X-factors for Yankees, Blue Jays, Mariners and Tigers as ALDS matchups are set
USA TODAY Sports’ Gabe Lacques breaks down the ALDS and players to watch from the Yankees, Blue Jays, Mariners and Tigers
Sports Pulse
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.
“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:
MLB playoff predictions, picks for division seriesBlue Jays vs. YankeesBob NightengaleGabe LacquesJesse Yomtov: Yankees in 3Mariners vs. TigersBob NightengaleGabe LacquesJesse Yomtov: Tigers in 5Phillies vs Dodgers predictionBob NightengaleGabe LacquesJesse Yomtov: Dodgers in 4Brewers vs. CubsBob NightengaleGabe LacquesJesse Yomtov: Cubs in 4