With only days remaining in the regular season calendar, the outlook for the 2025 MLB Playoffs is beginning to take shape. Teams such as the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers have already secured their place in the postseason, while others such as the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks are still fighting for the last wild card spots
In the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners lead the standings, but the Cleveland Guardians have surprised with a September comeback that puts them in serious contention.
Playoff bracket: this is what the bracket looks like
If the season ended today, the playoff bracket would consist of six teams per league: three division champions and three wild cards. In the National League, the Brewers, Phillies and Dodgers lead their divisions, while Cubs, Padres and Mets occupy the wild card spots. In the American League, Blue Jays, Mariners and Guardians lead, with Yankees, Red Sox and Tigers as wild cards. The top two teams in each league receive a direct bye to the Division Series.
Wild Card Series: Key Matchups to Advance
The Wild Card Series will be played as a best-of-three series, beginning on September 30. In the American League, the projected matchups would be Tigers vs. Guardians and Red Sox vs. Yankees. In the National League, the Mets would face the Dodgers, while Cubs and Padres would play the other matchup. These duels will determine who advances to face the top seeds in the Division Series.
Endgame scenarios: who controls their destiny?
The Mets have control of their destiny in the race for the final National League wild card, but the Reds and Diamondbacks still have mathematical chances. In the American League, the Tigers lead the Astros by one game in the race for the final wild card. The Guardians, tied with Detroit in the Central Division, have the advantage in the head-to-head tiebreaker, which could be decisive.
Postseason schedule: key dates
The postseason officially begins on September 30 with the Wild Card Series. The Division Series kicks off on October 4, followed by the Championship Series and the eagerly awaited 2025 World Series, which will crown the new Major League Baseball champion. The Dodgers, the current champions, are looking to repeat, but teams such as the Phillies and Blue Jays are among the favorites.
Tiebreakers: no extra games
Since 2022, tiebreakers have been defined by mathematical criteria, such as the record between teams in the season. This means that there will be no additional games to define rankings, making each remaining game crucial. Teams like the Yankees and Blue Jays already have the edge in several tiebreakers, which could secure them a better position in the bracket.
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