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The 162-game Major League Baseball season has finally come to an end, and as always, it came down to the wire, with the final NL wild card spot and AL East Division Champions being decided by the final game. Let’s take a look at what teams made it into the postseason, who they are set to play, and how they got there.
The National League side of the postseason bracket consists of the Division Champion Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, and Los Angeles Dodgers, as well as the wildcard teams, the Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs, and the San Diego Padres.
The Philadelphia Phillies
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The Phillies went into the 2025 season with a World Series or bust mentality. Despite trailing the Mets for most of the season, the Phillies emerged as the 2025 NL East Champions in large part due to the near-complete collapse of the Mets. This is not to say that the Phillies weren’t one of the best teams in baseball; in fact, they would finish the season with a 96-66 record, which was the 2nd best in all of baseball. The Phillies owe much of their success to their MVP candidate, Kyle Schwarber, who hit 56 home runs, which was second-best in baseball. He also had 132K, RBI’s (Runs Batted In), which was the best in baseball. Other notable offensive players include Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. The Phillies have one of the most complete lineups in baseball, full of well-above-league-average hitters. Additionally, the Phillies have a strong starting rotation, boasting names like Zach Wheeler and Ranger Suárez. However, their best pitcher would be none other than Christopher Sánchez, who will no doubt receive CY Young Award votes. Sáchez finished 2025 with a 13-5 record, a 2.57 ERA, and 204 strikeouts over 196.1 innings pitched. The Bullpen was a key weakness for the team early in the season, but since the addition of Jhoan Duran at the trade deadline, they have shown much improvement, making it one of, if not the most, complete rosters in baseball.
The Phillies are set to play the winner of the wild card series between the Cleveland Guardians and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Phillies have an aging core of players, and fans feel it may be their last shot at a World Series. The Phillies hope to make it further than last year after their untimely exit in the NLDS at the hands of the New York Mets.
The Milwaukee Brewers
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The Brewers finished the 2024 season with a bitter taste in their mouths after blowing game three of the wild-card series and being eliminated by the Mets. They came into this season with something to prove, and prove it they did. The Brewers finished the 2025 regular season with a 97-65 record, which was the best in MLB. In August, the team won a franchise record 14 straight games. The Brewers also went on an 11-game winning streak. They play baseball differently than almost any other team and are pioneering a new era in the “great American pastime.” They get on base, steal a lot of bases, have good defense, and lean heavily on platoons to maximize their matchups. From there, they just find a way to win day in and day out. They aren’t a team loaded with star power, but it doesn’t matter. On the pitching side, Freddy Peralta leads the rotation with Quinn Priester, rookie Jacob Misiorowski, and others behind him. Misiorowski was selected as an All-Star after only a few starts. Offensively, Brice Turang led the team with a .288 AVG and 81 RBIs. William Contreras had a great offensive season, producing well for a catcher. He had a .260 AVG with 76 RBIs. Leading the team in RBIs was veteran outfielder Christian Yelich, who would finish the season with 103 RBIs.
The Brewers are set to face the winner of the wild card series between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs. While they don’t have the highest payroll, the flashiest players, or the most home runs, they are the top team in the regular season and are a top pick to win the World Series in 2025.
The Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Dodgers have once again been one of the best teams in baseball, having won the World Series in 2024. This will be their 13th straight postseason and their fourth straight NL West division win after they finished the year 93-69. Unlike the Brewers, the Dodgers are loaded with star power. Shohei Ohtani is once again in the MVP conversation. Not only did he have another historic offensive season, posting a .282 AVG with 55 HR (3rd in baseball), 102 RBIs, and a 1.014 OPS (2nd in baseball), but he also did so while pitching, a feat no one else has achieved. Ohtani returned from Tommy John surgery this season and pitched in 14 games after serving as the designated hitter in 2024, while he recovered. Ohtani recorded a 2.87 ERA. Freddie Freeman had a strong offensive year with a .296 AVG and 90 RBIs. Mookie Betts struggled in the middle of the season but was still able to put together another good season with a .258AVG and 82 RBIs. Will Smith had a top offensive year for a catcher, posting a .296 AVG with 17 HR and 61 RBIs. On the pitching side, the Dodgers had nearly an entire pitching staff on the injured list for most of the season; however, the team is deep enough that it wasn’t a problem. Yoshinobu Yamamoto had a great season and is a future ace of the Dodgers’ pitching staff. Roki Sasaki had a strong year, especially considering it was his first in the MLB after playing in Japan. Clayton Kershaw signed a 1-year $7.5 million deal with the Dodgers for 2025, and late in the season, he announced it would be his last. He kept his ERA in the low 3’s for most of the season and recorded his 3000th career strikeout, a feat only four other left-handers have achieved.
