Overview of MLB Divisional Playoff Participants
The second stage of the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) postseason has confirmed all its participants. On Thursday, three teams secured their spots in the Wild Card round to complete the list of eight. A total of 12 teams advanced to the postseason, but the top two from each league (American and National) bypassed directly into Division Series.
Key Matchups in the Wild Card Round
The New York Yankees, who were the World Series runners-up the previous season, clinched the final spot in the Division Series with a decisive 4-0 victory over the Boston Red Sox. The crucial third game of the Wild Card round took place at Yankee Stadium on Thursday night, where the home team overcame an early 1-3 deficit to win 4-3, securing their spot in the Division Series.
Yankees’ Road to Division Series
Amed Rosario’s single allowed Cody Bellinger to score the first run, followed by Anthony Volpe’s hit that set up Giancarlo Stanton for a 2-0 lead. Amed Rosario and Jazz Chisholm Jr. completed the rally after Austin Wells reached base, leaving more than 45,000 fans in the Yankee Stadium on the edge of their seats.
Historical Context and Upcoming Challenge
The Yankees have only been eliminated in the Wild Card round twice before, by the Houston Astros in 2015 and the Boston Red Sox in 2021. This year’s victory over the Red Sox marks their revenge, as they continue their pursuit of title number 28 in the World Series, their first since 2009.
In the Division Series, the Yankees will face the best seed from the American League (AL): the Toronto Blue Jays. This matchup is unprecedented, as the two teams have never faced each other in MLB postseason play. However, the Blue Jays’ fourth-best regular season record (94-68) suggests a tough contest for the Yankees.
Other Wild Card Round Matchups
Three out of four Wild Card series went to a decisive third game. Besides the Yankees’ victory over the Red Sox, the Chicago Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres 3-1, and the Detroit Tigers overcame the Cleveland Guardians 2-0.
The Cubs, with three World Series titles (most recently in 2016), will face the National League’s top seed, the Milwaukee Brewers, in their first Division Series appearance since 2017. Meanwhile, the Detroit Tigers will play the Seattle Mariners, the second-best seed in the AL, for the second consecutive year in the Division Series.
Philadelphia Phillies Advance to Division Series
The Philadelphia Phillies, who advanced directly to the Division Series without playing in the Wild Card round, will face the Los Angeles Dodgers, the defending World Series champions. The Dodgers were the only team to advance from the Wild Card round, defeating the Cincinnati Reds in two games.
MLB Division Series Schedule
The MLB Division Series will commence this Saturday, with the League Championship Series starting on October 12. The World Series is set to begin on Friday, October 24, should the schedule adhere to the official MLB calendar.
MLB Division Series Matchups
- American League:
- (1) Toronto Blue Jays vs (4) New York Yankees
- (2) Seattle Mariners vs (6) Detroit Tigers
- National League:
- (1) Milwaukee Brewers vs (4) Chicago Cubs
- (3) Philadelphia Phillies vs (2) Los Angeles Dodgers
