The 2025 MLB playoffs are underway and the stakes have never been higher. October is the best time of year for sports fans since there is nothing like playoff baseball. 12 teams, 6 in each conference, will fight to make a name for themselves and bring glory to their respective cities. Who will take home the Commissioner’s Trophy?
Yankees vs. Blue Jays
The Yankees completed a historic regular season with their future hall of famer, Aaron Judge, who finished his 10th year in the Bronx after being drafted by the Yankees as a first round pick in 2013. Judge led the league in batting average at .331 and OPS at 1.145, both historic numbers with a bat. The Yankees as a team led all of Major League Baseball in runs, OPS, and home runs. With the help of Jazz Chisolm Jr. and Max Fried on the mound, the Yankees finished their season with a record of 94-68 and were looking good coming into the playoffs.
You would think that the Yankees once again won their division, but Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and his Toronto Blue Jays also finished with a 94-68 record. The Jays won the tie breaker between them and the Yankees, so they took the AL East this year, and a first round bye. Blue Jays right fielder George Springer was a huge contributor for them this season. He was top 5 in both batting average and OPS. Key additions in the bullpen like Jeff Hoffman and Seranthony Dominguez, ensured that the Jays could close games efficiently. A truly unexpected season as the Jays earned a playoff bye coming into the Wild Card round.
The Yankees entered the Divisional round after a 3-1 series win over the Boston Red Sox and the Blue Jays entered, fresh, coming off their bye. In the first game,The Jays struck first with a solo home run by Guerrero Jr. in the first inning. The next inning, Alejandro Kirk, their catcher, launched a 392’ no doubter into left field. The Yankees just could not get anything going. They finally scored their first run in the 6th inning on an RBI four pitch walk with the bases loaded to Cody Bellinger. The Jays extended their lead in the 7th and 8th inning, putting up 4 runs in both of them. The final score of the first game was 10-1 with all of the momentum in favor of the Blue Jays. In game 2, the Jays started the first 5 innings with a 12-0 lead. The Yankees tried to fight back but to no avail as the final score was 13-7. The Jays lead the series 2-0 and the Yankees face elimination as they head back to New York for game 3. The Yankees win game 3 in the Bronx despite an awful pitching performance by their ace, Carlos Rodon. He gave up 6 runs on 6 hits in just 2.1 innings. However, Aaron Judge’s ¾ performance with 4 RBIs and a homer, led the way for the Yankees to win 9-6. The Yankees season finally came to an end after an amazing bullpen game from the Blue Jays with Louis Varland getting the start and All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman with the save. In total, the Jays played 8 pitchers in game 4, and only gave up 2 runs.
“It’s hard to describe. These guys don’t quit, this team never quits,” said slugging outfielder George Springer after the win. “Day in and day out, you fight, and it’s just a special group and I’m so proud of everybody.” The Blue Jays will now play the winner of the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners series.
Dodgers vs. Phillies
The defending World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers, led by Shohei Ohtani, the only two way player in the league, finished another incredible regular season. They finished top 5 in every major stat category with the help of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and their powerhouse of starting pitchers. Ohtani once again had an MVP caliber season, but this season in particular he was finally healthy enough to start pitching again. He finished the season with an ERA of 2.87 and 62 strikeouts. He helped to bring the Dodgers to a 93-69 record, finishing 3rd in the National League. However, the Dodgers were worried about their bullpen as they had sustained a number of injuries throughout the season. Obviously being the defending World Champions, the only expectations for them this season is Championship or bust.
Another team that is in win now mode is the Philadelphia Phillies. They finished 2nd in the National League thanks to Kyle Schwarber’s historic slugging season. Schwarber hit 56 home runs, 2nd only to Cal Raleigh, and brought in 132 runs. This season definitely puts some respect on Kyle Schwarber’s name, and adds him to MVP talks. The Phillies were also the National League’s batting average leader with .304. The Phillies were looking like the team to beat in the National League with one of the best top of rotation guys in the league including Bryce Harper and Alec Bohm. Unfortunately for the Phillies, their ace, Zack Wheeler, was diagnosed with vascular thoracic outlet syndrome, a group of conditions in which there’s pressure on blood vessels or nerves in the area between the neck and shoulder. This was a huge loss for them and it brought more pressure on the big 3, Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, and Bryce Harper to perform in the playoffs.
