With just days left in the regular season, Major League Baseball fans are on the edge of their seats as the playoff races heat up across both leagues. The Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and a host of other contenders are all battling for their shot at October glory, and the drama is only intensifying as the magic numbers dwindle and every pitch takes on extra meaning.
For the Boston Red Sox, 2025 has been a season of resurgence and hope. After missing the postseason since 2021, the Red Sox are now closing in on their first playoff berth in four years, thanks in large part to the comeback campaign of shortstop Trevor Story. Entering play on Saturday, September 20, the Red Sox’s magic number to clinch an American League wild card spot stood at seven. That means any combination of Red Sox wins and losses by their closest competitors totaling seven will punch Boston’s ticket to the postseason. It’s a tantalizingly close prospect for a fan base hungry for October baseball.
The current American League standings as of September 20, 2025, show the Houston Astros leading the way in the AL West with an 84-70 record, while the Cleveland Guardians (82-71) and Texas Rangers (79-75) are also in the thick of the wild card chase. The Kansas City Royals sit at 77-77, and the Athletics, now eliminated from playoff contention, are at 73-81. With the regular season set to conclude on Sunday, September 28, every game is critical as teams jockey for position. The Wild Card Series will kick off just two days later, on Tuesday, September 30, with four games on the slate and the eyes of the baseball world glued to the action.
Meanwhile, the National League features its own brand of high-stakes drama. The Philadelphia Phillies have already clinched a playoff berth with a stellar 92-62 record, and the Los Angeles Dodgers have locked up their division at 87-67. The Chicago Cubs, however, are the team to watch as they chase the top wild-card spot. After the San Diego Padres’ loss on Friday, September 19, the Cubs’ magic number to clinch home field for the wild-card series dropped to just four. That means if the Cubs can manage a .500 record (4-4) over their final eight games, they’ll host the wild-card series, regardless of how the Padres fare down the stretch.
The Cubs and Padres split their season series, so if a tiebreaker is needed, the next step is to compare division records. The Padres currently stand at 29-20 against NL West teams, with three games left against the Diamondbacks. The Cubs, for their part, are 27-20 against NL Central foes, with two games remaining against the Reds on the road and three at home versus the Cardinals. Should the teams remain tied, the next tiebreaker will be their records against other teams in their own league. It’s a complicated scenario, but one that’s sure to keep fans and analysts busy tracking every outcome.
Saturday, September 20, brings another crucial matchup for the Cubs as they face the Cincinnati Reds. The pitching duel features Javier Assad, taking the mound for Chicago on five days’ rest, and Zack Littell for the Reds. Assad last pitched two innings and threw 46 pitches against the Rays on September 14, so he should be fresh and ready to go. Littell, acquired by the Reds at the trade deadline, made his first start for Cincinnati against the Cubs back on August 5, where he impressed with seven innings of one-run ball and eight strikeouts. Since then, however, his performance has been a bit rocky, posting a 5.23 ERA and allowing seven home runs in 31 innings, including six homers in just 17.1 innings at Great American Ball Park. That could be a golden opportunity for the Cubs’ Ian Happ, who’s been on a tear lately.
Ian Happ’s last 30 games, dating back to August 17, have been nothing short of remarkable. He’s slashing .312/.424/.587, going 34-for-109 with nine doubles, seven home runs, 19 RBIs, 21 walks, and 20 runs scored. His hot bat has been a key driver for the Cubs as they push toward the postseason, and fans are hoping he can keep the momentum going against the Reds’ pitching staff. As the Cubs look to avoid a series sweep—something that’s only happened once in a three-game series all season—they’ll be counting on Happ and the rest of the lineup to deliver.
There’s also a bit of nostalgia in the air for Cubs fans on this date. Seventeen years ago, on September 20, 2008, the Cubs clinched the NL Central title with a dramatic 5-4 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Wrigley Field. It’s a reminder of the franchise’s rich history and the kind of magic that can happen in late September. Will this year’s team add another chapter to the story?
Elsewhere on the diamond, the Boston Red Sox continued their playoff push with a hard-fought game against the Tampa Bay Rays. On Sunday, September 21, 2025, Rays pitcher Adrian Houser took the mound against Boston and delivered a solid performance, allowing three runs on five hits and three walks over six innings, while striking out two. Despite his efforts, Houser didn’t factor into the decision, as the game’s outcome was still in the balance when he left the mound. The Red Sox, for their part, are trying to capitalize on every opportunity as they inch closer to clinching a wild card spot.
With the regular season winding down, the stakes couldn’t be higher. The Red Sox’s magic number is shrinking, the Cubs are on the cusp of securing home field for the wild-card series, and every team in the hunt is watching the scoreboard as closely as their own dugout. The next week promises to bring plenty of twists and turns, with playoff dreams hanging in the balance and the potential for late-season heroics at every turn.
As the dust settles on another day of baseball, one thing is clear: the road to the 2025 MLB postseason is filled with excitement, tension, and the kind of moments that make this sport so beloved. Fans in Boston, Chicago, and beyond will be counting every win, every loss, and every run as the race to October reaches its thrilling conclusion. Stay tuned—this story is far from over.
