It is the final day of the 2025 MLB regular season. With the playoffs looming, there is still much to decide for the playoff picture in both leagues on the final day of action.
The National League wild-card race is down to two teams. Either the Cincinnati Reds or the New York Mets will be inking their name into the final spot in the bracket. It is simple for the Reds as if they win on Sunday, they are into the playoffs. The Mets need a win AND a Reds loss in order to make the postseason since Cincinnati owns the tiebreaker.
The American League playoff spots are all determined, but that doesn't mean that the league is without action on Sunday. Divisions are still up for grabs, and the all-important seeding for the playoffs can vary wildly based on Sunday's results.
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Here is a look at the LIVE updated playoff standings and clinching scenarios ahead of the final day of the MLB regular season.
MLB playoff picture 2025
This is how the bracket stands heading into the final day of the regular season
Wild Card Series
AL
(C1) Cleveland Guardians vs. (WC3) Detroit Tigers
(WC1) New York Yankees vs. (WC2) Boston Red Sox
Byes: (E1) Toronto Blue Jays, (W1) Seattle Mariners
NL
(W1) Los Angeles Dodgers vs. (WC3) Cincinnati Reds
(WC1) Chicago Cubs vs. (WC2) San Diego Padres
Byes: (C1) Milwaukee Brewers, (E1) Philadelphia Phillies
MORE: Breaking down the full MLB playoff picture
MLB standings 2025
National League playoff bracket
Standings updated through games on Sept. 27.
| Seed | Team | Division | Record | Win pct. |
| 1 | Brewers*** | Central | 96-65 | .596 |
| 2 | Phillies*** | East | 95-66 | .590 |
| 3 | Dodgers** | West | 92-69 | .571 |
| 4 (WC) | Cubs* | Central | 91-70 | .565 |
| 5 (WC) | Padres* | West | 89-72 | .553 |
| 6 (WC) | Reds | Central | 83-78 | .516 |
National League wild-card standings
- WC1: Cubs*, 91-70 (.565), +8.0
- WC2: Padres*, 89-72 (.553), +6.0
- WC3: Reds, 83-78 (.516)
—
- Mets, 83-78 (.516), 0.0 GB
* Indicates clinched postseason berth
** Indicates clinched division title
*** Indicates clinched first-round bye
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American League playoff bracket
Standings updated through games on Sept. 27.
| Seed | Team | Division | Record | Win pct. |
| 1 | Blue Jays* | East | 93-68 | .578 |
| 2 | Mariners*** | West | 90-71 | .559 |
| 3 | Guardians* | Central | 87-74 | .540 |
| 4 (WC) | Yankees* | East | 93-68 | .578 |
| 5 (WC) | Red Sox* | East | 88-73 | .547 |
| 6 (WC) | Tigers* | Central | 87-74 | .540 |
American League wild-card standings
- WC1: Yankees*, 93-68 (.578), +6.0
- WC2: Red Sox*, 88-73 (.547), +1.0
- WC3: Tigers*, 87-74 (.540)
* Indicates clinched postseason berth
** Indicates clinched division title
*** Indicates clinched first-round bye
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MLB clinching scenarios 2025
NL wild-card clinching scenarios
How can the Reds clinch a playoff berth?
The Reds can clinch a postseason berth with a win OR a loss and a Mets loss. Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker over New York and regained control of the No. 6 seed on Friday before holding serve on Saturday. Now, a win would be enough to give the Reds their first full-season postseason bid since 2013.
How can the Mets clinch a playoff berth?
The Mets can clinch a postseason berth with a win AND a Reds loss. A loss to the Marlins on Friday allowed the Reds to jump the Mets for the NL's final wild-card spot, and the standings remained unchanged after both teams won on Saturday. New York doesn't control its fate, so every Mets fan will have to root for the Brewers as well on Sunday.
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AL East clinching scenarios
How can the Blue Jays clinch the AL East?
The Blue Jays can clinch the AL East with either a win OR a loss and a Yankees loss. Toronto holds the tiebreaker advantage over New York, so the only scenario that can prevent the Blue Jays from winning the AL East is a loss and a Yankees win.
How can the Yankees clinch the AL East?
The Yankees can clinch the AL East with a win AND a Blue Jays loss. Because Toronto owns the head-to-head tiebreaker, New York does not control its fate and needs the Rays to defeat the Blue Jays.
AL Central clinching scenarios
How can the Guardians clinch the AL Central?
The Guardians can clinch their second consecutive AL Central title with a win OR a loss with a Tigers loss. Because Cleveland holds the tiebreaker advantage over Detroit, the only scenario that prevents the Guardians from winning the AL Central is a loss and a Tigers win.
How can the Tigers clinch the AL Central?
The Tigers can clinch the AL Central with a win AND a Guardians loss. Cleveland owns the head-to-head tiebreaker, so Detroit still needs help even with a win over the Boston Red Sox.
MORE: How Guardians clinched playoff berth with bizarre walk-off
AL wild-card seeding scenarios
The National League's Wild Card Series picture is fairly straightforward: the Chicago Cubs will host the San Diego Padres, while the Dodgers will host either the Reds or Mets.
The American League is not quite as simple.
The only team locked into a seed is the Seattle Mariners, who are No. 2 in the AL and own a bye.
The Blue Jays will be the No. 1 seed if they win the AL East and the No. 4 seed if the Yankees win the AL East. If they play in a Wild Card Series, they would host either the Red Sox or Tigers.
The Yankees will likewise be the No. 1 seed if they win the AL East but remain the No. 4 seed if the Blue Jays win the AL East. If they play in a Wild Card Series, they would host either the Red Sox or Tigers.
The Guardians will be the No. 3 seed if they win the AL Central and can only be the No. 6 seed if the Tigers win the AL Central. If Cleveland wins the AL Central, it could host either the Red Sox or Tigers in the Wild Card Series. If the Guardians are the No. 6 seed, they would travel to Detroit to face the Tigers.
The Tigers have the widest range of outcomes. They would be the No. 3 seed and host the Guardians if they won the AL Central. If they don't win the AL Central but still beat the Red Sox on Sunday, the Tigers would be the No. 5 seed and head to Yankee Stadium to face the Yankees. If they don't win the AL Central and lose on Sunday, Detroit would be the No. 6 seed and head to Cleveland.
The Red Sox can lock up the No. 5 seed with a win over the Tigers on Sunday, securing a date with the Yankees in the Bronx. A loss would keep them at No. 5 only if the Guardians also lost, which would slide the Tigers up to No. 3 and drop Cleveland to No. 6. If the Red Sox lose and Guardians win, Boston would drop to No. 6 and head to Cleveland for the Wild Card Series while the Tigers moved to No. 5.