The Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies have been two of the best offenses for the past half-decade (Image Source: Getty)

The 2025 MLB season is shaping up to be a year for powerhouse offenses. Last season, nine of the 15 best offenses in terms of OPS were from the National League. Ahead of next year, former pro-turned-analyst Chris Young predicts that the top five batting lineups in the league will hail from the NL.

In a recent edition of “MLB Tonight”, Young discussed what he thought were the majors’ best offenses heading into the new season. The pundit forecasted that four out of the top five offenses in baseball today are a part of the powerhouse National League.

Here’s a closer look at the top five offenses according to Chris Young ahead of the 2025 season.

Top 5 MLB offenses ahead of 2025

#5. San Diego Padres

In 2024, the Padres gave the most trouble to the eventual World Series champion Dodgers when they pushed them to five games in the NLDS.

“The Padres are little top-heavy with Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Arraez, Jackson Merrill, Manny Machado and Jake Cronenworth,” Young said.

The squad managed to smash 11 home runs in just seven postseason games but ultimately failed to stave off elimination. Young’s biggest worry about the squad is the lack of depth as apart from the players he mentioned, 2024 All-Star Jurickson Profar has yet to sign a new deal and big-money signing Xander Bogaerts had an abysmal campaign last year.

#4. Philadelphia Phillies

For years now, the Phillies have gambled on putting heavy emphasis on offense with a tradeoff on defense. Cornerstone Bryce Harper immediately comes to mind with his stable production but it’s his supporting cast that has picked up the slack for the team to be a stable MLB postseason threat.

“The team has a lot of power from top-to-bottom. Kyle Schwarber had 44 home runs last year. J.T. Realmuto is still swinging a hot bat. Nick Castellanos has been averaging 25 home runs since 2021,” Young said.

If the Phillies can move past their underwhelming 2024 postseason run, the future is certainly sunny in Philadelphia.

#3. Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers were crucified last season for putting up one of the worst title-defending seasons in MLB history when they finished with a record of 78-84. However, it was mainly due to their stars getting banged up.

“This for me was a sleeper pick. People weren’t talking about the Rangers because they were so beat up last season. Now, everybody’s healthy and everybody’s back. I think the Rangers offense will be dangerous,” Young added.

Anchored by stars Marcus Semien and Corey Seager, Texas still boasts a lot of talent including Adolis Garcia, Wyatt Langford and newly acquired veteran Joc Pederson.

#2. Atlanta Braves

Due to their stars being sidelined through different periods of last season, the powerhouse Braves couldn’t build up the chemistry needed leading to their exit in the very first round of the postseason.

“Almost all of the Braves’ stars were beat up last year. But when they’re healthy, there are a lot of 30-home run players in that squad,” Young said.

However, the team is locked and loaded ahead of 2025 as star Ronald Acuña Jr., along with Ozzie Albies, Matt Olson, Austin Riley and Michael Harris II try to rekindle the magic that delivered them their 2021 championship.

#1. Los Angeles Dodgers

Perhaps the obvious answer to cap off any MLB list, the Los Angeles Dodgers are looking to be the first squad since the 2000 New York Yankees to successfully defend their World Series title.

“Even though they don’t have the famous names at the bottom of the lineup. Watching the Dodgers offense made me realize how unpitchable they are. They grind out every single at-bat. They were relentless,” Young said.

Led by the NL MVP Shohei Ohtani with the support of fellow former MVPs Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman, along with names such as Teoscar Hernandez, Tommy Edman and Hyeseong Kim; the Dodgers’ high-octane offense was Young’s top pick as the best offense in MLB ahead of next season.