With their roster full of MVPs and October-tested veterans, this is another team that is World Series or bust. They are the best team on paper, but that’s the beauty of baseball; October isn’t won on paper, and the Dodgers know that better than anyone.
The Cincinnati Reds
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The Cincinnati Reds would be the last team to punch their ticket to October, doing so on the last day of the season. Going into game 162, the Reds and the Mets were tied for the final NL wild card. The path was clear: the Mets needed to win and for the Reds to lose in order to clinch.
The Reds did, in fact, lose their game — but so did the Mets, falling to the Miami Marlins. That left both teams tied at season’s end. According to MLB’s tiebreaker rules, the Reds advanced to the postseason, having won the regular season series against the Mets.
Elly De La Cruz was again the best player on the Reds with a .264 AVG, 21 HR, 85 RBIs, and 36 SB. Following close behind him is Matt McLain, who came into 2025 still recovering from a shoulder injury. McLain finished the season with a .221 AVG and 15 HR. As far as pitching goes, Hunter Greene was hands down the ace of the staff. He pitched to a 7-4 record with a 2.76 ERA, 132 strikeouts, and 107.2 innings.
The Reds are set to play the Dodgers in a 3 game wildcard series in Los Angeles starting on September 30th. The Reds were not expected to make the postseason and have been paired with the juggernaut Dodgers. The Reds have nothing to lose yet everything to prove.
The Chicago Cubs
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The Cubs are back in the postseason for the first time in a full season since 2018, and they did so with consistency. Unlike other teams on this list, the Cubs had a good season from start to finish, avoiding any major losing streaks. During the midseason, they stayed 4-6 games above .500 and later in the year hit their stride, finishing with a record of 92-70. In the first half, Pete Crow-Armstrong took the league by storm, becoming the first Cub ever to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases before the All-Star break. He led outfielders in defensive runs saved, and baseball fans were already clamoring for an MVP before the All-Star break. PCA would struggle in the second half and see his MVP numbers decline, and finish the season with a .247 AVG and 31 HR. The combination of Seiya Suzuki and Kyle Tucker kept the offense moving. Suzuki finished the year with a .245 AVG, 32 HR, and 103 RBIs, while Tucker would finish with a .266 AVG and 22 HR. Supporting pieces like Michael Busch, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner added depth to the offense. On the pitching side, they are led by the trio of Mathew Boyd, Cade Horton, and Shōta Imanaga.
The Cubs are serious World Series contenders and are looking to add a fourth championship to their resume after their 2016 victory that ended the 108-year championship drought.
The San Diego Padres
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The San Diego Padres punched their ticket to the postseason in style, walking it off against the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 on September 22. This will be the Padres’ second straight playoff appearance, and their fourth in the last six seasons. They finished the season with an 87-72 record.
Offensively, the Padres were more middle-of-the-pack, hitting .252 with 147 home runs. Luis Arraez led the team in hits with 181. Manny Machado had another great year at the plate, hitting to a .275 AVG with 27 HR and 95 RBIs. Fernando Tatis JR. Had a .268 AVG with 25 HR and 71 RBIs. Their 3.64 team ERA ranked among the league’s best, and they piled up 1,392 strikeouts as a pitching staff. Michael King pitched a complete game shutout early in the season and finished the year with a 3.44 ERA over 73.1 innings. Dylan Cease was 6th in the league in strikeouts with 215. Yu Darvish had a down year on the mound but still managed 68 strikeouts.
