The postseason starts on Sept. 30, but for all intents and purposes, that date is the official start of October this year.
After a furious finish to the regular season that saw two division races and one playoff berth come down to the final day, 12 teams have their sights set on a championship. Parity, despite an offseason filled with questions about competitive balance, has all 12 of them believing a deep run is possible.
No team won more than 97 games this season, and only two won more than 94. Some of the teams playing in a wild-card series, including the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians, finished the season red hot and are hoping to take that momentum into October.
Does regular-season momentum matter in the postseason? History tells us it doesn't, which is good news for teams such as the Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers after bumpy Septembers.
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So, who is the most likely team to win it all? Sporting News predicts the MLB postseason, from the World Series champion to potential surprises.
MLB playoff picks, predictions 2025
Which wild-card team is the biggest threat to win it all?
Rob Cassidy, Senior Editor: I’ll ride with the Padres here, based partially on the reliability of the bullpen. Sure, the middle-of-the-lineup bats such as right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. and third baseman Manny Machado will get the attention, but October is about consistency, and a reliable bullpen can carry a team a long way on that front. Just ask the 2015 World Champion Royals. San Diego has the firepower to score plenty of runs and a bullpen capable of protecting leads and shortening games. Flamethrower Mason Miller, who has struck out more than 50% of the batters he’s faced since coming to San Diego at the trade deadline, has the potential to go from "emerging young star” to "household name" in the month ahead.
Daniel Chavkin, Content Producer: The Yankees' biggest obstacle all year has been themselves, as self-inflicted errors fueled a mid-season swoon that forced them to earn a wild card spot. They enter the playoffs as a balanced team with the best hitter in the league on offense, two ace-level pitchers and a reliable closer, which should allow for a winning postseason formula. If New York plays to its potential, it should be considered a favorite in the AL regardless of who they play.
Vinnie Iyer, Senior Writer: New York Yankees. They are feeling it despite falling to second place to the Blue Jays and having their hands full early with the archrival Red Sox. With some familiar contenders out of the mix in the AL, this is the Yanks' best opportunity to finish with a first ring for Aaron Judge.
Daniel Mader, Content Producer: The Yankees aren’t your average wild-card team, just one win away from owning consecutive AL East titles. No Gerrit Cole still hurts — but New York also had a nice September (18-7), has a lineup built for October, and can roll out two of the best lefty starters in baseball with Max Fried and Carlos Rodon. The defending AL champs are, by far, the most talented Wild Card team this year.
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Jake Mozarsky, Editorial Intern: The New York Yankees enter the playoffs as a serious Wild Card threat, having heated up at the perfect time by winning eight straight games to close the regular season. Their pitching rotation is solidified by Max Fried and Carlos Rodón, who both pitched over 195 innings with sub-3.1 ERAs and more than 130 strikeouts over walks, complemented by strong bullpen depth; Luke Weaver had a breakout 2024 postseason, and he’s joined by David Bednar, Jonathan Losiaga and more. Offensively, the "Bronx Bombers" stand by their name by leading MLB with 274 home runs, 30 more than the next closest team. This power is anchored by Aaron Judge, who might be the best offensive player we’ve ever seen, and a fully healthy Giancarlo Stanton. The combination of starting pitching, a deep bullpen, and two superstar hitters gives New York all the components necessary for a deep postseason run.
Bryan Murphy, Deputy Editor: When it comes to October baseball, any true contender needs a reliable bullpen, and the Padres sport the best one in baseball, leading the league in bullpen ERA with a dazzling 3.06 ERA. San Diego acquired Mason Miller at the trade deadline to pair with Robert Suarez, giving the Friars a dominant 1-2 punch to end games. In the starting rotation, Nick Pivetta is an experienced October arm, and Dylan Cease joins him as a legit ace. You add in powerful bats in the middle of the order in Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, and the Padres are built to win. It's been a matter of when this group breaks through for a deep postseason run, and 2025 very well could be the year.
Elliott Pohnl, Managing Editor: The Padres once again went all-in at the trade deadline, and it has paid off. Mason Miller is dynamic at the back-end of a loaded bullpen, and San Diego has what might be the biggest and certainly most lit postseason home-field atmosphere.
Teddy Ricketson, Content Producer: I feel like it has to be the Yankees. The Tigers are another intriguing option since they are a 3-seed disguised as a 6-seed based on how the action shook out to end the regular season, but the recent string of bad outcomes does not bode well for the playoffs. New York's bats are waking up surrounding Aaron Judge and it will really come down to which version of the bullpen shows up.
