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

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

NL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

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

AL East

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

AL Central

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

AL West

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

NL East

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

NL Central

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

NL West

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

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