The reigning World Series champs, the Los Angeles Dodgers, are once again proving why they are a powerhouse. Entering the All-Star break, they were sitting at a commanding 58-39, holding the first position in the war of the west. No wonder why most experts have placed them to attend the Fall Classic again this season. However, one of baseball’s most iconic figures may not agree.
During the FOX Sports All-Star game broadcast, Yankee legend Derek Jeter put forward his World Series prediction. After some playfulness and hesitation, he expressed his thoughts about the winning team. As reported by Max Goodman, Jeter explained, “So this year, I am going with the New York Yankees… Yankees are gonna beat the Cubs in the World Series. Going with the Yankees because [GM Brian] Cashman basically said he’s all in. So I expect the Yankees to do something at the trade deadline.”
And not just Jeter, Alex Rodriguez put in a pick for the Yankees, too, but had them playing the Dodgers. But then, Jeter’s pick of the Cubs was the real curveball.
Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez both picked the #Yankees in their 2025 World Series predictions after the All-Star Game tonight.
Jeter has the Yankees beating the Cubs.
A-Rod has the Yankees beating the Dodgers.
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) July 16, 2025
So, what led “The Captain” to cast the Chicago Cubs over the powerhouse Dodgers? The answer is their exciting, efficient style of play. One of the league’s most powerful offenses belongs to the Cubs, who are second in the league in runs scored (512) and third in home runs (142).
Jeter has lauded their style. “They score runs, they steal bases, they don’t strike out. They put the ball in play, which is a great recipe for success when you get to the postseason,” he observed. With stars like Pete Crow-Armstrong (25 HR, 27 SB) and Kyle Tucker (17 HR), the Cubs have a playoff recipe hard to resist.
Yet, Jeter’s selection is not without weakness. The gap in the Cubs’ lineup is their starting rotation. Their combined 4.26 ERA ranks just 22nd in all of baseball. Co-analyst Alex Rodriguez also noted this historical shortcoming, mentioning that a team with a top-three offense and bottom-end pitching “usually doesn’t end well.”
And that’s exactly why Jeter’s prediction is a smart one. He feels the Cubs have to go in as aggressive buyers at the trade deadline. “If you’re the Chicago Cubs… you got to sit and say, ‘are we good enough to beat the Dodgers…?’ If you’re not, you got to go out and get something,” Jeter exclaimed.
The Cubs front office appears to feel the same, with the cloud of trade talk surrounding impact starting pitchers such as Miami’s Sandy Alcantara and Edward Cabrera. However, the Cubs would first need to get past Jeter’s AL champs before making it to the Fall Classic.
The Yankees’ imperative: An unavoidable contender
The New York Yankees seem to be the frontrunners in the race. With 53-43, they are dominating the season. Their offense is leading MLB in home runs (151) and on-base percentage (.336). Plus, their huge positive is their captain, Aaron Judge. He’s hitting .355, has 35 home runs and a phenomenal OPS of 1.195, being an AL MVP favorite (-600 as per ESPN). Following him with amazing numbers are Cody Bellinger (16 HR) and Jazz Chisholm Jr. (17 HR).
Simply take a peek at the odds, and the playoff picture becomes crystal clear for the projection models. The Dodgers lead everyone’s World Series board. FanGraphs has them with a 99.4 percent chance of reaching the playoffs and a 22.1 percent chance of winning the title. The Yankees and the Cubs are squarely in the next grouping of top contenders, and both should have reasonable pathways to deep runs.
Baseball-Reference gives the Cubs a staggering 99.0% chance to make the playoffs, the highest of any team. This is likely due to their high run differential and perceived weaker division. And the Yankees are the clear top dog in the American League, with betting odds ranging from +550 to +750 to win it all. All three teams consistently appear in the top five of major power rankings, which reinforces their status as elite clubs.
While the Dodgers remain the safer pick, Jeter’s choice introduces a compelling dark horse into the championship conversation. Will the proven juggernaut reign supreme, or will a surging challenger from Chicago shock the world? The race to October just got a lot more interesting.
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