Dan Treacy, Content Producer: If momentum matters at all, the Yankees have it. New York beat up on bad teams down the stretch and looked like a powerhouse in doing so. Can they find that same success against good teams? With Aaron Judge coming off a dominant month, Giancarlo Stanton fully healthy and a rotation headed by two confident, comfortable arms in Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, the Yankees have no reason to believe they can't win a wide-open American League again.
Which top-three seed is overrated?
Cassidy: Calling the Dodgers overrated isn’t a knock on what is clearly a very good team. It's more about the conversation that surrounded them early in the season. Labeled "the best team ever assembled" and even accused of "ruining baseball" with their free-agent signing spree, L.A. delivered some less-than-impressive stretches on the way to a solid-not-dominant 93 wins. Still, questions linger. Does the bullpen have the depth to carry them to another title? Can the shaky bottom of the lineup get hot in a small sample size? I have my doubts.
Chavkin: The Blue Jays should be praised for winning the AL East at 94-68, but they are entering the postseason with some major question marks. Chris Bassitt and Jose Berrios ended the year injured, and Max Scherzer struggled down the stretch, forcing Toronto to trust rookie Trey Yesavage as the third starter. Plus, the Blue Jays' bullpen has been shaky. For the Blue Jays to win the AL, they will have to overcome these pitching questions.
Iyer: Toronto Blue Jays. They might not be able to generate the offense needed to get past either the division series vs. the Yankees-Red Sox winner or the Mariners, should that be the matchup in the ALCS. They are an object at rest with little momentum.
Mader: Their comeback to return to the postseason was magical, but I can’t see a universe where the Cleveland Guardians reach the World Series, let alone win it. Jose Ramirez is inching closer to a potential Cooperstown bid someday — but he’s the only "star" in this Cleveland lineup and his previous postseason numbers aren’t encouraging. It wouldn’t surprise me if the Guardians continue owning the Tigers in the wild card round, but I’m capping their ceiling at an ALDS run, especially as they’re forced to go deeper into their rotation beyond Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams.
Mozarsky: The Milwaukee Brewers. Outside of Freddy Peralta, there are tons of question marks with the starting pitching. Every season, the Brewers fail to make it far in the playoffs, and compared to the Phillies and Dodgers, the offense is less talented. To make it far, the offense needs to produce consistently behind Christian Yelich, so it’s up to Brice Turang, Jackson Churio and others to produce. They do have home field, but that hasn’t stopped the Brewers from losing in the past, including 2023 against the Diamondbacks and 2024 against the Mets.
Murphy: The Blue Jays may be the No. 1 seed in the AL side of the bracket, but they are far from a ferocious foe. Toronto's rotation is in disarray with injuries currently sidelining Chris Bassitt and Jose Berrios, and Father Time catching up to Max Scherzer. It leaves a lack of depth behind Kevin Gausman on the mound, which does not bode well for the Blue Jays' bullpen with its own consistency issues. To make matters worse, Bo Bichette may not be ready for the ALDS. The pitching is going to have to turn things around fast for a deep October run in the Six.
Pohnl: We've seen this movie before from the Brewers. The team with MLB's best overall record has a deep lineup and a great manager who no doubt got the most out of Milwaukee's young roster. That being said, the Brew Crew might not have enough pure power to get it done in October, ranking just 21st in the bigs in HRs this season.
Ricketson: The Mariners. Cal Raleigh is an exciting story this year, and they have one of the deeper rotations in the playoffs. Still, the end of their season was littered with bad teams that they beat up on. Seattle went 12-2 against the Atlanta Braves, Colorado Rockies, St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Angels, but got swept by the Tampa Bay Rays. The Mariners did sweep the Astros and took two of three against the Royals, but then got swept by the Dodgers to end the season. Even if Seattle had already locked up a playoff spot, going into the playoffs riding a three-game losing streak, combined with a bye, doesn't bode well.
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Treacy: The Blue Jays have fallen short of expectations more often than not since 2022, and they nearly blew a sizable lead atop the AL East down the stretch. Did their season-ending sweep of the Rays prove they can rise to the occasion and win big games? It's certainly a step, but some concerns follow Toronto into the postseason. Bo Bichette hasn't played in a handful of weeks and isn't certain to be ready for the ALDS. In the rotation, depth behind Kevin Gausman is not as strong as expected. In a month defined by pitching, whether the Blue Jays have enough of it is a real question.
Who will be the breakout playoff star no one has heard of yet?
Cassidy: Players like Chicago’s Nico Hoerner aren’t exactly en vogue in an era where power overshadows batting average, but his steady contact-based game feels tailor-made to create an October moment or two. Horner’s defensive versatility makes him a hyper-valuable piece, and his .297 batting average suggests he’s likely to deliver the kind of timely hits that live forever in the minds of fans.
