Updated Mon, September 29, 2025 at 12:35 PM UTC
The final pieces of Major League Baseball’s 2025 playoff puzzle fell into place on the last day of the regular season when the Cleveland Guardians clinched the AL Central crown and the Cincinnati Reds secured the third National League wild-card spot.
After a day of much-needed rest, the postseason kicks off on Tuesday, Sept. 30, with the opening games of the best-of-three wild-card series.
The top two teams in each league will sit this round out after securing byes into the division series, which will begin on Saturday, Oct. 4.
Here’s a look at the 2025 postseason bracket:
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Must-see photos as MLB teams celebrate postseason berths and division titles
Andruw Monasterio of the Milwaukee Brewers is dunked with gatorade after a walk-off single in the 10th inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at American Family Field on Sept. 13, 2025, in Milwaukee. The win clinched a 2025 MLB postseason berth for the Brewers.
MLB playoff bracketAmerican League
Byes: Blue Jays, Mariners
ALDS
Blue Jays vs. Yankees/Red Sox
Mariners vs. Guardians/Tigers
The 2025 MLB playoff bracket is set. Here are the American League and National League teams that have made the postseason.
National League
NLDS
Phillies vs. Dodgers/Reds
Upcoming MLB playoff schedule
The AL and NL division series begin on Saturday, Oct. 4.
The AL championship series begins on Sunday, Oct. 12 with the NL championship series starting on Monday, Oct. 13.
The 2025 World Series opens on Friday, Oct. 24.
Final 2025 MLB standingsAL EastAL CentralAL West
Seattle Mariners (90-72) – clinched AL West title
AL wild card standings
Top three reach playoffs
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies (96-66) – clinched NL East title
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers (97-65) – clinched NL Central title
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) – clinched NL West title
NL wild card standings
Top three reach playoffs
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB playoff bracket, postseason matchups, playoff schedule