MLB playoff bracket: Charting course for 2025 World Series

AI-assisted summary
• The Cleveland Guardians and Cincinnati Reds secured the final spots in the 2025 MLB playoffs.
• The postseason begins on Tuesday, Sept. 30, with the best-of-three wild-card series.
• The Blue Jays, Mariners, Brewers, and Phillies earned byes into the division series.

The final pieces of Major League Baseball’s 2025 playoff puzzle fell into place on the last day of the regular season when the Cleveland Guardians clinched the AL Central crown and the Cincinnati Reds secured the third National League wild-card spot.

After a day of much-needed rest, the postseason kicks off on Tuesday, Sept. 30, with the opening games of the best-of-three wild-card series.

The top two teams in each league will sit this round out after securing byes into the division series, which will begin on Saturday, Oct. 4.

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

Upcoming MLB playoff schedule

The AL and NL division series begin on Saturday, Oct. 4.

The AL championship series begins on Sunday, Oct. 12 with the NL championship series starting on Monday, Oct. 13.

The 2025 World Series opens on Friday, Oct. 24.

Final 2025 MLB standings

AL East

1. Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) – won head-to-head-tiebreaker vs. Yankees
2. New York Yankees (94-68) – clinched postseason berth
3. Boston Red Sox (89-73) – clinched postseason berth

AL Central

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

AL West

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

AL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

1. New York Yankees (94-68)
2. Boston Red Sox (89-73)
3. Detroit Tigers (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
3. Cincinnati Reds (83-79) – clinched postseason berth

NL West

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

NL wild card standings

Top three reach playoffs

1. Chicago Cubs (92-70)
2. San Diego Padres (90-72)
3. Cincinnati Reds (83-79) – won head-to-head tiebreaker vs. Mets