The Padres will begin their postseason run on the road, facing the Chicago Cubs in the National League Wild Card series. As a Wild Card team, San Diego enters with momentum and a chip on their shoulder. They’re not the favorites, but with pitching depth, timely hitting, and veteran presence, they have the tools to be a dangerous team.
On the American League side of the postseason bracket, there are the Division Champion teams consisting of the Toronto Blue Jays, the Cleveland Guardians, and the Seattle Mariners. It also features the wildcard teams, including the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox, and the Detroit Tigers.
The Toronto Blue Jays
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The Toronto Blue Jays capped off an impressive 2025 campaign by clinching the American League East on the season’s final day, marking their first division title since 2015. They improved to a 94–68 record, clinching the Division Title via a tiebreaker over the Yankees, despite both clubs finishing with the same record. The final win — a dominant 13–4 beatdown of the Rays — was spearheaded by Alejandro Kirk, who blasted a grand slam and tacked on a two-run homer, accounting for six RBIs. Kirk finished the year with a .282 AVG with 15 HR and 76 RBIs. Bo Bichette led the team in batting average with a .311 AVG, along with 18 HR and 94 RBIs. Unfortunately, his season ended early due to injury. George Springer had the second-highest batting average on the team with a .309 AVG and 84 RBIs. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had another strong offensive season, posting a .292 AVG with 23 HR and 84 RBIs. The rotation was up and down throughout the season, but at the end of the day it held up. The Blue Jays have 45 comeback wins, setting a new franchise record.
The Blue Jays have a bye into the American League Division Series and will face the winner of the Red Sox-Yankees series. The Blue Jays were the 3rd best team by record and have what it takes to win a World Series. It will come down to their pitching staff and whether it can keep the games close.
The Cleveland Guardians
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The Cleveland Guardians completed one of the most dramatic turnarounds in recent MLB history to capture the American League Central title. After trailing Detroit by as many as 15.5 games in July, they surged down the stretch and overtook the Tigers in late September to win the division. Cleveland sealed their postseason berth with a 3–2 walk-off win over the Texas Rangers on September 27. Then, when Detroit lost its final game, the Guardians officially clinched the AL Central.
Offensively, José Ramírez was central — he hit a home run that season and stole 40 bases in a 30–30 season, doing so for the third time in franchise history. On the mound, Gavin Williams was dominant late. He struck out 12 in a pivotal win over Detroit, helping the Guardians claw back into the division race. Tanner Bibee delivered a highlight on September 13 — a two‑hit shutout with 10 strikeouts.
The Guardians now enter the postseason as AL Central champions and will host their Wild Card opponent, the Tigers, starting on September 30th. They’ll lean heavily on their pitching staff to carry them — especially with an offense that ranked among the weakest in MLB. They are gunning for their 3rd World Series.
The Seattle Mariners
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The Seattle Mariners capped off a memorable 2025 season by winning the American League West, their first division title since 2001. They secured the division after a 9-2 win over the Rockies in which Cal Raleigh hit his 59th and 60th home runs of the season. Raleigh had a historic season; he is the first catcher to ever hit 60 home runs and the 4th American League player to reach the feat.
On the pitching side, Bryan Woo was the most consistent, finishing with a 15-7 record and a 2.94 ERA. Behind Woo was Luis Castillo, who finished 11-8 with a mid-3 ERA. Seattle’s staff ERA was 3.87, and they collected 1,383 strikeouts on the year.
The Mariners enter October with the AL West crown and a first‑round bye, having earned the 2‑seed in the American League. Their offense has enough pop to win, and their rotation has proven it can deliver across big innings. But in a playoff series, consistency from the back end of the bullpen and timely hitting will be crucial. If they can keep games close and let Raleigh and Woo carry them, Seattle might be among the dark-horse teams to watch this October as they hope to win their first World Series.
The New York Yankees
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The New York Yankees wrapped up a strong 2025 season, finishing with a 91–68 record. Their title run came down to the wire, but ultimately, they were edged out by the Blue Jays. This will be the Yankees’ 60th postseason appearance.
Offensively, the Yankees led the league in home runs with 266 long balls. Aaron Judge had yet another monster season, crushing his 50th and 51st home runs late in September. He finished the year among the MLB leaders in average, OBP, and slugging. Jazz Chisholm Jr. became a two-way threat, joining the 30‑30 club for home runs and stolen bases before a late‑season injury scare.
