The 2025 postseason is approaching. As you keep an eye on the standings, here is everything you need to know about how the playoff field is shaping up, as well as info about potential tiebreakers and clinch scenarios for each contender.
IF THE SEASON ENDED TODAY
Here is a look at how the postseason field is shaping up, entering Tuesday. (Teams listed in order of seeding.)
AL playoff teams: Blue Jays (AL East), Tigers (AL Central), Mariners (AL West), Yankees (Wild Card), Red Sox (Wild Card), Astros (Wild Card)
NL playoff teams: Brewers (NL Central), Phillies (NL East), Dodgers (NL West), Cubs (Wild Card), Padres (Wild Card), Mets (Wild Card)
For a look at the full bracket, see the top of this page.
Each of the best-of-three Wild Card Series are set to begin on Sept. 30, while each of the best-of-five Division Series are set to begin on Oct. 4.
TIGHTEST RACES
AL West: Mariners lead Astros by 1/2 game
NL Wild Card: Mets lead D-backs by 1 1/2 games for final berth
NL West: Dodgers lead Padres by 2 games
AL Wild Card: Astros lead Guardians and Rangers by 3 games for final berth
3 KEY GAMES TODAY
Padres at Mets, 7:10 p.m. ET | Get tickets
Rangers at Astros, 8:10 p.m. ET | Get tickets
Giants at D-backs, 9:40 p.m. ET | Get tickets
TIEBREAKERS
Since 2022, all playoff tiebreakers have been determined mathematically, rather than via tiebreaker games. That means ties for division titles and postseason berths, as well as for seeding, come down first to head-to-head record between those teams during the season, with other tiebreakers available if needed.
Below, MLB.com is tracking the progress of relevant tiebreaker scenarios for contenders (defined here as within five games of a playoff spot).
AL EAST
Blue Jays (1st in AL East; 5 games ahead of NYY)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Mariners, Red Sox, Tigers, Yankees
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Astros
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: N/A
Toronto is in great shape if it ends up tied for a division title, having locked up the edge over both New York and Boston. If the Jays and the Tigers end up tied for the best record in the AL, Toronto owns the tiebreaker.
Yankees (2nd in AL East; 5 games behind TOR)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Mariners
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays, Red Sox, Tigers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Astros (3-3)
The Yankees hold a key Wild Card tiebreaker over the Mariners, but they'd lose out to either of their top AL East foes and the Tigers after Detroit defeated New York last Wednesday in the Bronx.
Red Sox (3rd in AL East; 6 games behind TOR)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Astros, Yankees
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Mariners (3-3), Tigers (0-3, 3 games left)
The Red Sox hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Astros and Yankees, but a tiebreaker with the Mariners for a Wild Card spot would come down to each team's intradivisional record.
AL CENTRAL
Tigers (1st in AL Central; 6.5 games ahead of CLE)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Astros, Yankees
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Red Sox (3-0; 3 games left)
If the Tigers end up tied with the Blue Jays for the best record in the AL, Toronto would hold the tiebreaker after going 4-3 against Detroit this season.
AL WEST
Mariners (1st in AL West; 0.5 games ahead of HOU)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Rangers, Tigers, Guardians
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays, Yankees
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Astros (5-5; 3 games left), Red Sox, (3-3)
The Mariners currently have the higher intradivision record, meaning that, if they ended the season with the same record, the Astros would be relegated to a Wild Card berth. Seattle still has a chance to officially win a tiebreaker over the Astros during a road series from Sept. 19-21.
Astros (2nd in AL West; 0.5 games behind SEA)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Blue Jays
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Red Sox, Tigers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Mariners (5-5; 3 games left), Rangers (5-6, 2 games left), Yankees (3-3)
A Sept. 19-21 series against the Mariners at Daikin Park will determine a crucial head-to-head tiebreaker in the AL West.
