Photo by Daiji Umemoto, Unsplash
The stage is being set for the 2025 MLB playoffs, a postseason loaded with storylines, surprises and high stakes. The wild card rounds began Tuesday, with MLB’s postseason format ensuring that every game matters.
In the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays secured the first playoff berth of 2025 and the American League East title, holding off the New York Yankees down the stretch of the regular season. The Yankees enter the playoffs as the first wild card team.
The Seattle Mariners clinched the AL West — their first division title since 2001 — and earned a first-round bye into the AL Division Series. Meanwhile, the AL Central was tightly contested with Cleveland Guardians edging the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central Division crown.
The wild card races were equally tense: Detroit ended up squeaking into the playoffs, even though they had an identical record as the Houston Astros, because they won the head-to-head annual series. Unlike earlier eras, there are no tiebreaker games — all ties are resolved via mathematical tiebreaking procedures (head-to-head results first). The Boston Red Sox make up the final playoff team in the AL.
On the National League side, Milwaukee and Philadelphia have locked up the top two seeds and skipped the wild card round entirely. Los Angeles, despite winning the NL West, will enter as the No. 3 seed and play in the wild card round. The expanded field means Chicago, San Diego and the Cincinnati Reds are jockeying for wild card positioning.
The Wild Card Series are short and brutal: best of three, with every pitch magnified. Division Series start Saturday, with home field leaning to the higher seed, and a full, five-game series unfolding in both leagues. From there, league championship series and then the World Series await — Game 1 is slated for Oct. 24.
So what should fans watch?
Depth and pitching matchups will likely decide many series. Teams with strong rotations and bullpen depth are positioned well in October. Analysts have also spotlighted under-the-radar performers. For instance, Nico Hoerner of the Cubs is among those tipped to break out in the postseason thanks to his steady defense and late-season offensive surge.
Momentum matters. Seattle’s surge down the stretch — including a dominant finish — gives them confidence. Meanwhile, Cleveland’s climb from deep deficits to contend for AL Central shows how fast things can change in September.
Star power meets legacy risks. Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, Aaron Judge and younger sluggers like Cal Raleigh (who hit 60 home runs and drove in 125 RBIs this season) all come in with expectations. Raleigh’s power surge helped lock down the division for the Mariners.
Still, October is a different animal. A three-game swing or a bullpen collapse can undo a season’s worth of work. The margin between glory and heartbreak will be slim.
As the playoff curtain rises, expect tension, surprises and unforgettable moments — the 2025 MLB postseason promises to deliver.