The 2025 postseason has arrived, and baseball fans know that the most action-packed month is underway. Starting Sept. 30, the Wild Card Series kicked off, launching us into weeks of intense competition and October baseball. If you want to head into the World Series fully prepared, here is everything you need to know about how the bracket works and the matchups that have shaped up to be must-watch baseball.
Major League Baseball has 30 teams, but only the top 12 survive the 162-game season to reach October. It is an even split between the American and National Leagues, with three divisions per league. The winners of each division, along with three Wild Card teams, round out the entire playoff picture. Division winners lock in a bye straight to the division series, while the Wild Card teams play a best-of-three series to earn their spot.
This is the fourth season of the new playoff format, where the Wild Card round has expanded from a single game, winner-takes-all battle, into a best-of-three series. This change means more chances for the underdogs to shock the baseball world and generate even more drama. Each playoff team is among the top six seeds in each division, ranked from No. 1 to No. 6 place, which determines who they faced in the first two rounds. This number is based on each team’s record during the regular season.
The first Wild Card match-up featured the (6) Cincinnati Reds vs. (3) Los Angeles Dodgers. The Reds took on the reigning champs, and with the Dodgers holding home-field advantage, they had their work cut out for them. The Reds ultimately could not pull off an underdog upset to advance to the next round, losing the series in two games. Next up is the (5) San Diego Padres vs. (4) Chicago Cubs. This marked Chicago’s first playoff appearance since 2020, and Wrigley Field was buzzing with anticipation as they entered this series with home-field advantage. The Cubs delivered for their fans, winning the series 2–1 to advance to the next round.
As for the American League, fans were treated to one of baseball’s biggest rivalries: the (6) Boston Red Sox vs. (3) New York Yankees. Both teams had surged through the regular season, setting the stage for a thrilling best-of-three series. In the end, the Yankees came out on top, winning the series 2–1 in a suspenseful face-off. Next, the (5) Detroit Tigers vs. (4) Cleveland Guardians matched up in a classic AL Central showdown, where the Tigers earned their spot in the ALDS.
Next up came the division series. After an eventful final week of the regular season, both the Toronto Blue Jays and the Yankees tied for first place. The Blue Jays held the tiebreaker and won the AL East, going on to defeat the Yankees to advance to the ALCS. Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners clinched the AL West and later bested the Tigers in five games. Tonight, the Mariners and the Blue Jays battle it out in Game 7 of the ALCS for a spot in the World Series, with everything on the line in this winner-takes-all showdown. Over in the NL, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies solidified their place in the NLDS as division winners, securing their byes. However, it was the underdog Dodgers who ultimately advanced all the way to the World Series.
The beauty of October baseball is that regular-season records don’t matter once the postseason begins. The playoffs are all about momentum, and every team that steps onto the diamond has a chance to win it all.
Mark your calendars: The postseason is about to come to a close. While the elimination of a certain New York team has ended my hopes for a 28th ring, it has been a month full of surprises. Don’t forget to make your predictions for who the 2025 World Series winner will be!