MLB Playoff Picture Tightens as Season Nears the Finish
We’re down to the final week of the 2025 MLB regular season, and the playoff picture is taking shape in dramatic fashion. The tension is high, the races are razor-thin, and the stage is nearly set for October baseball.
In the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers were the first team to officially lock in a postseason berth, and soon after, the Philadelphia Phillies joined them—clinching not only a playoff spot but also the NL East crown. The Chicago Cubs secured their place as well, ensuring that Wrigley Field will see October action again. Over in the West, the Los Angeles Dodgers are once more in the postseason, fighting to stay atop the division against the ever-persistent San Diego Padres. Right now, the Padres and New York Mets are holding onto the wild card positions behind the Cubs, but that grip is far from secure. Teams like the Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, and San Francisco Giants are still pushing hard, hoping to sneak in at the last moment.
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The American League is no less intense. The Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros are in a fierce duel for the AL West title. Only one can claim the division, and the other will likely slide into a wild card slot. In the East, the Toronto Blue Jays lead the pack, but the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox are both hanging tough in wild card contention. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians are charging late, trying to overtake the Detroit Tigers, who’ve seen their once-secure AL Central lead nearly vanish. Both Detroit and Toronto are clinging to narrow margins, making every final game crucial.
It’s worth remembering that Major League Baseball expanded the playoffs not long ago. Now, 12 teams make it in—six from each league. Division winners automatically qualify, and three wild card teams round out the bracket. The top two division winners by record get a valuable first-round bye, skipping the best-of-three Wild Card Series and resting up while the others fight it out.
If the season ended today, the American League byes would belong to the Blue Jays and Mariners, while the Tigers would square off with the Guardians, and the Yankees would face the Red Sox in the Wild Card round. In the National League, the Brewers and Phillies would enjoy those byes, while the Dodgers would meet the Mets, and the Cubs would line up against the Padres.
Looking at the odds, the Phillies and Dodgers are considered the top favorites for the World Series, followed closely by the Brewers and Mariners. But as baseball fans know all too well, October has a way of writing its own script. The unexpected happens every year, and no lead can be trusted until the final out is recorded.
With just a handful of games left, every pitch and every swing matters. By the time the calendar flips to September 30th, the playoff field will be set, and the chase for the 2025 World Series will be underway. Buckle up—this last week is going to be something special.
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