Chavkin: Casual fans may not know much about Brice Turang, but the Brewers' second baseman has been integral in Milwaukee's success. Turang typically leads off for the Brewers and provides power and speed from the top of the order, as he has 18 home runs and 24 stolen bases on the year. His profile should thrive in October.
Iyer: Seiya Suzuki, Cubs DH. He'll be a spark in the wild-card round against the Padres with his clutch power after his hot home run finish to the season. He can make things interesting in the NLDS vs. the familiar Brewers, as Chicago should advance to that NL Central showdown for Craig Counsell.
Mader: Andres Munoz is a two-time All-Star, yet I don’t think he’s recognized enough as one of the best relievers in the league. He’s been outstanding for the Mariners in 2025, pitching to a 1.73 ERA, 83 strikeouts and 38 saves over 62.1 innings; Seattle’s first AL West title since 2001 is a perfect opportunity for him to shine on a bigger stage. Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez and an elite rotation are what will potentially carry the Mariners back to the Fall Classic, but Munoz’s presence in the ninth inning makes things a lot easier.
Mozarsky: Jorge Polanco. Sure, people have heard of him, but on a loaded Mariners team, he can be easy to forget. He’s batting .265, which almost leads Seattle, and over the past month, he has an average over .300. Polanco has power, too, with 26 home runs this season and a slugging percentage just under .500, which is the best on the Mariners besides Cal Raleigh.
Murphy: The Red Sox have been no strangers to having a flair for the dramatic this season, and Ceddane Rafaela has been at the center of the theatrics on numerous occasions. The outfielder punched Boston's October ticket with a walk-off triple against Detroit, punctuating a terrific last two weeks of September that saw him bat .364 through the final four series of the regular season. When Rafaela is not doing it with the bat, he's flashing the glove for highlight plays in center field. He's unbothered in high-pressure situations and could break onto the national scene this October.
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Pohnl: The Yankees got a major jolt this season from Ben Rice, who finished with 26 HRs and 65 RBIs in his first full season in the Bigs. In a powerful, high-priced lineup filled with household names in the Bronx, it could be a relative unknown like Rice who gets the clutch hit.
Ricketson: Nick Lodolo. If Cincinnati is able to throw out a Wild Card Series rotation of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott, casual fans may be impressed by what they see. Greene went 7-4 in 19 starts and punched out 132. Lodolo was recently dealing with a groin injury, but still posted a 9-8 record with a 3.33 ERA as a southpaw. Abbott, also a lefty, had a 10-7 record with the ninth-best ERA in the majors.
Treacy: Connelly Early may not even get the chance to pitch, pending how well the Red Sox do against the Yankees, but Lucas Giolito's injury opens the door for the 23-year-old to take on a major role. That could be a blessing for Boston. Early has risen to the majors in two years since being drafted out of Virginia in the fifth round, and he has looked the part early on with 13.5 strikeouts per nine innings and a 2.33 ERA in four starts. The Yankees haven't seen Early yet, which could mean trouble in a potential Game 3.
Which team will make it out of the NL?
Cassidy: Give me San Diego. It’s hard to overstate the value of a bullpen in October, and the Padres boast the most reliable relief staff in baseball. Mason Miller, whose fastball has touched a mind-boggling 104 mph, is a rising superstar fans outside the West Coast may not fully know yet, and their middle-of-the-order bats are battle-tested veterans. If the rotation, led by Dylan Cease and the surprisingly good Nick Pivetta, holds up, San Diego could make an extremely deep run.
Chavkin: Very quietly, the Phillies cruised down the stretch despite losing Zack Wheeler, and they are set up for another playoff run. Cristopher Sanchez has become a legitimate ace, while Philadelphia's acquisition of Jhoan Duran in the bullpen cannot be overstated. While the Phillies' offense has had quiet moments in recent years, the veterans know that time is running out for this group, which will help propel them to another NL title.
Iyer: Los Angeles Dodgers. They can turn it on too much with Shohei Ohtani and the rest of their star-studded, expensive roster to make up for some slight underachieving during the regular season.
Mader: The winner of the (hypothetical) Phillies vs. Dodgers NLDS, which I think will be the Dodgers. Los Angeles’ bullpen has left a lot to be desired throughout 2025, but the goal has always been for Dave Roberts’ bunch to just make it back to the postseason, where their stars can propel them to wins. The rotation and lineup still have an unreal collection of star power, led by Shohei Ohtani’s return to two-way dominance. Just as it was in March, I'm still having way too much trouble picking anybody but L.A. to come out of the NL.
