MLB playoffs 2025 tracker: Guardians tie Tigers atop AL Central, Yankees and Mariners get in — standings, schedule, clinch scenarios and more with 5 games to go

The MLB postseason is every week away, and each group with World Series aspirations nonetheless has lots left to play for.

Let’s break down the playoff image, what’s at stake, who can clinch subsequent and who’s dealing with whom heading into Wednesday.

Who has clinched a spot in the playoffs?

The Mariners clinched a postseason spot with their comeback victory over the Rockies on Tuesday. They are in line to win their first AL West title since 2001 and safe the No. 2 seed in the AL.

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The Yankees clinched a postseason spot with their walk-off victory over the White Sox on Tuesday. They are in line to declare the highest wild card in the AL and the No. 4 seed.

The Padres clinched a postseason spot with a walk-off victory in extra innings Monday. They are in line to safe the second NL wild card and the No. 5 seed.

The Blue Jays clinched a postseason spot on Sept. 21. They’re in line to win the AL East and safe the No. 1 seed in the AL.

The Dodgers clinched a postseason spot on Sept. 19. They are in line to win the NL West and safe the No. 3 seed.

The Cubs (*5*). They are in line to safe the highest wild card in the NL and the No. 4 seed.

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The Phillies clinched a postseason spot on Sept. 14. They won the NL East and are in line to safe the NL’s No. 2 seed.

The Brewers clinched the first spot in the playoffs on Sept. 13. They gained the NL Central and are in line to safe the NL’s No. 1 seed.

What would the playoff bracket appear to be if the season ended right now?

American League

Wild card: No. 6 Detroit Tigers vs. No. 3 Cleveland Guardians
ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Seattle Mariners

Wild card: No. 5 Boston Red Sox vs. No. 4 New York Yankees
ALDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays

National League

Wild card: No. 6 New York Mets vs. No. 3 L.A. Dodgers
NLDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies

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Wild card: No. 5 San Diego Padres vs. No. 4 Chicago Cubs
NLDS: Wild-card winner vs. No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers

Who can clinch subsequent?

The Red Sox’s magic quantity to clinch a playoff spot is down to three.

On the NL facet, the Dodgers have a 1.5-game lead in the NL West, the final division up for grabs. The Mets at present maintain the ultimate wild-card spot by one recreation over the Reds.

In the AL, the Blue Jays, Yankees and Mariners have clinched postseason spots. Also in playoff place are the Tigers, Red Sox and Guardians. The Blue Jays, Mariners and Guardians (through tiebreaker over the Tigers) at present lead their divisions, with the Yankees, Red Sox and Tigers making up the wild-card area.

A team-by-team take a look at the newest on the playoff area

Jump to a group by clicking on the hyperlinks under:

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Toronto Blue Jays

The Jays clinched a playoff berth Sunday with their victory over the Royals, making them the primary AL group in the postseason. They have a one-game lead on the Yankees in the AL East. Toronto’s 90 victories lead the AL, which has it in place to clinch the No. 1 seed and safe a first-round bye and home-field benefit in the division sequence.

Up subsequent: The Jays conclude the common season at house, with two more vs. the Red Sox and three vs. the Rays beginning Friday.

Seattle Mariners

The Mariners swept the Astros this weekend to put them in the motive force’s seat for his or her first AL West title since 2001. They additionally personal the tiebreaker over the Astros. They’re at present in line to safe the No. 2 seed in the AL and a bye to the division sequence.

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Up subsequent: The M’s finish the common season at house, beginning with two more in opposition to the Rockies. Their closing sequence is a three-game set in opposition to the Dodgers starting Friday.

Cleveland Guardians

The Guardians stayed hot Tuesday and tied Detroit for the lead in the AL Central. Tuesday’s victory additionally clinched Cleveland the tiebreaker in opposition to Detroit. The Guardians have gained 11 of 12 games and are on tempo to full MLB’s biggest comeback ever after trailing by 15.5 games in July.

Up subsequent: Two more games vs. the Tigers with huge division implications. Cleveland closes out the common season with a three-game sequence vs. Texas at house.

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New York Yankees

They path the Blue Jays in the AL East by one recreation with 5 remaining, and Toronto owns the tiebreaker over New York. The Yankees are at present the highest wild-card group in the AL, with a three-game lead over the Red Sox.

Up subsequent: The Yanks end the season at house. After two more in opposition to the Chicago White Sox, the Yankees’ common season concludes with three more games in opposition to the Orioles.

Boston Red Sox

Amid the chaos round them, the Red Sox have been holding on to the second AL wild card and the No. 5 seed for a lot of the previous two months. They’re at present in line to face the Yankees for 3 games in the Bronx to start the playoffs.

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Up subsequent: The Sox play two more in opposition to Toronto with hopes to shake up the division. They conclude the common season by internet hosting the Tigers in a three-game sequence.

Detroit Tigers

They dropped the opener against the Guardians on Tuesday, their seventh straight defeat, and fell right into a tie in the AL Central with Cleveland. With the loss, Detroit additionally misplaced the tiebreaker in opposition to Cleveland. This group as soon as had a 15.5-game lead in the division. Now it is gone.

Up subsequent: Two more games in Cleveland. Then Detroit finishes the common season on the Red Sox, who at present maintain the second AL wild-card spot.

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Houston Astros

The Astros simply obtained swept by the Mariners to put the division title largely out of attain. They’re now three games again of Seattle and combating for the third wild card in the AL. Currently on the surface wanting in, Houston will likely be sweating it out over the ultimate week.

Up subsequent: The ‘Stros end the season on the street however in opposition to groups that ought to hand them wins. They have two more in opposition to the A’s earlier than they go to the Angels for 3 games to conclude the common season.