Rangers (3rd in AL West; 3.5 games behind SEA)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Red Sox
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Mariners, Yankees
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Astros (6-5; 2 games left), Guardians (3-0, 3 games left)
The Rangers would lose out to the Mariners on a tiebreaker, but they still have the chance to win the tiebreaker against the Astros -- and pick up some ground in the standings -- if they can avoid a sweep in their final matchup with Houston, which began with a loss on Monday.
AL WILD CARD
Guardians (3 games behind HOU for 3rd AL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Mariners, Red Sox
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Rangers (0-3; 3 games left), Yankees (3-3)
The Guardians' three-game series with the Rangers to close out the regular season from Sept. 26-28 could be crucial.
NL EAST
Phillies (Clinched NL East)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Cubs
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Brewers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Dodgers (3-1; 2 games left), Padres (3-3)
After losing the season series to the Brewers, the Phillies' three-game series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles that began with a win on Monday could be crucial for NL postseason seeding.
NL CENTRAL
Brewers (1st in NL Central; 5 games ahead of CHC)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Dodgers, Phillies
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Cubs
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Padres (1-2; 3 games left)
The Brewers own the best record in baseball and the pivotal tiebreakers against the Dodgers and Phillies, should Milwaukee finish the regular season with the same record as one of those clubs.
Cubs (2nd in NL Central; 5 games behind MIL)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Brewers, Dodgers
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Phillies
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Mets (1-2; 3 games left), Padres (3-3)
If the Cubs can erase their deficit in the NL Central, they hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Brewers.
NL WEST
Dodgers (1st in NL West, 2 games ahead of SD)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Padres
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Brewers, Cubs, Mets
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Phillies (1-3; 2 games left)
By winning nine of the 13 games between the two clubs, the Dodgers have secured a huge NL West tiebreaker over the Padres. After losing the season series to the Brewers, the Dodgers' three-game series against the Phillies in Los Angeles that began with a loss on Monday could be crucial for NL postseason seeding.
Padres (2nd in NL West; 2 games behind LAD)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Giants
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Dodgers
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Cubs (3-3), D-backs (5-5, 3 games left), Mets (3-0; 3 games left), Reds (3-3)
The Padres' relevant Wild Card tiebreakers are all yet to be determined. Division record would break any tie with the Cubs or Reds, and San Diego opens a big road series against the Mets on Tuesday at Citi Field.
NL WILD CARD
Mets (Currently hold 3rd NL Wild Card position)
- Win tiebreaker vs: Cardinals, Dodgers, Giants
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Reds
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Cubs (2-1; 3 games left), D-backs (3-3), Padres (0-3; 3 games left)
The Mets hold the tiebreaker over two of their closest competitors in the Wild Card race (Giants and Cardinals), but they don't have the tiebreaker over the Reds and a tiebreaker with the D-backs will depend on intradivision record at the end of the season.
D-backs (1.5 games behind NYM for 3rd Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Reds
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: Cardinals (3-3), Giants (6-5, 2 games left), Mets (3-3), Padres (5-5, 3 games left)
The D-backs have climbed back into the Wild Card race and still have head-to-head matchups remaining against the Giants and Padres.
Reds (2 games behind NYM for 3rd NL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs: D-backs, Mets
- Lose tiebreaker vs: N/A
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Cardinals (5-6, 2 games left), Giants (3-3), Padres (3-3)
The Reds own important tiebreakers against the Mets and D-backs, should they end the season with the same record as one of those clubs for a Wild Card spot.
Giants (2 games behind NYM for 3rd NL Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs: Mets, Padres
- Tiebreaker TBD vs: Cardinals (1-2, 3 games left), D-backs (5-6, 2 games left), Reds (3-3)
After losing the series opener on Monday, the remaining two games the Giants have against the D-backs in Arizona this week will be crucial.
Cardinals (4.5 games behind NYM for 3rd Wild Card)
- Win tiebreaker vs.: N/A
- Lose tiebreaker vs.: Mets, Padres
- Tiebreaker TBD vs.: D-backs (3-3), Giants (2-1, 3 games left), Reds (6-5, 2 games left)
The Cardinals are still hanging around and do have an opportunity to secure a tiebreaker against the Giants and the Reds, but time is running out for St. Louis.