2025 MLB playoffs: Bracket, wild card standings, division races heading into final weekend
Yankees, Blue Jays, Guardians and Tigers headline tense final weekend in Major League Baseball.
The 2025 regular season of the Major League Baseball (MLB) is heading into its final weekend, and the postseason bracket is not set yet. Division races remain tight in both the American and National leagues. One National League wild card spot will be decided in the next three days.
American League playoff race
Two teams are already safe in the AL East, according to USA Today. The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees have clinched their postseason spot. But both the teams tied for first place with Toronto currently holding the tiebreaker. The Yankees will need to finish a game ahead to win the division crown.
In the AL Central, the Cleveland Guardians and Detroit Tigers are ones to watch, with Cleveland currently holding the head-to-head advantage. Whichever team misses out on the division is still in line for a wild-card spot. The Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros are also making their way up in the standings.
Seattle has already wrapped up the AL West title, but Houston is still in the wild card race.
If the season ended Friday, the AL bracket would look like this:
Byes: Blue Jays, Mariners
Wild card series: Tigers at Guardians; Red Sox at Yankees
AL wild card standings (The top three qualify for the playoffs)
Yankees (91-68): clinched
Red Sox (87-72): +1 game
Tigers (86-73)
Astros (85-74): 1 GB
American League division races
AL East
Toronto Blue Jays (91-68): clinched postseason spot but will hold head-to-head tiebreaker vs Yankees
New York Yankees (91-68): clinched postseason spot
AL Central
Cleveland Guardians (86-73): will hold head-to-head tiebreaker vs Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers (86-73)
AL West
Seattle Mariners (90-69): have clinched the AL West title
Houston Astros (85-74)
National League playoff race
The Philadelphia Phillies, Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers have already secured the division titles. The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres have clinched their playoff spots, but whoever finishes higher will host a wild-card series.
The final postseason slot will be a three-way fight between the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, and Arizona Diamondbacks, CBS Sports reported. The Mets enter the final weekend in control but have very little room for error.
If the season ended Friday, the NL bracket would look like this:
Byes: Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies
NL wild card series: Mets at Dodgers; Padres at Cubs
NL wild card standings (The top three qualify for the playoffs)
Cubs (89-70): clinched postseason spot
Padres (87-72): clinched postseason spot
Mets (82-77)
Reds (81-78): 1 GB
Diamondbacks (80-79): 2 GB
Also Read: MLB approves ball-strike challenge system for next season
National League division races
NL East
Philadelphia Phillies (94-65): have clinched NL East title
New York Mets (82-77)
NL Central
Milwaukee Brewers (96-63): have clinched NL Central title
Chicago Cubs (89-70): clinched postseason berth
NL West
Los Angeles Dodgers (90-69): have clinched NL West title
San Diego Padres (87-72): have 3 GB, but clinched postseason berth
Every game this weekend will decide seeding or survival. The American League East and Central are on the line, and the last NL wild card will be claimed by either New York, Cincinnati, or Arizona.
Also Read: MLB approves ball-strike challenge system for next season
FAQs:
1. How many MLB teams make the playoffs?
Twelve teams qualify for the MLB postseason — six from each league.
2. Which American League teams have clinched a playoff spot?
The Blue Jays, Yankees, Mariners, and Guardians have secured postseason berths.
3. Which National League teams are already in the playoffs?
The Phillies, Brewers, Dodgers, Cubs, and Padres have clinched postseason spots.