Milwaukee Brewers

The Brewers are cruising to the No. 1 seed in the National League and the very best file in baseball. They’ve already clinched the NL Central title.

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Up subsequent: The Brewers end the season in opposition to NL wild-card contenders battling for his or her spots. First, they’re on the Padres for one more recreation Wednesday. Then they host the Reds for 3 to end the common season.

Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have been one of many prime groups in baseball all season, and they had been the primary to declare a division title, leaving the Mets in their wake as they gained the NL East on Sept. 16. They’re in line to declare the No. 2 seed in the National League and, with it, a bye to the division sequence.

Up subsequent: The Phillies end the common season at house in opposition to groups with nothing to play for. They host the Marlins for 2 more to begin the week, adopted by three in opposition to the Twins subsequent weekend.

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Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are in line to win yet one more NL West title, sitting 1.5 games up on the Padres with 5 games to play. They’re in line to get the No. 3 seed and host a wild-card sequence.

Up subsequent: The Dodgers end the season on the street in opposition to contenders. First, they go to the Diamondbacks for 2 more, and then they end the common season with three games in Seattle this weekend.

Chicago Cubs

The Cubs have already clinched their first postseason berth since 2020. Even although they’ve one of many prime data in the game, they’ll declare a wild card and end behind the Brewers in the NL Central. The Cubs are in line to get the No. 4 seed and internet hosting duties in the wild-card spherical.

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Up subsequent: The Cubs end the common season at Wrigley area, first internet hosting the wild-card-contending Mets through the week and then internet hosting the already eradicated Cardinals for 3 games this weekend.

San Diego Padres

The Padres at present maintain the NL’s second wild-card spot. They clinched their postseason spot on Monday. If the standings maintain, San Diego will end because the No. 5 seed and face the Cubs at Wrigley in the wild-card spherical.

Up subsequent: The Padres end the season at house, first with one more recreation versus the Brewers. They finish the season with three games versus the Diamondbacks, who may very well be combating for that final wild-card berth.

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New York Mets

The Mets are nearing an egregious, late-season collapse, as they’re only one recreation up on the Reds and Diamondbacks for the NL’s closing wild-card spot after dropping 11 of their previous 16 games. Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker based mostly on head-to-head file, so the Mets have to end forward in the standings to make the postseason.

Up subsequent: The Mets end the season on a street journey, dealing with the Cubs and Marlins. They might need to hope that the Cubs are more involved with getting ready for the playoffs than profitable any more games. However, the Marlins may put up a battle with an opportunity to end over .500.

Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have gained six of their previous eight to capitalize on the Mets’ slide and problem them for the NL’s closing wild-card bid. With a 4-2 file in opposition to the Mets this season, Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker. Both groups want to win to keep forward of the Diamondbacks.

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Up subsequent: The Reds end their house schedule with two more in opposition to the Pirates (and Paul Skenes scheduled to begin Wednesday). Cincinnati then visits Milwaukee for a three-game set. The Brewers may’ve clinched the NL’s greatest file by then and thus don’t have anything left to play for.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Lurking simply behind the Mets and tied with the Reds in the wild-card standings are the D-backs, who may seize the NL’s closing playoff spot if the groups forward of them falter. Arizona has gained seven of its previous 10 games to put itself in place to earn a shock postseason bid.

Up subsequent: Perhaps no group has a more tough closing slate than the D-backs. First, they host the Dodgers for his or her closing two house games. Then they shut out the season with three games at San Diego.

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What else is up for grabs?

The Nos. 1 and 2 seeds in every league go to the division winners with the 2 greatest data. Those groups earn a bye by way of the wild-card spherical and internet hosting rights in the division sequence. Currently, the Brewers, Phillies, Mariners and Blue Jays are in line to declare these byes.

The No. 3 seed goes to the third division winner, and that group will host the three-game wild-card sequence in opposition to the No. 6 seed (which fits to the third wild card). The prime wild-card group will earn the No. 4 seed and host the No. 5 seed (the second wild card) in the wild-card spherical.

The increased seed additionally will get home-field benefit in the championship sequence, as soon as we get that far.

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What are the tiebreakers?

No longer do groups play a Game 163 in the event that they end the season tied. Instead, tiebreakers are decided by head-to-head data first and, if wanted, intradivision data second.

Here are the tiebreakers that would come into play:

• The Blue Jays have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Red Sox, Yankees and Tigers.

• The Red Sox have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Yankees.

• The Tigers have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Astros.

• The Guardians have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Astros and Tigers.

• The Astros have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Blue Jays.

• The Mariners have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Tigers and Astros.

• The Mets have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Phillies and Padres.

• The Phillies have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Dodgers.

• The Brewers have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Phillies.

• The Cubs have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Brewers.

• The Reds have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Mets.

• The Dodgers have clinched the tiebreaker in opposition to the Padres.

What’s the schedule for the postseason?

Wild-card sequence (better of three)

Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 2*

Division sequence (greatest of 5)

ALDS

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 5
Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 7
Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 8*
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 10*

NLDS

Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 6
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 9*
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 11*

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Championship sequence (better of seven)

ALCS

Game 1: Sunday, Oct 12
Game 2: Monday, Oct. 13
Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 15
Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 5: Friday, Oct. 17*
Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 19*
Game 7: Monday, Oct. 20*

NLCS

Game 1: Monday, Oct 13
Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 14
Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 16
Game 4: Friday, Oct. 17
Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 18*
Game 6: Monday, Oct. 20*
Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 21*

World Series (better of seven)

Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24
Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25
Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27
Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28
Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29*
Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31*
Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1*

(*if obligatory)