On the mound, New York’s staff posted a 3.94 ERA over 1,403.2 innings and racked up 1,401 strikeouts. Max Fried emerged as the workhorse of the rotation in 2025. He picked up a league-leading 19 wins, posted a 2.86 ERA, and set personal bests in innings and strikeouts.
For the 27-time World Series Champion New York Yankees, every year comes with heavy expectations. Reaching the postseason isn’t enough; fans expect wins. That said, the Yankees will play a wild card series against their bitter rivals, the Boston Red Sox, starting September 30th.
The Boston Red Sox
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The Boston Red Sox closed a roller‑coaster 2025 campaign by clinching a Wild Card spot, finishing with an 87–72 record — good enough for 3rd in the AL East. At the plate, Trevor Story was the team rock. He led Boston in home runs with 25 and was among the team batting leaders. Other strong hitters included Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela, who delivered clutch hits in critical moments.
On the mound, Garrett Crochet delivered one of the most dominant seasons in Red Sox history. He posted an 18–5 record while leading the league in strikeouts with 255 and posting a 2.59 ERA. Behind him, Brayan Bello had key moments, including a 1–0 complete-game gem over New York that clinched the season series. Tanner Houck also made strides, finishing with a 9–10 record and a career-best 3.12 ERA in 154 innings.
The Red Sox will now face the New York Yankees in the Wild Card round. As the lower seed, Boston enters as an underdog, but they aren’t without hope. If Crochet stays sharp and the bullpen holds firm, the Sox can keep games close. Their offense will need to be opportunistic. They may be the sleeper pick — though the odds are against them, Boston has fight and postseason grit on their side.
Detroit Tigers
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The Detroit Tigers began the 2025 season as one of the best teams in baseball, riding a historic early run — but by season’s end, they nearly saw their chances slip away in one of baseball’s most dramatic collapses. Still, they clawed back enough to clinch a Wild Card berth and live to see October.
Detroit surged early, going 59–34 in the first half of the season. Their start drew comparisons to the best teams in franchise history — after 71 games, they sat at 46–25, surpassing many of the Tigers’ past World Series squads to this point. By mid‑May, the Tigers had the best record in baseball and a dominant run differential. Their stretch from August onward was especially electric: over a critical 100‑game span starting August 11, Detroit posted a 67–33 record — the best mark in MLB over that stretch.
But the second half was a different story. After the All-Star break, the Tigers went 27–39, seeing their division lead evaporate. By late September, Cleveland had erased double-digit deficits (15.5 games behind in early July) and overtook Detroit in the AL Central. Detroit lost 10 of its last 11 games, and Cleveland locked up the division via the head-to-head tiebreaker.
On offense, Riley Greene stood out. He launched multiple long home runs, earned All-Star starts, and delivered consistent power in key moments. Javier Báez also provided late‑inning heroics, including a two‑run homer in an 8th inning walk-off vs. Seattle that epitomized Detroit’s clutch stretch. In the rotation, Tarik Skubal had a historic year, and he’s sure to get Cy Young votes. He had a Maddux (complete game shutout) with 13 strikeouts and one hit allowed. His dominance was central to Detroit’s early success.
Despite the collapse, the Tigers clinched a postseason berth on September 27 with a 2–1 win over Boston. They finished with a record of 87-75. Their run was a mix of brilliance and heartbreak — a team that looked destined for dominance but nearly gave it all away. They now head into the Wild Card round against Cleveland, and they have little room for error. The pitching needs to show up if they want to have any chance at making it out of the wildcard.
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The 12 teams all had different paths to the postseason. Some set franchise records for wins, others just squeezed in on the last day. Therein lies the beauty of baseball. Once you get to the postseason, it’s anyone’s game. Will the Mariners get their first World Series win? Will the Yankees get their 28th? Will a small market team that was on the outside looking in for most of the year do the impossible and upset the defending champion Dodgers?
The slate has been wiped clean, and now it’s up to the players to show they have what it takes to win in October.
Statistics for this article were from MLB.Com, ESPN, and Statcast.
