Dodgers and Phillies meet in heavyweight NLDS showdown
USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale breaks down the NLDS series between the red-hot Dodgers and NL East champion Philadelphia Phillies.
Sports Pulse
And then there were eight.
Major League Baseball‘s postseason has reached the division series, baseball’s equivalent of each league’s semifinals. It’s where the top two seeds in the American League and National League make their 2025 postseason debuts against the winners from the wild card round.
MLB’s top overall seed, the Milwaukee Brewers, will host their NL Central division rivals, the Chicago Cubs. The other NLDS matchup pits the No. 2 seed Philadelphia Phillies against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the defending World Series champions. Over in the AL, the top-seeded Toronto Blue Jays get the New York Yankees in a clash between AL East division rivals. The No. 2 Seattle Mariners get the Detroit Tigers, who got in as the AL’s final wild card.
Here’s a look at the updated 2025 postseason bracket:
MLB playoff bracketAmerican LeagueByes: Blue Jays, MarinersAL Wild Card Series (best of three)Tigers at Guardians – Detroit wins series 2-1Red Sox at Yankees – New York wins series 2-1AL Division Series (best of five)Blue Jays vs. Yankees – Toronto leads 2-0Mariners vs. Tigers – Series tied 1-1AL Championship Series (best of seven)National LeagueByes: Brewers, PhilliesNL Wild Card Series (best of three)Reds at Dodgers – Los Angeles wins series 2-0Padres at Cubs – Chicago wins series 2-1NL Division Series (best of five)Brewers vs. Cubs – Milwaukee leads 2-0Phillies vs. Dodgers – Los Angeles leads 2-0NL Championship Series (best of seven)World SeriesMLB playoff scheduleAmerican League Division Series
Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 1: Blue Jays 10, Yankees 1 (Toronto leads 1-0)Game 1: Tigers 3, Mariners 2 in 11 innings (Detroit leads 1-0)
Sunday, Oct. 5
Game 2: Blue Jays 13, Yankees 7 (Toronto leads 2-0)Game 2: Mariners 3, Tigers 2 (Series tied 1-1)
Tuesday, Oct. 7
Game 3: Mariners at Tigers, 4:08 p.m. ET on FS1Game 3: Blue Jays at Yankees, 8:08 p.m. ET on FS1
Wednesday, Oct. 8
Times could change based on ongoing series.
Game 4: Mariners at Tigers, 3:08 p.m. ET on FS1Game 4: Blue Jays at Yankees, 7:08 p.m. ET on FS1 (if necessary)
Friday, Oct. 9
Times could change based on ongoing series.
Game 5: Tigers at Mariners, 4:40 p.m. ET on FS1 (if necessary)Game 5: Yankees at Blue Jays, 8:08 p.m. ET on FOX (if necessary)National League Division Series
Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 1: Brewers 9, Cubs 3 (Milwaukee leads 1-0)Game 1: Dodgers 5, Phillies 3 (Los Angeles leads 1-0)
Monday, Oct. 6
Game 2: Dodgers 4, Phillies 3 (Los Angeles leads 2-0)Game 2: Brewers 7, Cubs 3 (Milwaukee leads 2-0)
Wednesday. Oct. 8
Times could change based on ongoing series.
Game 3: Brewers at Cubs, 5:08 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV/HBO MaxGame 3: Phillies at Dodgers, 9:08 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV/HBO Max
Thursday, Oct. 9
Times could change based on ongoing series.
Game 4: Phillies at Dodgers, 6:08 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV/HBO Max (if necessary)Game 4: Brewers at Cubs, 9:08 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV/HBO Max (if necessary)
Saturday, Oct. 11
Game 5: Cubs at Brewers, 4:38 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV/HBO Max (if necessary)Game 5: Dodgers at Phillies, 8:08 p.m. ET on TBS/truTV/HBO Max (if ncessary)