The 2025 MLB Playoffs was certainly one for the ages! From complete game shutouts, walkoff hits, extra inning marathons, and a world series drought of 32 years being snapped, this postseason was packed with action! I will be recapping each and every round of “October Baseball”.
Wild Card Round
The Wild Card began on Sept. 30, 2025, with four series kicking off. Each is a best-of-three series, which means the first team to reach two wins takes the series. In the American League (AL), the sixth-seeded Detroit Tigers visited the third-seeded Cleveland Guardians, and the fifth-seeded Boston Red Sox visited the fourth-seeded New York Yankees. In Cleveland, Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal threw seven and two-thirds innings, striking out 14 hitters and allowing one run. The Tigers prevailed and won game one 2-1. In game two, the Guardians got to the Tigers’ pitching staff and won by a score of 6-1. In the winner-take-all game three, the Tigers used a four-run seventh inning to win the game 6-3 and take the series.
In New York, baseball’s most famous rivalry got renewed. The Red Sox pitching ace, Garrett Crochet, tossed seven and two thirds innings while striking out 11 batters, and the Red Sox took game one by a score of 3-1. In game two, the teams were tied at three, Yankees catcher Austin Wells broke the tie with a single. In a deciding game three, Yankees rookie pitcher Cam Schlitter threw eight scoreless innings and struck out 12 hitters, as the Yankees left no doubt and won the series.
In the National League (NL), the sixth-seeded Cincinnati Reds traveled to the third-seeded Los Angeles Dodgers, the defending World Series champions, and the fifth-seeded San Diego Padres traveled to the fourth-seeded Chicago Cubs. In Los Angeles, the Reds came in as heavy underdogs, and it showed in the games. In game one, the Dodgers’ star two-way player Shohei Ohtani homered twice, powering the Dodgers to a 10-5 victory. In game two, Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw six and two-thirds scoreless innings, as the Dodgers won 8-4 and swept the Reds.
In Chicago, the Cubs took game one 3-1 with back-to-back homers from catcher Carson Kelly and designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, but the Padres came back in game two with a 3-0 win. In game three, the Cubs won 3-1 and took the series.
Divisional Series (ALDS/NLDS)
The Divisional series began on Oct. 4, 2025, with four series kicking off. In this round, it is best-of-five, which means the first team to reach three wins takes the round. In the AL, the Tigers visited the second-seeded Seattle Mariners, and the Yankees visited the first-seeded Toronto Blue Jays. In the NL, the Dodgers visited the second-seeded Philadelphia Phillies, and the Cubs visited the first-seeded Milwaukee Brewers.
Starting in Seattle, the Tigers outdueled the Mariners by a score of 3-2 in extra innings, with the game-winning hit from third baseman Zach McKinstry to take game one. In game two, the game was tied at two until Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez hit a double that led to a 3-2 victory for the Mariners. In Detroit, the two teams split the games, both being uncompetitive, with the Mariners winning game three 8-4, and the Tigers winning game four 9-3. In game five, after a 2-2 tie after nine innings, the teams played up until the fifteenth inning, and Mariners second baseman Jorge Polanco hit a walk-off single to win 3-2.
Next in Toronto, the Blue Jays’ offense could not be stopped, winning game one 10-1 and game two 13-7. With the Yankees down to their last chance, they rallied from behind in game three, winning 9-6 with Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge hitting a clutch game-tying three-run home run. In game four, the Blue Jays were able to shut the door and win 5-2, taking the series and advancing to the next round.
In the NL, the Brewers and Cubs renewed a deep regional rivalry. The Brewers destroyed the Cubs in game one, winning 9-3, and in game two, winning 7-3. As the series shifted back to Chicago, the Cubs used a four-run first inning to win game three 4-3, and followed that up with a 6-0 victory in game four. Now back in Milwaukee for a winner-take-all game five, the Brewers defeated the Cubs by a score of 3-1 with home runs by catcher William Contreras, first baseman Andrew Vaughn, and second baseman Brice Turang to advance to the NLCS.
And finally, over in Philadelphia, the Dodgers took a commanding 2-0 series lead with a game one win 5-3 and 4-3 in game two off a dominant performance from pitcher Blake Snell, throwing six scoreless innings. Game three finally saw the Phillies winning by a score of 8-2, but the Dodgers closed out the series after Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering fielded a ground ball with the bases loaded in a 2-2 tie, and committed an error throwing home, and the Dodgers won 3-2.
Championship Series (ALCS/NLCS)
Moving to the Championship Series, both the ALCS and NLCS are best-of-seven series. To start off in the AL, the Mariners were looking to advance to their first-ever World Series, while the Blue Jays were looking to advance to their first World Series since 1993. For games one and two in Toronto, the Mariners dominated, winning game one 3-1 and game two 10-3. Games three and four back in Seattle were dominated by the Blue Jays, winning game three 13-4 and game four 8-2. In game five, the Mariners trailed 2-1 heading into the eighth inning. Slugging catcher Cal Raleigh stepped up and hit a solo home run to tie the game. The Mariners then went on to load the bases, and third baseman Eugenio Suarez became a Seattle hero and hit a grand slam to put the Mariners up 3-2 in the series and on the brink of their first-ever World Series. In game six, the Blue Jays were able to pull out a win by a score of 6-2 thanks to Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s seventh postseason home run. In the winner-take-all game seven, the Mariners took a 3-1 lead off a pair of homers from Raleigh and Rodriguez, but with the Blue Jays down 3-1, ]Outfielder George Springer stepped up and hit a three-run homer to give the Blue Jays a 4-3 win and advance to the World Series.
