As the Los Angeles Dodgers’ 2025 regular season nears its conclusion, the playoff race is sharpening into focus. Several teams have already punched their tickets to October, while others are still clawing for position in what has been one of the most unpredictable Septembers in recent memory. For the Los Angeles Dodgers, another postseason berth is secure—but where they land in the National League bracket could make all the difference.
Who’s Already In
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Vote For Your Favorite Dodgers Duo: Ohtani – Yamamoto, Betts – Freeman, Hernandez – Hernandez
Five clubs have clinched postseason berths:
Milwaukee Brewers – Locked up the NL Central and currently hold the best record in baseball.
Philadelphia Phillies – Secured the NL East and sit in line for the No. 2 seed.
Chicago Cubs – Claimed their first full-season playoff appearance since 2018 and currently hold the top NL Wild Card.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Extended their playoff streak to 13 straight years, aiming for another NL West crown.
Toronto Blue Jays – The first AL team to clinch, on pace for the No. 1 seed.
The Yankees, Mariners, and Padres all have playoff odds above 99%, while the Reds, Mets, and Diamondbacks remain locked in a tense battle for the final NL Wild Card.
Dodgers’ Current Standing
Los Angeles has secured a playoff spot and remains on track to capture the NL West. With six games remaining, they hold a three-game cushion over the Padres. If the standings hold, the Dodgers will claim the No. 3 seed in the National League, setting up a Wild Card series at Dodger Stadium.
As of now, the bracket would pair the Dodgers against the Cincinnati Reds in a best-of-three series. The winner would advance to face the second-seeded Phillies in the NLDS. The Dodgers’ 2025 record against the Red is 5-1.
NL Playoff Bracket If Season Ended Today
Wild Card Series
(6) Reds at (3) Dodgers
(5) Padres at (4) Cubs
Division Series
Reds/Dodgers winner vs. (2) Phillies
Padres/Cubs winner vs. (1) Brewers
This alignment underscores just how steep the path could be for Los Angeles. Winning the division offers home-field advantage in the Wild Card round, but a date with Philadelphia looms immediately after.
Tie-Breakers in Play
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For a franchise with as much October experience as the Dodgers, tie-breakers could still matter. MLB no longer uses a Game 163; instead, head-to-head records and intradivision performance determine placement.
Dodgers have clinched the tiebreaker against the Padres – a key advantage in the NL West.
Phillies hold the tiebreaker over the Dodgers – which locks L.A. into the No. 3 seed if Philadelphia stays ahead.
Cubs own the tiebreaker against the Brewers – which could influence seeding at the top.
These nuances mean that while the Dodgers are postseason-bound, their exact slot will depend on this final week.
The AL Picture
While the Dodgers eye their positioning, chaos reigns in the American League. Toronto holds the top spot, while the Yankees and Red Sox are battling for Wild Card seeding. The Cleveland Guardians have mounted a furious September push, closing to within a game of the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central and fighting Houston for the last Wild Card.
If the season ended today:
Guardians would face the Tigers in the 3 vs. 6 matchup.
Yankees and Red Sox would square off in a marquee 4 vs. 5 Wild Card series.
Key Games Ahead
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Every day of the final week carries implications:
Dodgers at Diamondbacks, Sept. 22–24 – Arizona is one game back in the Wild Card, so this series impacts both clubs.
Dodgers at Mariners, Sept. 26–28 – Seattle is battling Houston for the AL West, and these games could help finalize NL tiebreakers too.
Guardians vs. Tigers, Sept. 23–25 – A direct battle for the AL Central crown.
Cubs vs. Mets, Sept. 22–24 – The Mets’ playoff hopes hang by a thread.
Postseason Schedule
Wild Card Series: Sept. 30 – Oct. 2
Division Series: Oct. 4 – Oct. 11
League Championship Series: Oct. 12 – Oct. 21
World Series: Oct. 24 – Nov. 1
The Dodgers are guaranteed at least two October home games in the Wild Card round—but the margin for error is slimmer than in years past.
The Road Ahead for L.A.
For the Dodgers, it’s familiar territory: another postseason berth, another chance to chase a World Series. Yet the competition is fierce. The Brewers have been baseball’s most consistent team, the Phillies carry postseason scars and experience, and the Cubs are playing their best ball in years.
Los Angeles’ playoff fate will hinge on whether its star-studded roster can find consistency at the right time. Tie-breakers may have saved their seeding, but come October, execution will matter more than math.
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