF Jackson Chourio
DH Christian Yelich
C William Contreras
CF Garrett Mitchell
1B Rhys Hoskins
LF Sal Frelick
SS Joey Ortiz
2B Brice Turang
3B Oliver Dunn
Notes
-Oliver Dunn, Caleb Duran, Vinny Capra, Andruw Monasterio and Tyler Black are all potential candidates for the starting third base job after Joey Ortiz shifted from the hot corner to shortstop to replace the departed Willy Adames.
-An injury to defensive standout Blake Perkins (fractured shin) will likely create a path for non-roster invitees Mark Canha to find his way onto the Opening Day roster, and he can serve as a backup at both corner outfield spots and first base.
Minnesota Twins
18 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Sonny Gray, STL)
RF Matt Wallner
SS Carlos Correa
3B Royce Lewis
CF Byron Buxton
LF Trevor Larnach
DH Willi Castro
C Ryan Jeffers
1B Ty France
2B Brooks Lee
Notes
-The versatility of 2024 All-Star Willi Castro gives the Twins endless lineup possibilities, and opens the door for José Miranda, Edouard Julien and Harrison Bader to all see their name in the starting lineup on any given day.
-Ty France is expected to serve as the everyday first baseman after signing a one-year, $1 million deal, and if he comes close to returning to his previous All-Star form, that could end up being one of the steals of the offseason.
New York Mets
19 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. LHP Framber Valdez, HOU)
SS Francisco Lindor
RF Juan Soto
1B Pete Alonso
LF Brandon Nimmo
3B Mark Vientos
2B Jeff McNeil
C Francisco Alvarez
DH Starling Marte
CF Jose Siri
Notes
-Center field will likely be an even playing time split between Jose Siri and Tyrone Taylor early in the season, though both are capable of carving out a bigger piece of the pie with a strong start.
-In the final season of his four-year, $78 million deal, Starling Marte might be relegated to short-side platoon work alongside Jesse Winker at designated hitter, though he will also serve as an insurance option at the outfield corners if injury strikes.
New York Yankees
20 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Freddy Peralta, MIL)
2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
RF Aaron Judge
CF Cody Bellinger
1B Paul Goldschmidt
C Austin Wells
DH J.D. Martinez
LF Jasson Dominguez
SS Anthony Volpe
3B Oswaldo Cabrera
Notes
-With Giancarlo Stanton shelved with elbow tendinitis, the Yankees have reportedly been in contact with veteran J.D. Martinez, according to Jon Heyman of the New York Post. Don't be surprised if a deal gets done in the near future; otherwise, Ben Rice is the leading in-house candidate for an expanded role.
-Oswaldo Cabrera, DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza are all vying for playing time at whatever position Jazz Chisholm Jr. is not occupying between second base and third base, and that could be a fluid situation early in the season.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. LHP MacKenzie Gore, WAS)
DH Kyle Schwarber
SS Trea Turner
1B Bryce Harper
3B Alec Bohm
RF Nick Castellanos
LF Max Kepler
C J.T. Realmuto
2B Bryson Stott
CF Brandon Marsh
Notes
-Manager Rob Thomson has toyed with the idea of going Turner-Harper-Bohm-Schwarber with the first four spots in the batting order this spring, so don't be surprised if that's how things look on Opening Day.
-Newcomer Max Kepler had a 120 OPS+ with 24 home runs and 66 RBI in 2023 before battling through an injury-plagued 2024 season, and he could end up serving as a key run producer after inking a one-year, $10 million deal to try to rebuild his value.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Sandy Alcántara, MIA)
LF Tommy Pham
RF Bryan Reynolds
CF Oneil Cruz
DH Andrew McCutchen
C Joey Bart
1B Adam Frazier
2B Nick Gonzales
SS Isiah Kiner-Falefa
3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
Notes
-Spencer Horwitz will be the primary first baseman once he returns from wrist surgery, but in his absence veteran utility man Adam Frazier, defensive standout Jared Triolo and former top prospect Endy Rodriguez are among the options to fill in at the position.
-DJ Stewart, Nick Solak and Darrick Hall are among the non-roster invitees to monitor, as the Pirates are always looking for low-cost sources of offensive production, especially early in the season when the lineup is still taking shape.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. LHP Chris Sale, ATL)
1B Luis Arraez
RF Fernando Tatis Jr.
CF Jackson Merrill
3B Manny Machado
2B Jake Cronenworth
SS Xander Bogaerts
LF Connor Joe
C Elias Díaz
DH Eguy Rosario
Notes
-Connor Joe and Jason Heyward are expected to be a straight platoon in left field, which means the right-handed hitting Joe will get the Opening Day nod against reigning NL Cy Young winner Chris Sale.
