As the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) season approaches, excitement is building across the National League. With fresh talent, notable trades, and injury updates shaping team rosters, the lineups and rotations for Opening Day promise to deliver plenty of intrigue. Here's a comprehensive breakdown of the projected Opening Day lineups and pitching rotations for all NL East, NL Central, and NL West teams.
National League Central
Cincinnati Reds
Projected Lineup:
1. TJ Friedl, CF
2. Matt McLain, 2B
3. Elly De La Cruz, SS
4. Austin Hays, LF
5. Gavin Lux, 3B
6. Christian Encarnacion-Strand, 1B
7. Jeimer Candelario, DH
8. Jake Fraley, RF
9. Jose Trevino, C
Projected Rotation and Closer:
1. Hunter Greene, RHP
2. Brady Singer, RHP
3. Nick Martinez, RHP
4. Nick Lodolo, LHP
5. Carson Spiers, RHP
Closer: TBD
National League West
Arizona Diamondbacks
Projected Lineup:
1. Ketel Marte, 2B
2. Corbin Carroll, RF
3. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., LF
4. Josh Naylor, 1B
5. Eugenio Suárez, 3B
6. Randal Grichuk, DH
7. Gabriel Moreno, C
8. Jake McCarthy, CF
9. Geraldo Perdomo, SS
Projected Rotation and Closer:
1. Zac Gallen, RHP
2. Corbin Burnes, RHP
3. Merrill Kelly, RHP
4. Eduardo Rodriguez, LHP
5. Brandon Pfaadt, RHP
Closer: A.J. Puk, LHP / Justin Martinez, RHP
Los Angeles Dodgers
Projected Lineup:
1. Shohei Ohtani, DH
2. Mookie Betts, SS
3. Freddie Freeman, 1B
4. Teoscar Hernández, RF
5. Will Smith, C
6. Kiké Hernández, LF
7. Max Muncy, 3B
8. Tommy Edman, 2B
9. Andy Pages, CF
Projected Rotation and Closer:
1. Blake Snell, LHP
2. Yoshinobu Yamamoto, RHP
3. Tyler Glasnow, RHP
4. Roki Sasaki, RHP
5. Dustin May, RHP
Closer: Tanner Scott, LHP
San Francisco Giants
Projected Lineup:
1. LaMonte Wade Jr., 1B
2. Willy Adames, SS
3. Jung Hoo Lee, CF
4. Matt Chapman, 3B
5. Heliot Ramos, LF
6. Patrick Bailey, C
7. Wilmer Flores, DH
8. Mike Yastrzemski, RF
9. Tyler Fitzgerald, 2B
Projected Rotation and Closer:
1. Logan Webb, RHP
2. Justin Verlander, RHP
3. Robbie Ray, LHP
4. Jordan Hicks, RHP
5. Kyle Harrison, LHP
Closer: Ryan Walker, RHP
San Diego Padres
Projected Lineup:
1. Luis Arraez, 1B
2. Fernando Tatis Jr., RF
3. Jackson Merrill, CF
4. Manny Machado, 3B
5. Xander Bogaerts, SS
6. Jake Cronenworth, 2B
7. Yuli Gurriel, DH
8. Brandon Lockridge, LF
9. Elias Díaz, C
Projected Rotation and Closer:
1. Michael King, RHP
2. Dylan Cease, RHP
3. Nick Pivetta, RHP
4. Kyle Hart, LHP
5. Randy Vásquez, RHP
Closer: Robert Suarez, RHP
Note:
With Yu Darvish and Matt Waldron sidelined, Hart and Vásquez edged out Stephen Kolek for the final two spots in the rotation.
Colorado Rockies
Projected Lineup:
1. Brenton Doyle, CF
2. Ezequiel Tovar, SS
3. Ryan McMahon, 3B
4. Kris Bryant, DH
5. Michael Toglia, 1B
6. Kyle Farmer, 2B
7. Jacob Stallings, C
8. Nick Martini, RF
9. Jordan Beck, LF
Projected Rotation and Closer:
1. Kyle Freeland, LHP
2. Ryan Feltner, RHP
3. Austin Gomber, LHP
4. Germán Márquez, RHP
5. Antonio Senzatela, RHP
Closer: Victor Vodnik, RHP