The excitement of the 2023 MLB postseason is already underway, with the Wild Card Series kicking off on Tuesday. The format once again relies on the intensity of short series, with only three games per matchup and each one crucial to the teams’ aspirations.
This year, there will be four matchups, two per league, to determine the teams that advance to the Divisional Round. With historic rivalries, maximum excitement and teams with no margin for error, the road to the 2025 World Series begins
How does the 2025 MLB Wild Card work and how many games are played?
The Wild Card round maintains its format established in recent seasons: best-of-three series and the higher-seeded team in each series is the host throughout the tie, which could make the difference in such close games.
The Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Brewers were the four teams that earned an initial bye, advancing directly to the next phase for finishing among the best in their respective leagues. Meanwhile, the other eight teams face off this week in a schedule that could change the course of the postseason.
Which teams qualified for the 2025 MLB Wild Card and what are the matchups?
In the American League, the spotlight is on high-voltage duels: New York Yankees vs Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Guardians vs Detroit Tigers. In both cases, there are divisional rivalries at play, which further raises the tension. Boston dominated New York for much of the year, but the home team is on fire. In the other matchup, Cleveland made a September comeback to take the divisional title and home advantage.
In the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers will host the Cincinnati Reds, while the Chicago Cubs will host the San Diego Padres. Although the Dodgers were clearly superior in the regular season against Cincinnati, the numbers are even in key aspects such as pitching. The Cubs and Padres have opposite records at Wrigley Field, but both have key absences and figures that could tip the balance.
The winner of each matchup will advance to the Divisional Round, where the teams that received a bye are already waiting. From there, the series will be best-of-five and then, both the Championship Series and World Series will be best-of-seven.
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