-Eguy Rosario, Tirso Ornelas, Tyler Wade and non-roster invitees Gavin Sheets, Yuli Gurriel and Mike Brosseau are all candidates for the vacant designated hitter spot, though it will likely be used as a revolving rest spot for a variety of position players once the season is in full swing.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Hunter Greene, CIN)
1B LaMonte Wade
SS Willy Adames
CF Jung Hoo Lee
3B Matt Chapman
LF Heliot Ramos
RF Mike Yastrzemski
2B Tyler Fitzgerald
DH Jerar Encarnacion
C Patrick Bailey
Notes
-The sample size is extremely small, but Jerar Encarnacion is 6-for-15 with three doubles, one home run and five RBI so far this spring. The 27-year-old is a former top prospect in the Marlins organization, and he hit .352/.438/.616 with 10 home runs and 33 RBI in 33 games for the Giants Triple-A affiliate last year.
-After hitting leadoff to begin the 2024 season, Jung Hoo Lee could be asked to fill more of a run production role this season following a rookie campaign where a shoulder injury limited him to 37 games.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Luis Severino, OAK)
RF Victor Robles
CF Julio Rodríguez
C Cal Raleigh
LF Randy Arozarena
1B Luke Raley
DH Mitch Haniger
SS J.P. Crawford
3B Jorge Polanco
2B Dylan Moore
Notes
-There is not a single new face in the projected starting lineup for a Mariners team that ranked 21st in runs scored, 22nd in team OPS and 30th in strikeouts last season. They did add Donovan Solano as a platoon option at first base, but it was a largely inactive offseason for a team with arguably the best starting rotation in baseball.
-Mitch Haniger had significantly better numbers against righties (278 PA, .693 OPS, 9 HR) than he did against lefties (145 PA, .486 OPS, 3 HR) last season, so while both are right-handed hitters, he can form a logical platoon with Mitch Garver at designated hitter.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Pablo López, MIN)
SS Masyn Winn
LF Brendan Donovan
1B Willson Contreras
DH Alec Burleson
3B Nolan Arenado
CF Lars Nootbaar
2B Nolan Gorman
RF Jordan Walker
C Iván Herrera
Notes
-If the Cardinals miraculously find a way to unload Nolan Arenado before the start of the season, it would be Nolan Gorman at third base, Brendan Donovan at second base and either Michael Siani or Victor Scott II in center field with Lars Nootbaar shifting to left field.
-This could be a make-or-break season for Nolan Gorman and Jordan Walker as both former top prospects look to prove they are still capable of developing into the offensive cornerstones they were expected to be during their time in the minors.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (LHP Kyle Freeland, COL)
1B Yandy Díaz
RF Josh Lowe
3B Junior Caminero
2B Brandon Lowe
LF Christopher Morel
C Danny Jansen
DH Eloy Jiménez
CF Jonny DeLuca
SS Taylor Walls
Notes
-Ha-Seong Kim will eventually be the primary shortstop for the Rays, but he is still recovering from October shoulder surgery. Defensive-minded Taylor Walls and José Caballero will hold down the fort until he returns, though it's only a matter of time before top prospect Carson Williams is pushing for playing time there as well.
-Jonathan Aranda and non-roster invitee Eloy Jiménez look like a potential designated hitter platoon to open the year, though Jiménez will first need to play his way onto the roster.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. LHP Garrett Crochet, BOS)
2B Marcus Semien
SS Corey Seager
LF Wyatt Langford
RF Adolis Garcia
3B Josh Jung
1B Jake Burger
DH Kevin Pillar
C Jonah Heim
CF Evan Carter
Notes
-Slugger Joc Pederson saw a grand total of 42 plate appearances against left-handed pitching last season, so his Rangers debut will likely start on the bench if the Red Sox go with lefty Garrett Crochet on Opening Day.
-That leaves who serves as Pederson's platoon partner as one of the more compelling questions of the spring, and veteran Kevin Pillar is one to watch. The 36-year-old had originally planned on retiring, but he pivoted to sign a minor league deal with the Rangers, and he hit .310/.352/.500 with 15 extra-base hits in 125 plate appearances against lefties in 2024.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Zach Eflin, BAL)
RF George Springer
1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
LF Anthony Santander
SS Bo Bichette
DH Will Wagner
C Alejandro Kirk
3B Ernie Clement
2B Andrés Giménez
CF Myles Straw
Notes
-Daulton Varsho will be the everyday center fielder once he's healthy, but he is still working his way back from September shoulder surgery and there is a decent chance he opens the year on the injured list. Defensive standout Myles Straw, Nathan Lukes and Joey Loperfido are among the candidates to fill in while he recovers.
-Davis Schneider is still capable of hitting his way into a regular role, with his most likely path to playing time being in left field, with slugger Anthony Santander shifting to designated hitter.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Projected Starting Lineup (vs. RHP Zack Wheeler, PHI)
SS CJ Abrams
2B Luis García Jr.
LF James Wood
1B Nathaniel Lowe
DH Josh Bell
RF Dylan Crews
C Keibert Ruiz
3B José Tena
CF Jacob Young
Notes
-Will it be José Tena or Paul DeJong at third base for the Nationals? Big picture, whoever wins the job is just keeping the position warm for top prospect Brady House, who is expected to debut at some point in 2025.
-Utility man Amed Rosario started games at second base, shortstop, third base and in right field last season while hitting a respectable .280/.306/.380 with 24 extra-base hits and 13 steals in 103 games. The one-year, $2 million deal he signed with the Nationals could be a nice bargain pickup.
