Major League Baseball’s best-of-five division series feature some scintillating in 2025, highlighted by the heavyweight bout between the Philadelphia Phillies and defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
In the American League, the New York Yankees face the division champion Toronto Blue Jays while the Seattle Mariners take on the Detroit Tigers. The Brewers-Cubs NLDS is also filled with storylines, namely Chicago manager Craig Counsell facing his former club in the postseason after skipping town in 2023.
‘The series is going to come down to who’s able to get the big hits in the big moments,’ Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto told reporters. ‘They’re extremely talented over in that clubhouse. And we obviously have confidence in the guys we have.’
Here’s how USA TODAY Sports’ MLB experts see the ALDS and NLDS playing out:
MLB playoff predictions, picks for division series
Blue Jays vs. Yankees
- Bob Nightengale: Blue Jays in 5
- Gabe Lacques: Yankees in 4
- Jesse Yomtov: Yankees in 3
Mariners vs. Tigers
- Bob Nightengale: Mariners in 4
- Gabe Lacques: Mariners in 4
- Jesse Yomtov: Tigers in 5
Phillies vs Dodgers prediction
- Bob Nightengale: Phillies in 5
- Gabe Lacques: Dodgers in 5
- Jesse Yomtov: Dodgers in 4
Brewers vs. Cubs
- Bob Nightengale: Brewers in 5
- Gabe Lacques: Cubs in 5
- Jesse Yomtov: Cubs in 4