2025 MLB Playoffs A total of 12 teams have advanced to the playoffs, battling from the Wild Card Series all the way to the World Series to crown a champion within a month.
This guide covers everything you need to know about the MLB postseason, including the full team list, Wild Card rules, schedule, live score updates, and streaming platforms.
2025 MLB Playoffs Teams
The 2025 MLB postseason format remains the same with 12 teams in total, consisting of 3 division winners and 3 Wild Card teams from each league.
The top two division winners earn a first-round bye, while the remaining teams must battle through the Wild Card Series to advance.
| League | Division Winners (Bye to Division Series) | Wild Card Teams (Play in Wild Card Series) |
|---|---|---|
| American League (AL) | Blue Jays, Mariners | Guardians, Yankees, Red Sox, Tigers |
| National League (NL) | Brewers, Phillies | Cubs, Padres, Reds, Dodgers |
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2025 MLB Wild Card Rules and Format Comparison
| Stage | Wild Card Series | Division Series | League Championship Series | World Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round | First round of the postseason | Second round | Third round | Final round |
| Format | Best-of-three | Best-of-five | Best-of-seven | Best-of-seven |
| Home Field | All games played at higher seed’s ballpark | 2-2-1 | 2-3-2 | 2-3-2 |
| Qualification | Wild Card 3 vs Division 3, Wild Card 1 vs Wild Card 2 | Top two seeds await winners | Division Series winners advance | American League champion vs National League champion |
Key Difference: The Wild Card is a “gateway series,” giving fringe teams one last shot at survival. Only by winning here can they truly enter the “core stage of the postseason.”
MLB playoffs 2025 Schedule Overview
| Stage | Dates |
|---|---|
| Wild Card Series | Oct 1 (Wed) – Oct 3 (Fri) |
| Division Series | From Oct 5 (Sun) |
| League Championship Series | AL: begins Oct 13 NL: begins Oct 14 |
| World Series | Scheduled to start Oct 25If all seven games are played |
Wild Card Series (Best-of-Three)
| Matchup | Note |
|---|---|
| Guardians (AL Central Champion) vs Tigers (Wild Card) | Winner faces Brewers |
| Cubs (NL Central Champion) vs Padres (Wild Card) | Winner faces Blue Jays |
| Yankees vs Red Sox | Winner faces Phillies |
| Reds vs Dodgers | Winner faces Mariners |
Division Series (From Oct 5)
| Matchup | Note |
|---|---|
| Brewers vs Guardians / Tigers winner | AL No. 1 seed |
| Phillies vs Yankees / Red Sox winner | AL No. 2 seed |
| Blue Jays vs Cubs / Padres winner | NL No. 1 seed |
| Mariners vs Reds / Dodgers winner | NL No. 2 seed |
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2025 MLB playoffs Scores(Wild Card Series – Ongoing)
| Date | Matchup | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 30 (Tue) 13:08 ET | Tigers vs Guardians | 2 – 1 | Tigers |
| Sep 30 (Tue) 15:08 ET | Padres vs Cubs | 1 – 3 | Cubs |
| Sep 30 (Tue) 18:08 ET | Red Sox vs Yankees | 3 – 1 | Red Sox |
| Sep 30 (Tue) 21:08 ET | Reds vs Dodgers | 5 – 10 | Dodgers |
Top MLB Stars to Watch in the 2025 Playoffs
| Player | Team | WAR | wRC+ | ERA | K/9 | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shohei Ohtani | Los Angeles Dodgers | 6.3 | 130 | 2.80 | 10.2 | Two-way sensation who can dominate both at the plate and on the mound |
 Aaron Judge | New York Yankees | 9.5 | 140 | — | — | One of the league’s most powerful hitters |
 Cal Raleigh | Seattle Mariners | 6.0 | 135 | — | — | Power-hitting catcher |
 Blake Snell | Los Angeles Dodgers | 4.5 | — | 2.35 | 9.8 | Cy Young-caliber ace |
 Julio Rodríguez | Seattle Mariners | 5.9 | 128 | — | — | Young offensive cornerstone |
 Kyle Tucker | Chicago Cubs | 6.7 | 125 | — | — | Reliable middle-of-the-order bat with steady power |
Where to Watch 2025 MLB Streams?
Where to watch the 2025 MLB season and playoffs online:
- MLB.TV: Official streaming service with full access to every game, live and on-demand.
- FOX Sports & FS1: Exclusive coverage of the World Series and select playoff games.
- ESPN: Broadcasts Wild Card and Division Series games with live streaming options.
- TBS: Covers National League postseason games.
- Regional Sports Networks: Local broadcasts for regular season and early playoff rounds.
Conclusion
The 2025 MLB postseason is heating up. From the Wild Card battles to the ultimate World Series showdown, 12 teams are competing for championship glory.
No matter which team you root for, this guide has live updates, full matchup details, and viewing options to make sure you never miss a single pivotal game!
