Aaron Judge vs Cal Raleigh: 2025 MLB Awards Predictions

As the 2025 MLB regular season winds down, the race for baseball’s biggest awards is heating up. Some categories seem locked in, but a few are still up for grabs, with both seasoned stars and new faces making noise.

We’ve got repeat Cy Young stories, MVP chases, and the kind of debates that make baseball so fun. The awards season is shaping up to be a wild ride.

American League Cy Young: Tarik Skubal’s Reign Continues

Tarik Skubal, the Detroit Tigers’ ace, looks ready to lock down his second straight Cy Young Award. That’s a rare achievement—Jacob deGrom was the last to do it in 2018–19.

Skubal’s Command and Consistency

Skubal mixes nasty strikeout stuff with pinpoint control, and it’s put him in a league of his own this year. He’s been the anchor for Detroit’s rotation and, honestly, one of the best pitchers in the game right now.

National League Cy Young: Paul Skenes Takes Center Stage

Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates keeps building on last year’s Rookie of the Year campaign. His sophomore season has him as the clear favorite for the NL Cy Young.

The Rise of Skenes

Skenes brings velocity, filthy movement, and surprising durability. He’s become a nightmare for hitters and a huge reason the Pirates look like they’re finally turning a corner.

National League MVP: Shohei Ohtani’s Dual Dominance

The NL MVP conversation basically starts and ends with Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers superstar keeps doing what no one else can—putting up elite offensive numbers and still finding ways to help out on the mound.

Ohtani’s Unmatched Value

Seriously, how many guys have ever hit like this and pitched at a high level? Ohtani’s changing how we think about baseball, and he’s made a massive difference for the Dodgers.

American League MVP: Judge vs. Raleigh – A True Heavyweight Battle

The AL MVP fight is the closest—and maybe the most fun—debate of the year. It’s down to Aaron Judge from the Yankees and Cal Raleigh from the Mariners.

Offensive Firepower vs. Defensive Premium

Judge keeps leading in all sorts of offensive stats, proving he’s still one of the game’s most dangerous hitters. Then there’s Raleigh, who’s putting up a mind-blowing 60-homer season as a catcher. That’s just not something you see every day.

Experts at CBS Sports can’t agree. Some say Judge’s bat is just too good to ignore, while others are wowed by Raleigh’s power at such a tough defensive position. It’s probably going to come down to how voters balance pure offense with overall value.

Rookies of the Year: Clear in AL, Wide-Open in NL

In the American League, Nick Kurtz has separated himself from the pack. He’s made an instant impact with the bat and changed the look of his team’s lineup.

A Crowded NL Rookie Race

The National League’s rookie race is a total toss-up. Four players are in the mix:

• Cade Horton
• Drake Baldwin
• Isaac Collins
• Caleb Durbin

All four have delivered when it matters, and honestly, it’s anyone’s guess who’ll come out on top as the season wraps up.

Looking Ahead

The postseason is almost here, and these award battles are about to wrap up. Still, the impact of this season will stick around long after 2025.

Some of these players have done more than just put on a show—they’ve raised the bar at their positions. Honestly, it’s hard not to wonder what comes next for baseball, but if this season’s any clue, the game’s future looks just as wild and interesting as its past.

 
Here is the source article for this story: 2025 MLB awards: Expert picks for MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year as Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh face off