Analyzing MLB Wild Card postseason matchups
Bob Nightengale breaks down each of the four Wild Card matchups to kick off the 2025 MLB postseason.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays are the top seeds in the 2025 MLB playoffs.The top four teams — the Brewers, Blue Jays, Phillies and Mariners — have a bye to the division series.The 2025 World Series is scheduled to begin on Friday, Oct. 24.
The Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays are the top overall seeds as the MLB playoffs get underway.
Those two teams finished the 2025 regular season with the best records in their league and will have the home-field advantage as long as they can stay alive in their quest to reach the World Series. The Brewers (97-65) finished one game ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies for the overall No. 1 seed.
Along with the Seattle Mariners, the top four teams automatically advance to the division series. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers will battle in the AL wild-card round. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds will match up in the NL wild-card round.
Here’s the complete 2025 MLB playoff schedule:
MLB wild card series scheduleWednesday, Oct. 1Tigers at Guardians, Game 1: 1:08 p.m. ET, ESPNPadres at Cubs, Game 2: 3:08 p.m. ET, ABCRed Sox at Yankees, Game 2: 6:08 p.m. ET, ESPNReds at Dodgers, Game 2: 9:08 p.m. ET, ESPNThursday, Oct. 2
(Game 3 schedule subject to change)
Tigers at Guardians, Game 3: 1:08 p.m. ET, ESPN * if necessaryPadres at Cubs, Game 3: 3:08 p.m. ET, ABC * if necessaryRed Sox at Yankees, Game 3: 6:08 p.m. ET, ESPN * if necessaryReds at Dodgers, Game 4: 9:08 p.m. ET, ESPN * if necessary
Watch 2025 MLB playoffs on Fubo
Division series schedule
(Best-of-five)
Saturday, Oct. 4
If Yankees advance:
Cubs/Padres at Brewers, Game 1: 2:08 p.m. ET, TBS, HBO MaxYankees at Blue Jays, Game 1: 4:08 p.m. ET, FOXDodgers/Reds at Phillies, Game 1: 6:38 p.m. ET, TBS, truTV, HBO MaxGuardians/Tigers at Mariners, Game 1: 8:38 p.m. ET, FS1
If Red Sox advance:
Red Sox at Blue Jays, Game 1: 1:08 p.m. ET, FS1Guardians/Tigers at Mariners, Game 1: 4:08 p.m. ET, FOXDodgers/Reds at Phillies, Game 1: 6:08 p.m. ET, TBS, truTV, HBO MaxCubs/Padres at Brewers, Game 1: 9:08 p.m. ET, TBS, truTV, HBO Max
Sunday, Oct. 5
Yankees/Red Sox at Blue Jays, Game 2: 4:08 p.m. ET, FS1Guardians/Tigers at Mariners, Game 2: 8:03 p.m. ET, FS1
Monday, Oct. 6
Dodgers/Reds at Phillies, Game 2Cubs/Padres at Brewers, Game 2
Tuesday, Oct. 7
Blue Jays at Yankees/Red Sox, Game 3Mariners at Guardians/Tigers, Game 3
Wednesday, Oct. 8
Blue Jays at Yankees/Red Sox, Game 4 *if necessaryMariners at Guardians/Tigers *if necessaryPhillies at Dodgers/Reds, Game 3Brewers at Cubs/Padres, Game 3
Thursday, Oct. 9
Phillies at Dodgers/Reds, Game 4 *if necessaryBrewers at Cubs/Padres, Game 4 *if necessary
Friday, Oct. 10
Yankees/Red Sox at Blue Jays, Game 5 *if necessaryGuardians/Tigers at Mariners, Game 5 *if necessary
Saturday, Oct. 11
Dodgers/Reds at Phillies, Game 5 *if necessaryPadres/Cubs at Brewers, Game 5 *if necessaryLeague championship series schedule
(Best-of-seven)
Oct. 12
Oct. 13
Oct. 14
Oct. 15
Oct. 16
Oct. 17
NLCS Game 4ALCS Game 5 *if necessary
Oct. 18
NLCS Game 5 *if necessary
Oct. 19
ALCS Game 6 *if necessary
Oct. 20
NLCS Game 6 *if necessaryALCS Game 7 *if necessary
Oct. 21
NLCS Game 7 *if necessaryWorld Series schedule 2025Friday, Oct. 24: Game 1Saturday, Oct. 25: Game 2Monday, Oct. 27: Game 3Tuesday, Oct. 28: Game 4Wednesday, Oct. 29: Game 5 *if necessaryFriday, Oct. 31: Game 6 *if necessarySaturday, Nov. 1: Game 7 *if necessary