With the 2025 MLB season about to begin, all eyes are on the defending champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. With their recent victories against the Chicago Cubs in Tokyo, the Dodgers have set a high bar for the competition. But the Atlanta Braves aren’t content to watch from the sidelines. By investing $113 million in star pitchers Spencer Strider and Chris Sale, they’ve made it clear they intend to compete at the highest level. The question is: could they actually dethrone the Dodgers? According to an insider, under the right circumstances, it just might.

Before we talk about challengers, let’s not forget just how dominant the Dodgers were last season. They finished 2024 with a 98-64 record, securing their 11th NL West title in the past 12 seasons. Their offense was electric, ranking second in the league in runs scored (857) and first in team OPS (.787). And if early results in 2025 are any indication, they’re not slowing down—Los Angeles opened the season with a two-game sweep of the Cubs in Tokyo, outscoring them 15-4. With stars like Shohei Ohtani and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto leading the way, the Dodgers have shown they are still the team everyone else is chasing. Any team looking to take them down will have to bring their absolute best.

However, baseball expert Ben Verlander believes the Atlanta Braves might just have the secret weapon to challenge the Dodgers, especially in the playoffs. Speaking on his “Flippin’ Bats with Verlander” podcast, Verlander focused on Atlanta’s pitching, saying, “…when it comes to the Braves match up one, health is the most important with this team because I need a healthy Spencer Strider and a healthy Chris Sale to be able to beat the Dodgers in that round of the playoffs.” In other words, the Braves’ shot at taking down the champs hinges on their $113 million investment in these two arms.

So why does Verlander see Strider and Sale as game-changers? Simple—when healthy, they’re elite. Strider, despite recovering from elbow surgery, is already proving he’s still a strikeout machine. In just four spring training innings, he fanned 10 batters. Meanwhile, Sale—who has already been on baseball’s biggest stages—looked sharp with a 2.79 ERA. If they stay in peak form come October, Verlander warns, “there’s some trouble there” for the Dodgers.

While pitching is the backbone of Atlanta’s strategy, baseball is never that simple. Even with elite arms, they’ll need support from their lineup, and more importantly, they’ll need to exploit any cracks in the Dodgers’ armor. No team is perfect—even the reigning champs.

Can Dodgers be dethroned?

Of course, the Braves’ chances don’t rest solely on their pitching. Verlander also praised their offense, calling it “fantastic”—and for good reason. Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. hit .320 with five homers this spring, while Ozzie Albies added four bombs and a .310 average. Rookie pitcher Spencer Schwellenbach also turned heads, posting a 2.41 ERA with plenty of strikeouts. And don’t forget Bryan De La Cruz, who made an immediate impact with key home runs. It’s clear Atlanta has weapons beyond just their high-priced arms.

Let’s not pretend the Dodgers are invincible. Plenty of teams cracked their armor last year. The Padres pulled off an 8-7 win. The Cubs took them down 9-7. Even the Nationals managed a 6-4 victory. And here’s the most important part: the Braves themselves took two out of three from L.A. last September, including a dominant 10-1 win. Those games proved that, while the Dodgers are elite, they’re not invulnerable. The right team, with the right formula, can beat them.

And the Braves aren’t the only ones dreaming of knocking the Dodgers off their throne. The The New York Mets made a statement by handing Juan Soto a monster contract, betting he can lead them to October glory. Meanwhile, The San Diego Padres —who nearly took out L.A. in last year’s playoffs—still have Fernando Tatis Jr., who’s been crushing the ball this spring. No matter how you slice it, the Dodgers will have challengers coming from all angles in 2025.

At the end of the day, the Dodgers are still the team to beat, but they’re not flawless. Some analysts worry about their outfield defense. Others question whether their older stars can hold up over a long season. And while Shohei Ohtani might return to pitching at some point, that’s still a big “if.” So, Verlander’s take holds up—if Strider and Sale are healthy and firing on all cylinders, the Braves have a real shot. The only question now: will Atlanta’s $113 million bet actually pay off?