Major League Baseball‘s best-of-five division series feature some scintillating in 2025, highlighted by the heavyweight bout between the Philadelphia Phillies and defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
In the American League, the New York Yankees face the division champion Toronto Blue Jays while the Seattle Mariners take on the Detroit Tigers. The Brewers-Cubs NLDS is also filled with storylines, namely Chicago manager Craig Counsell facing his former club in the postseason after skipping town in 2023.
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“The series is going to come down to who’s able to get the big hits in the big moments,” Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto told reporters. “They’re extremely talented over in that clubhouse. And we obviously have confidence in the guys we have.”
Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ MLB experts see the ALDS and NLDS playing out:
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Tommy Edman is showered with sunflower seeds after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Reds in Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Tommy Edman is showered with sunflower seeds after hitting a home run during the third inning against the Reds in Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Teoscar Hernandez (37) celebrates with teammates Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy after hitting a 3-run home run during the third inning against the Reds in Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Reds during Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Red Sox catcher Carlos Narvaez and relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman celebrate after defeating the Yankees 3-1 in Game 1 at Yankee Stadium.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Austin Wells reacts after being struck out during the eighth inning of Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Yankees manager Aaron Boone takes out pitcher Luke Weaver during the seventh inning of Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Masataka Yoshida celebrates with first base coach José David Flores after hitting a two-run single during the seventh inning of Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Masataka Yoshida hits a two-run single during the seventh inning against the Yankees during Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Jarren Duran is out at first with Yankees pitcher Max Fried covering during the fifth inning of Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Anthony Volpe reacts after hitting a solo home run during the first inning of Game 1 against the Red Sox.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Cubs players celebrate the Game 1 win over the Padres.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Carson Kelly celebrates his home run in the fifth inning of Game 1 against the Cubs.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Cubs catcher Carson Kelly rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Seiya Suzuki rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning of Game 1 against the Padres.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill slides into second base for a double in the second inning of Game 1 against the Cubs.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Tigers players celebrate their Game 1 win against the Guardians.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Tigers pitcher Will Vest reacts after recording the final out in Game 1.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Umpires stand for “God Bless America” during Game 1 between the Guardians and Tigers at Progressive Field.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Tigers pitcher Tarik Skubal is congratulated by Javier Báez before being relieved in the eighth inning of Game 1 against the Guardians.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Tigers outfielder Kerry Carpenter celebrates after hitting a double in Game 1 against the Guardians.
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Must-see action and passion from MLB playoffs’ 2025 Wild Card Series
Guardians manager Stephen Vogt hugs Tigers skipper A.J. Hinch before Game 1 at Progressive Field.
MLB playoff predictions, picks for division seriesBlue Jays vs. Yankees
Jesse Yomtov: Yankees in 3
Mariners vs. Tigers
Jesse Yomtov: Tigers in 5
Phillies vs Dodgers prediction
Jesse Yomtov: Dodgers in 4
Brewers vs. Cubs
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB playoff predictions and picks for Dodgers-Phillies NLDS, 2025 ALDS