As the 2025 season comes down to the final weekend, you can say that mission was well accomplished.
Ten of the 15 final three-game series have some connection to either playoff qualification or seeding, with several head-to-head matchups affecting both teams. A look at the eight most important series, all of them concluding with virtually simultaneous 3 p.m. ET start times on Sunday:
Detroit Tigers at Boston Red Sox
At stake: For the Tigers (86-73), a puncher’s chance at the AL Central title they gifted to Cleveland, or the No. 3 wild card slot. The Red Sox (87-72) need one victory or a Houston loss to ensure a playoff berth, and two victories to hold onto the No. 2 wild card spot since Detroit holds the tiebreaker over them.
State of affairs: The Tigers could simply place a big “stock falling” emoji on the calendar in place of September. They’ve lost 15 of 21 games to give up all of their 9 1/2-game Central lead and imperil their playoff hopes. Snapping an eight-game losing streak to salvage a game against Cleveland (86-73) and pull even kept their division hopes alive, but the Guardians hold the tiebreaker. Detroit envisioned for weeks skipping Tarik Skubal’s scheduled start on Sunday, Sept. 28 and lining him up for the playoff opener. Instead, he may be pitching to save the season.
The Red Sox will let their playoff stock fall where it may without the services of ace and Cy Young contender Garrett Crochet. He recorded a key victory Wednesday against Toronto and won’t pitch in the final series, lined up for Game 1 of the wild card round. Assuming they get there.
Pitching matchups: RH Casey Mize vs. LH Kyle Harrison; TBD vs. LH Connelly Early; LH Tarik Skubal vs. TBD.
Cincinnati Reds at Milwaukee Brewers
At stake: For the Reds, the third NL wild card spot, which they trail by one game. For the Brewers, the No. 1 seed in the NL and homefield advantage through the World Series.
State of affairs: You might as well take the September schedule and crumple it up instead of trying to predict Ws and Ls. The Reds swept the playoff-bound Cubs in four games before losing two games to last-place Pittsburgh, putting their hopes on life support. Noelvi Marte breathed life back into them with a game-saving catch in the series finale. They simply need to win one more game than the Mets – who finish at Miami – this weekend, and they’re in. (And also avoid a sweep while Arizona sweeps San Diego.)
The Brewers just need one win or a Phillies loss to nail down the majors’ best record. Yet for those thinking they’ll lay down once that’s secured, there’s five days off before their NL Division Series assignment, and they should give their regulars significant playing time through the weekend.
Pitching matchups: Reds RH Zack Littell (10-8, 3.86 ERA) vs. Brewers RH Quinn Priester (13-2, 3.25); Reds LH Andrew Abbott (9-7, 2.80) vs. TBD; Reds RH Brady Singer (14-11, 3.95) vs. TBD
Tampa Bay Rays at Toronto Blue Jays; Baltimore Orioles at New York Yankees
At stake: Please excuse our paired entry, but this four-pack of AL East teams will determine the division title under remarkably similar circumstances. Though the Blue Jays and Yankees (both 91-68) are playoff-bound, the weekend stakes are particularly large: The difference between hosting a wild card series beginning Tuesday or a bye into the AL Division Series, beginning Oct. 3. The Blue Jays hold the tiebreaker.
State of affairs: The Rays and Orioles both figured to contend for the division title, faded late and early, respectively, but remain credible opponents. The Blue Jays had a five-game lead with 11 to play, blew all of it and now need a sweep to ensure they don’t need the Orioles’ help in New York. They’re 9-7 since Bo Bichette went down with a knee injury.
The Yankees have been rock steady, going 15-7 this month and taking care of business with six wins in their past seven games against the White Sox and Orioles. But they couldn’t beat Orioles lefty Trevor Rogers last week at Camden Yards and will get another shot at him at Yankee Stadium.
Pitching matchups: Rays-Blue Jays: RH Adrian Houser (8-4, 3.18) vs. RH Shane Bieber (3-2, 3.57 ERA); RH Joe Boyle (1-3, 4.40 ERA) vs. RH Trey Yesavage (0-0, 5.00); LHP Ian Seymour (4-2, 2.85) vs. TBD. Orioles-Yankees: LH Trevor Rogers (9-2, 1.35) vs. RHP Will Warren; RH Tomoyuki Sugano (10-9, 4.54) vs. RHP Cam Schlittler; RH Kyle Bradish (1-1, 2.25) vs. RHP Luis Gil.
Texas Rangers at Cleveland Guardians
At stake: The Guardians (86-73) can win the AL Central by winning one more game than Detroit this weekend and their magic number is two over Houston to nail down a playoff spot as they own tiebreakers against both clubs.
State of affairs: They missed the kill shot on the Tigers in their series finale but no team is hotter than Cleveland, now 18-6 in September. The Rangers have lost nine of their last 10.
Pitching matchups: RH Jack Leiter (9-10, 3.92) vs. RHP Slade Cecconi (7-6, 4.15); TBD vs. TBD; TBD vs. TBD.
New York Mets at Miami Marlins
At stake: The Mets (82-77) are a game ahead of Cincinnati (81-78) but do not hold the tiebreaker. So they need to stay a game ahead of the Reds.
State of affairs: Can a team survive an eight-game September losing streak and a record of 37-53 since June 12? The Mets are about to find out. Despite their longstanding woes, they come into Miami on a high, stealing a pair of games at Wrigley Field against the Cubs to keep the Reds and Diamondbacks at bay. Francisco Lindor joined Juan Soto in the 30-30 club with a home run in their series-clinching win at Chicago.
Miami is not your average spoiler. The Marlins have won 12 of their last 15 and are 40-36 since July 1.
Pitching matchups: RH Brandon Sproat vs. RH Sandy Alcantara; TBD vs. Eury Perez; TBD vs. Edward Cabrera.
Arizona Diamondbacks at San Diego Padres
At stake: The Diamondbacks (80-79) need a sweep to stay alive and hope the Reds and Mets each lose at least two of three. The Padres (87-72) can steal home field advantage in their wild card series with the Cubs (89-70) if they can make up two games this weekend since they hold the tiebreaker.
State of affairs: It’s a key weekend tuneup for the Padres, who will need to move on without outfielder Ramón Laureano, who suffered a finger fracture this week. Arizona’s last gasp will depend on its Jekyll-and-Hyde starting pitching showing its good side this weekend.
Pitching matchups: RH Zac Gallen (13-14, 4.70) vs. RH Yu Darvish (4-5, 5.51); LH Eduardo Rodriguez (9-8, 4.91) vs. RH Michael King (5-3, 3.57); RH Brandon Pfaadt (13-8, 5.00) vs. TBD.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Seattle Mariners
At stake: The Mariners (90-69) can clinch the top seed in the AL if they make up two games on the Blue Jays (or the Yankees if they win the East). And heck, since this very much looks like a World Series preview, home field advantage in a Fall Classic matchup against the Dodgers (90-69) is also at stake.
State of affairs: Lest we forget, Cal Raleigh can tie or break Aaron Judge’s AL home run record with two or three home runs this weekend; that would surely put a bow on his MVP case.
The Dodgers can’t improve their lot in the NL bracket but the three games remain an important tuneup as they workshop the notion of Rōki Sasaki rescuing their bullpen in October and Clayton Kershaw finding a comfy relief role, as well.
Pitching matchups: RH Emmet Sheehan (6-3, 2.86) vs. TBD; RH Tyler Glasnow (4-3, 3.30) vs. TBD; LH Clayton Kershaw (10-2, 3.52) vs. TBD.