The 2025 postseason is approaching. As you keep an eye on the standings, here is everything you need to know about how the playoff field is shaping up, as well as info about potential tiebreakers and clinch scenarios for each contender.
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY
Here is a look at how the postseason field is shaping up, entering Monday. (Teams listed in order of seeding.)
AL playoff teams: Blue Jays (AL East), Tigers (AL Central), Mariners (AL West), Yankees (Wild Card), Red Sox (Wild Card), Astros (Wild Card)
NL playoff teams: Brewers (NL Central), Phillies (NL East), Dodgers (NL West), Cubs (Wild Card), Padres (Wild Card), Mets (Wild Card)
For a look at the full bracket, see the top of this page.
Each of the best-of-three Wild Card Series are set to begin on Sept. 30, while each of the best-of-five Division Series are set to begin on Oct. 4.
AL West: Mariners lead Astros by 1 game
NL Wild Card: Mets lead Giants by 1 1/2 games for final berth
AL Wild Card: Astros lead Rangers by 2 games for final berth
NL West: Dodgers lead Padres by 2 1/2 games
AL East: Blue Jays lead Yankees by 4 games
Since 2022, all playoff tiebreakers have been determined mathematically, rather than via tiebreaker games. That means ties for division titles and postseason berths, as well as for seeding, come down first to head-to-head record between those teams during the season, with other tiebreakers available if needed.
Below, MLB.com is tracking the progress of relevant tiebreaker scenarios for contenders (defined here as within five games of a playoff spot).
Blue Jays (1st in AL East; 4 games ahead of NYY)
Toronto is in great shape if it ends up tied for a division title, having locked up the edge over both New York and Boston. If the Jays and the Tigers end up tied for the best record in the AL, Toronto owns the tiebreaker.
Yankees (2nd in AL East; 4 games behind TOR)
The Yankees hold a key Wild Card tiebreaker over the Mariners, but they’d lose out to either of their top AL East foes and the Tigers after Detroit defeated New York on Wednesday in the Bronx.
Red Sox (3rd in AL East; 5.5 games behind TOR)
The Red Sox hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Astros and Yankees, but a tiebreaker with the Mariners for a Wild Card spot would come down to each team’s intradivisional record.
Tigers (1st in AL Central; 6.5 games ahead of CLE)
If the Tigers end up tied with the Blue Jays for the best record in the AL, Toronto would hold the tiebreaker after going 4-3 against Detroit this season.
Mariners (1st in AL West)
The Mariners currently have the higher intradivision record, meaning that, if they ended the season with the same record, the Astros would be relegated to a Wild Card berth. Seattle still has a chance to officially win a tiebreaker over the Astros during a road series from Sept. 19-21.
A Sept. 19-21 series against the Mariners at Daikin Park will determine a crucial head-to-head tiebreaker in the AL West.
Rangers (3rd in AL West; 3 games behind SEA)
The Rangers would lose out to the Mariners on a tiebreaker, but they still have the chance to win the tiebreaker against the Astros — and pick up some ground in the standings — if they can avoid a sweep in their final matchup with Houston, which begins on Monday.
Guardians (2.5 games behind HOU for 3rd AL Wild Card)
The Guardians’ three-game series with the Rangers to close out the regular season from Sept. 26-28 could be crucial.
Phillies (1st in NL East; 12 games ahead of NYM)
After losing the season series to the Brewers, the Phillies’ three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles that begins on Monday could be crucial for NL postseason seeding.
Mets (2nd in NL East; 12 games behind PHI)
The Mets hold the tiebreaker over two of their closest competitors in the Wild Card race (Giants and Cardinals), but they don’t have the tiebreaker over the Reds and a tiebreaker with the D-backs will depend on intradivision record at the end of the season.
Brewers (1st in NL Central; 5.5 games ahead of CHC)
The Brewers own the best record in baseball and the pivotal tiebreakers against the Dodgers and Phillies, should Milwaukee finish the regular season with the same record as one of those clubs.
Cubs (2nd in NL Central; 5.5 games behind MIL)
If the Cubs can erase their deficit in the NL Central, they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Brewers.
Dodgers (1st in NL West, 2.5 games ahead of SD)
By winning nine of the 13 games between the two clubs, the Dodgers have secured a huge NL West tiebreaker over the Padres. After losing the season series to the Brewers, the Dodgers’ three-game series against the Phillies in Los Angeles that begins on Monday could be crucial for NL postseason seeding.
Padres (2nd in NL West; 2.5 games behind LAD)
The Padres’ relevant Wild Card tiebreakers are all yet to be determined. Division record would break any tie with the Cubs or Reds.
Giants (1.5 games behind NYM for 3rd NL Wild Card)
The Giants don’t have any more games remaining against the clubs ahead of them in the Wild Card race, and don’t own any tiebreakers over any team in that group.
D-backs (2 games behind NYM for 3rd Wild Card)
The D-backs have climbed back into the Wild Card race and still have head-to-head matchups remaining against the Giants and Padres.
Reds (2.5 games behind NYM for 3rd NL Wild Card)
The Reds own important tiebreakers against the Mets and D-backs, should they end the season with the same record with one of those clubs for a Wild Card spot.
Cardinals (4 games behind NYM for 3rd Wild Card)
The Cardinals are still hanging around and do have an opportunity to secure a tiebreaker against the Giants and the Reds, but time is running out for St. Louis.
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