MLB 2025 Season Surprises: Are the A's Playoff Contenders?

We've crossed the quarter mark of the 2025 MLB season, and while some things have gone as expected, there are a few teams that have defied preseason projections. Let's dive into the most surprising teams and assess their playoff potential.

Detroit Tigers (31-17)

Preseason Playoff Odds: 41.2%

Key Stat: The Tigers have hit 60 home runs in their first 47 games, a pace of 207 for the season. Their team OBP has improved from .300 to .333, boosting their runs per game from 4.21 to 5.38.

Hot Start: Former No. 1 picks Spencer Torkelson and Casey Mize have rebounded strongly. Torkelson already has 12 home runs, and Mize is 6-1 with a 2.53 ERA.

Area of Concern: The Tigers have shown no obvious weaknesses. Once Parker Meadows returns, Javier Baez can move to third base if needed, keeping Zach McKinstry in a utility role.

Verdict: Real

St. Louis Cardinals (27-21)

Preseason Playoff Odds: 33.9%

Key Stat: The Cardinals went 12-1 from May 4 to 17, posting a 2.33 ERA and throwing three shutouts in that stretch.

Hot Start: Brendan Donovan is hitting .330/.387/.466 with 15 doubles. Ivan Herrera is hitting .429 in 15 games.

Area of Concern: Former top prospect Jordan Walker is off to a slow start, hitting .189 with 44 strikeouts in 145 plate appearances.

Verdict: Not real

San Francisco Giants (28-20)

Preseason Playoff Odds: 24.6%

Key Stat: Relievers Camilo Doval, Tyler Rogers, Randy Rodriguez, and Erik Miller are a combined 10-2 with a 1.27 ERA in 78 innings.

Hot Start: Logan Webb looks better than ever with a 2.42 ERA and a career-high 27.4% strikeout rate.

Area of Concern: Jordan Hicks was removed from the rotation with a 6.55 ERA, and Justin Verlander remains winless in nine starts.

Verdict: Real

Cleveland Guardians (25-21)

Preseason Playoff Odds: 19%

Key Stat: The Guardians would be an expected 19-27 based on their underlying statistics, not 25-21.

Hot Start: Hunter Gaddis has a 1.00 ERA through 18 innings with 26 strikeouts.

Area of Concern: The rotation ranks 21st in the majors in ERA and 19th in strikeout rate.

Verdict: Not real

Oakland Athletics (22-26)

Preseason Playoff Odds: 8.4%

Key Stat: The A's were one game out of first place in the AL West after beating Seattle on May 5 but then went 2-9 against the Mariners, Yankees, Dodgers, and Giants.

Hot Start: Jacob Wilson is hitting .337/.369/.478 with just 10 strikeouts in 188 plate appearances.

Area of Concern: The A's have a lack of front-line pitching, both in the rotation and the bullpen.

Verdict: Not real

Conclusion

The 2025 MLB season has already provided plenty of surprises. While teams like the Tigers and Giants have shown they are for real, others like the Cardinals and Guardians may not sustain their early success. The A's, despite a promising start, face significant challenges that may hinder their playoff aspirations.