Mozarsky: With all the uncertainties in the NL, I have to go with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Sure, they didn’t have an up-to-par year, but they got in and are returning almost everyone from a team that won the World Series a year ago. The starting rotation of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell is the best rotation in the NL, and it’s not close, given the Brewers question marks and the Phillies missing Zack Wheeler. Then, offensively, Shohei Ohtani’s talent speaks for itself, and Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez are all superstars.
Murphy: The Phillies are battle-tested and have been knocking on the World Series door for the last four seasons, winning an NL title in 2022, but falling short of a league title. No Zack Wheeler, no problem for the Fightin' Phils this season, with Cristopher Sanchez emerging as a standout ace. Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber and Trea Turner highlight a lineup with plenty of playoff experience, and will lead Philadelphia back to the World Series stage in 2025.
Pohnl: The Phillies are certainly flawed, but have a ton of postseason experience on their side. Even without Zack Wheeler, Philly has a true, actual, real-life starting pitching rotation led by Cristopher Sanchez. A potential matchup with the Dodgers will be cinema, while at the same time highlighting the value of not relying on a pitching staff cobbled together. Philly rides big bats to the World Series.
Ricketson: The Phillies. They have the lineup that is best suited to dominate whatever team's rotation they face. This would be a layup choice if Philly had Zack Wheeler to count on, but he won't pitch in the playoffs due to his season-ending injury. Still, the Phillies went 4-2 over the Dodgers this year, and it feels like it is finally their time to get another ring.
Treacy: The Dodgers didn't necessarily have the season everyone expected, falling short of a bye with 94 wins, but they are set up well ahead of the postseason. Unlike last October, their rotation is near full health between Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow, and the unit had a dominant month of September. L.A.'s offense didn't always match its 2024 production and Will Smith's health is a concern, but Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez are among bats who have a history of stepping up in the postseason. If the Dodgers can't get past the Reds or Phillies, the bullpen will be their undoing as it has been for much of the second half.
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Which team will make it out of the AL?
Cassidy: The American League feels particularly wide open, so why not the Mariners? No team enters the postseason hotter, as Seattle went 17-8 in the month of September. It also boasts baseball’s hottest offense – an offense fueled by a historic season from breakout star Cal Raleigh, who set the single-season record for home runs by a catcher with a league-leading 60. If there’s something to be said for peaking at the right time, it applies to the Mariners, whose young pitching staff also seems to be clicking at the moment.
Chavkin: It's the Mariners' time. Seattle has the benefit of both a bye and the easier path to the ALCS, as the Guardians/Tigers are not as daunting an opponent as the Yankees/Red Sox. Seattle's strong pitching should shine in the playoffs, and they finally have the offense to complement it, starting with Cal Raleigh. Finally, Andres Munoz is a dominant closer whose value will increase in the postseason. Seattle will see an American League champion for the first time.
Iyer: New York Yankees. Jazz Chisholm is right. They feel like the true team to beat despite being a wild-card. If they get past the Red Sox, watch out for them getting super-hot to roll into the WS vs. the Blue Jays and Mariners with Judge proving his MVP worth over Cal Raleigh.
Mader: Give me Year 2 of a Yankees vs. Dodgers World Series — being a wild card wasn’t ideal for New York, but they still have as much roster-wide talent as any AL postseason squad. I don’t think the Red Sox, even with Garrett Crochet in Game 1, have enough juice to win two wild-card games in Yankee Stadium, and the biggest threat from there is Seattle. Aaron Judge remains Aaron Judge, likely the most feared hitter in the game. I think he turns in a spectacular October to send his team back to the Fall Classic.
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Mozarsky: I’m buying into the Seattle Mariners' dream, which started with them winning the AL West for the first time since 2001. They have an MVP candidate in Cal Raleigh with plenty of offensive talent around him, all of whom have had big moments. Randy Arozarena is a name to watch, as in 2020, he had a .360 average and the most hits ever in a single postseason. Then, the Mariners have arguably the best staff in baseball, with Bryan Woo, Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby.
Murphy: Why not the Guardians? No one is hotter heading into October, with Cleveland posting a blistering record of 20-7 in September to take the AL Central. Stephen Vogt has shown he can get the most out of his players as a master motivator. Cleveland doesn't have "star" power outside of Jose Ramirez, but it's what worked for them over the last month of the regular season to put them into the postseason. With the AL being as open as it's been in years, the Guardians have a chance at shocking the world by ripping that momentum right into a World Series berth.
