MLB playoff bracket: Breaking down the postseason field

Major League Baseball’s 2025 postseason field is set, with the Cincinnati Reds securing the last National League playoff berth on the final day of the regular season.

Meanwhile, the Guardians clinched the AL Central crown, completing a stunning late-season comeback to prevail over the Detroit Tigers – who Cleveland will host in the best-of-three wild card series beginning Tuesday.

The Toronto Blue Jays won the AL East title for the first time in decade with a win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday, prevailing on the tiebreaker over the New York Yankees – who also won their final game. Now, the Yankees will host the rival Boston Red Sox for the wild-card series in the Bronx.

Here’s a look at the 2025 postseason bracket:

MLB playoff bracket

American League

Byes: Blue Jays, Mariners
AL wild card series

Tigers at Guardians
Red Sox at Yankees

ALDS

Blue Jays vs. Yankees/Red Sox
Mariners vs. Guardians/Tigers

National League

Byes: Brewers, Phillies
NL wild card series

Reds at Dodgers
Padres at Cubs

NLDS

Brewers vs. Cubs/Padres
Phillies vs. Dodgers/Reds

AL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

New York Yankees (94-68): // clinched postseason berth
Boston Red Sox (89-73) // clinched postseason berth
Detroit Tigers (87-75) // clinched postseason berth

NL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

Chicago Cubs (92-70): // clinched home-field in wild card series
San Diego Padres (90-72) // clinched postseason berth
Cincinnati Reds (83-79) – won head-to-head tiebreaker vs. Mets
New York Mets (83–79)

AL East

Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) – won head-to-head-tiebreaker vs. Yankees
New York Yankees (94-68) – clinched postseason berth

AL Central

Cleveland Guardians (88-74) – clinched AL Central title Sept. 28
Detroit Tigers (87-75)

AL West

Seattle Mariners (90-72) – clinched AL West title
Houston Astros (87-75)

NL East

Philadelphia Phillies (96-66) – clinched NL East title
New York Mets (83-79)

NL Central

Milwaukee Brewers (97-65) – clinched NL Central title
Chicago Cubs (92-70) – clinched postseason berth

NL West

Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69)clinched NL West title
San Diego Padres (90-72): – clinched postseason berth

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