About this episode
Munaf Manji and Griffin Warner are getting ready for the new MLB 2025 season. The guys talk American League in this episode. Talk future wagers, division predictions and much more. The 2025 American League season is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, especially in the AL East, where the Yankees, Red Sox, and Orioles are tightly packed in both talent and odds. The Central appears more top-heavy, with Cleveland underrated despite strong pitching depth, while the Royals and Tigers eye developmental leaps. The AL West showcases turmoil with the Angels and Athletics at the bottom, while the Astros aim to stay relevant despite shedding stars. Notably, injury concerns and bullpen strength dominate conversations. Betting-wise, the hosts take varied stances, with crossfires on the Red Sox and consistent skepticism around Toronto, the White Sox, and the Angels. 🧠 Key Points 📉 Pitching Depth Matters : Across all divisions, the theme is clear—strong rotations and bullpens are key to success in 2025. 🔁 Astros in Transition : Once-dominant, Houston now faces identity challenges after major roster losses and conservative spending. 💰 Betting Advice : Griffin leans Yankees (AL East), Guardians (AL Central), Mariners (AL West); Munaf favors Red Sox, Royals, and Rangers. 🩹 Injury Watch : Concerns highlighted for key players like Rafi Devers, Shane McClanahan, George Kirby, and Royce Lewis. 📊 Team Futures : Red Sox and Royals viewed as “sexy picks”; skepticism remains around the Blue Jays and Angels. 🧱 Bullpen Builds : Teams like Cleveland, Houston, and Tampa Bay lean heavily on their deep bullpens for competitiveness. ⚾ Player Watch : Bobby Witt Jr., Tariq Skubal, and J-Rod expected to be breakout or anchor stars. 🚫 White Sox Warning : Set for another 100-loss season, lowest division odds at 250-to-1. 📍 Division Dynamics : AL East parity at the top; Central has undervalued contenders; West features power shifts and rebuilding. 📈 Win Totals to Watch : Griffin: Red Sox UNDER 87.5, Guardians OVER 81.5, Angels UNDER 72.5 Munaf: Blue Jays UNDER 78.5, Royals OVER 83.5, Athletics OVER 71.5 📝 Summary 🎧 Introduction & Setup : Munaf and Griffin introduce the preview (0:09-1:13), covering AL divisions, win totals, and best bets. 🌬️ AL East Overview : Griffin shares allergy woes before diving into favorites—Yankees (+135), Orioles (+270), Red Sox (+350), Rays (8-1), Jays (13-1) (1:14–3:31). 📈 Red Sox Rebuild & Bet Analysis : Griffin skeptical on Boston's leap; Munaf bullish due to pitching adds like Garrett Crochet and leadership by Bregman (4:00–10:04). ❗ Yankees Depth & Outlook : Injuries to Gerrit Cole and others discussed. Additions like Max Fried and Goldschmidt offer upside (12:43–17:34). 🧨 Orioles' Rotation & Regression Risk : Munaf flags lack of rotation depth and Gunnar Henderson’s injury (14:30–16:05). 🤕 Blue Jays & Fade Potential : Griffin critical of Toronto's trajectory and lack of an extension for Vlad Jr. (21:28–23:02). 🧂 Tampa Bay Rays at Home : A classic value team to back at home, despite McClanahan injury woes (24:03–25:35). 💎 AL Central Breakdown : Cleveland's bullpen gets heavy praise; Royals seen as ready to leap; Tigers and Twins raise durability concerns (26:36–45:31). 🔨 AL West Shake-Up : Astros lose key players, still favored. Rangers aim for a bounce back. A’s and Angels remain bottom feeders (48:13–1:07:20). 🎲 Best Bets & Division Picks Recap : Final segment with all win total picks and division winners by both hosts (1:12:52–1:16:05). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices