The Major League Baseball postseason is just around the corner, and the race to October is heating up in dramatic fashion. With only a handful of games left in the regular season, teams are scrambling for playoff spots, first-round byes, and that all-important home-field advantage. The stakes? As high as they come. Let’s dig into the current playoff picture, the clinching scenarios, and the pivotal matchups that will determine who gets to chase a World Series dream in 2025.
First up, the Seattle Mariners have electrified their fanbase by clinching a postseason spot with a rousing comeback victory over the Colorado Rockies on September 23. This marks their first playoff appearance since 2001—a drought finally snapped! The Mariners are now just one win away from capturing the AL West title, a feat they haven’t achieved in over two decades. With the tiebreaker over the Houston Astros in hand, Seattle sits poised to secure the No. 2 seed in the American League, which would grant them a precious bye through the wild-card round and home-field advantage in the division series.
Meanwhile, the New York Yankees punched their ticket to October with a walk-off win against the Chicago White Sox on the same night. The Bronx Bombers are currently in line for the top AL wild card and the No. 4 seed, trailing only the Toronto Blue Jays in the AL East by a single game. Toronto, for their part, clinched their own postseason berth on September 21 and are on track to win the division, boasting a one-game lead over New York and holding the tiebreaker over both the Yankees and Red Sox. The Jays’ 90 victories lead the AL, and they’re hoping to lock up the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye as they finish the regular season at home.
Not to be outdone, the San Diego Padres secured their spot in the National League playoff field with a dramatic extra-innings walk-off on September 22. They’re currently in line for the second NL wild card and the No. 5 seed, eyeing a wild-card showdown at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs, who clinched their first playoff berth since 2020 on September 17, will host the wild-card round as the NL’s top wild card and No. 4 seed.
In the National League East, the Philadelphia Phillies have been a force all year, clinching the division on September 14. Their magic number to secure a first-round bye is down to 2, meaning a combination of Phillies wins and Dodgers losses will send them straight to the division series. According to MLB.com, “A team’s magic number represents the combination of wins needed by that team and losses by its closest competitor to clinch a given goal.” The Phillies are three games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record in the NL and all of baseball, but the Brewers hold the tiebreaker, having won the season series between the two clubs. The Brewers, who claimed the NL Central crown on September 13, have a magic number of 3 to clinch the top seed.
Let’s not forget the Cleveland Guardians, who have staged one of the season’s most improbable comebacks. After trailing the Detroit Tigers by 15.5 games in July, Cleveland has stormed back, winning 11 of their last 12 to tie Detroit atop the AL Central. The Guardians now own the tiebreaker after Tuesday’s victory, setting up a thrilling final stretch with two more head-to-head matchups. The Tigers, meanwhile, have seen their once-commanding lead evaporate after dropping seven straight, and their postseason fate now hangs in the balance.
On the bubble? The Boston Red Sox, who are clinging to the second AL wild card and the No. 5 seed, with a magic number of 3 to clinch. They’ll need to hold off the Tigers and Guardians to secure their spot. The Red Sox finish their season with two games against the Blue Jays and a three-game home series against Detroit, making every inning count.
Over in the National League, the Dodgers are in familiar territory, having clinched a playoff berth on September 19. They lead the NL West by 1.5 games with five to play and are in line for the No. 3 seed. The Dodgers wrap up their regular season on the road, facing the Diamondbacks and then the Mariners—a gauntlet of contenders. The Mets, meanwhile, are barely holding on to the NL’s final wild-card spot, just one game ahead of the surging Reds. Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker, so every result could tip the scales in this nail-biting race.
The postseason schedule is set to deliver nonstop action. The Wild Card Series kicks off on September 30, followed by the division series beginning on October 4. Championship series action starts October 12-13, and the World Series will open on October 24, with a potential Game 7 scheduled for November 1. No more Game 163 tiebreakers—head-to-head records and intradivision performance now settle any deadlocks, making every regular-season matchup count just a little bit more.
For fans of the Phillies, postseason fever is in full swing. Tickets are in high demand, with fans urged to register for the chance to buy seats at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies’ first postseason action, should they earn a bye, would be on October 4 in the NL Division Series, televised on TBS. If they advance, NL Championship Series games will also air on TBS, and if they make the World Series, FOX will carry the action. According to BetMGM, the Phillies are among the favorites to win it all, with betting odds at +425, ahead of the Dodgers, Mariners, and Brewers.
Broadcast and streaming options abound for fans eager to watch every pitch. Phillies games are available locally on NBCSP and can be streamed via nbcsportsphiladelphia.com, FuboTV, Hulu, Peacock, YouTube TV, and MLB.TV. Radio broadcasts are on 94WIP and WDEL, and MLB Audio offers streaming for those on the go. And for those looking to show their colors, official Phillies gear is available at Amazon, Kohl’s, and Nike, ensuring everyone can suit up for the postseason party.
As the regular season winds down, every game, every pitch, and every decision matters more than ever. The playoff field is nearly set, but with wild-card spots and division titles still up for grabs, baseball fans are in for a wild ride to October. The Mariners, Phillies, Blue Jays, and Brewers are all in pole position, but as recent history shows, nothing is guaranteed until the final out is recorded. Stay tuned—this postseason chase is just getting started!