Pohnl: It is cliché, but so true: it's wide open in the AL. If there was ever a year for Seattle to break through, this is that year. Like the Phillies, Seattle also has a deep lineup and a nice mix of power with a little speed sprinkled in. And, the starting pitching is deep and legitimate, with three solid starts and the chance that Bryan Woo can return in some capacity as well.
Ricketson: The Blue Jays. It's a chalk pick, but it's fun. The Blue Jays are hot at the right time. Toronto did enough to win the AL East title for the first time since 2015. Toronto will have a tough matchup in the divisional round against whichever team emerges from the Red Sox and Yankees. If Toronto can win that series, though, they project to be better on paper than any team that can come out from the other side of the bracket, giving the Blue Jays a good shot at heading to the World Series for the first time since 1993.
Treacy: The AL is wide open, but the Mariners might be the team with the best energy. Seattle finally has a competent offense, with power threats up and down the lineup from Cal Raleigh and Julio Rodriguez to Eugenio Suarez and Randy Arozarena. The rotation wasn't as dominant in 2025 as it was in 2024, but Bryan Woo has pitched like an ace, and it's hard not to like Logan Gilbert, George Kirby or Luis Castillo in a big-game setting. Don't underestimate the impact of T-Mobile Park, which has hosted only one postseason game in the last 24 years: Game 3 of the 2022 NLDS while already down 2-0 in the series. The building will be rocking this October, and the Mariners have a soft landing in the ALDS with the winner of Tigers vs. Guardians coming their way.
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Which team will win the World Series?
Cassidy: Baseball has lacked a truly dominant team this season. So there’s no time like the present for the Seattle Mariners to win their first World Series title. This pick is partly based on riding the hot hand and partly based on the fact that I’d like to see a fairytale ending for slugger and seemingly likable dude Cal Raleigh, who has been the story of the season thus far. Seattle’s starting rotation has shown it can go deep into games, which will be key, seeing as preserving your bullpen is of utmost importance in the postseason.
Chavkin: The Mariners conclude their magical 2025 with a World Series title, bringing the Commissioner's Trophy to Seattle for the first time.
Iyer: New York Yankees. This opportunity won't get much better to break through with Judge, led by Max Fried and Carlos Rodon. They get the job done with their best all-around postseason play in a while.
Mader: It feels boring to pick the same team I did before the season. But can anybody really match the Dodgers’ bats and rotation in a postseason series? Shohei Ohtani has been electric in his return to the mound, giving L.A. yet another elite arm. Mookie Betts wasn’t himself this season, and the bullpen has some big questions, but I really don’t think it matters. The Dodgers will be the first back-to-back World Series champions since the 1998-2000 Yankees.
Mozarsky: The perennial contender Los Angeles Dodgers or the magical Seattle Mariners? I’m going with Seattle, who from Game 1 to Game 162 showed how complete of a baseball team they are. I can’t wait for playoff baseball to be back at T-Mobile Park, which might provide the best home-field advantage this postseason. Cal Raleigh might not win MVP, but as he said when Seattle won the AL West, "might as well win the whole f—ing thing." This year, the Mariners finally do it, making and winning their first-ever World Series to end a Storybook season.
Murphy: The Guardians would be a wonderful Cinderella story if they could pull it out ... but there will be no love lost from the City of Brotherly Love. Citizens Bank Park offers an advantage like no other for the Phillies, and for the first time since 2008, Philadelphia will be the World Series champions.
Pohnl: We deserve a chance to see two teams like the Phillies and Mariners meet with a title on the line. So many stars, both young and old. Plenty of power, and not an opener in sight. Look for Seattle to win a thrilling World Series in 7 games, with J.P. Crawford becoming a very unlikely MVP.
Ricketson: The Phillies feel like the team of destiny. Yes, it would be easier to pick the Dodgers, but the two teams have a likely date in the second round. We could see the bye come into play if the Phillies look sluggish, but they have figured out how to largely nullify Los Angeles' biggest weapon in Shohei Ohtani. He went 5-23 this year against them with only two solo home runs. I have the World Series as the Phillies and the Blue Jays, with Philly winning in 6.
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Treacy: Would the Dodgers winning again be a positive for baseball? Probably not. Could it happen? Absolutely. L.A. is vulnerable in the wild-card series because any team is vulnerable in that setting, and the Phillies will be a massive challenge for the Dodgers if they get past the Reds, but a healthy rotation could allow Dave Roberts' squad to run right through the National League to the World Series and ultimately to another title. While the bullpen is a concern, Roberts shouldn't have to use it nearly as aggressively as he did when he was working with a half-healthy rotation last October. The Dodgers have to be considered the favorites until they prove otherwise.