The Dodgers knocked off the Reds in the Wild Card round while the Phillies practiced against each other during their bye in front of 30,000 fans. Game 1 of the Divisional Round would be a matchup between the Phillies 6 ‘5 ace, Cristopher Sanchez, versus the one and only Shohei Ohtani. The Phillies took an early lead in the 3rd inning thanks to a 2 run triple by Phillies catcher JT Realmuto. The Dodgers brought it back in the top of the 7th when Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez hit his 3rd home run of the playoffs to take a 5-3 lead. The top of the order for the Phillies struggled, going 1/13 with no RBIs. In game 2, there was no score until 7th when Kike Hernandez hit an infield single to bring Teoscar Hernandez home. The Dodgers eventually led 4-0 and the Phillies tried to spark a comeback in the 8th and 9th inning but they came up short. 4-3 was the final score in game 2. With the Phillies facing elimination in game 3, Kyle Schwarber finally decided to show up, hitting 2 crucial home runs. The first one ended a 0/22 no hit streak that dated back to the regular season. The Phillies big 3 went 7/13 along with the help of Aaron Nola, the Phillies longest tenured player, and Ranger Suarez, who both pitched amazing games in route to the Phillies win. Game 4 was a pitcher’s dream. Both pitchers went 6 innings with no runs scored until Nick Castellanos brought in Max Kepler on a double sharply grounded to left field. The Phillies brought in their big time closer, Jhoan Duran, to try and get out of a bases loaded situation with 2 outs. The star closer wasn’t able to get out of the inning cleanly as he walked Mookie Betts which brought in a run for the Dodgers, tying the game 1-1. Later in the 11th inning, with the bases loaded, center fielder Andy Pages hit a dribbler back to the mound. On the mound, 24 year old Orion Kerkering made a fatal mistake in throwing the ball to JT Realmuto at home instead of first base. An unexpected way to end the season for the Phillies. The Dodgers move on and play the winner of the Cubs and Brewers series.
After the game, Kyle Schwarber was asked about the loss and responded with what seemed like a goodbye speech. “You just make a lot of different relationships in the clubhouse, and you never know how it’s gonna work out,” he said with tears in his eyes. “These guys all know how I feel about them, I’ve got a lot of respect for the guys in here, our organization, the coaching staff, everyone. This is a premiere organization and a lot of people should feel very lucky that you’re playing for a team that is trying to win every single year.”
Tigers vs. Mariners
Another great regular season for the Detroit Tigers. Led by the reigning Cy Young winner, Tarik Skubal, who finished the season with a 2.21 ERA and 241 punchouts. He also had the best SOW% (Strikeout to walk ratio) in all of baseball at 7.3%. Skubal was the main show of the Tigers all season helping them finish with a 87-75 record, which was only 3rd in the AL Central. They were still able to just barely sneak into the playoffs as a 6 seed.
Maybe the most entertaining season for Mariners fans in a long time. Their switch hitting catcher, Cal Raleigh, finished the season with 60 home runs, the most by any Mariners player and catcher ever. A shocking increase from his 34 home runs the year before. The Mariners pitching staff, Bryan Woo, Logan Gilbert, and George Kirby, was debatably the most dominant rotation in baseball, and to top it off, the Mariners traded for the All-Star 3rd baseman, Eugenio Suarez, who played for the Mariners just 2 seasons before. It was looking like the Mariners were going to be the team to beat in the American League, finishing with a 90-72 record.
The Detroit Tigers had come into the Divisional Round after beating the Cleveland Guardians 2-1 in the Wild Card. Game 1 was kicked off with a 413’ solo shot by Mariners center fielder Julio Rodriguez. But right fielder Kerry Carpenter responded right back with a 2-run home run just an inning later. The game ended in the 11th inning with a 1 run single grounded to center by 3rd baseman Zach McKinstry. The Tigers take game 1, 3-2. The Mariners took game 2 thanks to a clutch double lined to left by Julio Rodriguez. The Mariners win game 2 with a final score of 3-2. Game 3 was a blowout thanks to a Cal Raleigh home run to left center. Final score: 8-4, the Mariners lead 2-1. The next game was the exact opposite. The Tigers won game 4, 9-3 with the help of home runs from Gleyber Torres, Riley Greene, and Javy Baez. Game 5 might have been the greatest Divisional Round Series game ever. Not only was it a beautiful pitching appearance by both Tarik Skubal and George Kirby but it was also a massive defensive game. 2nd baseman and pinch hitter, Leo Rivas, hit a clutch single into left to tie the game in the 7th inning. After that, there was no score at all until the bottom of the 15th. 15 pitchers were used and 472 baseballs pitched during this game. The 4 hour and 58 minute game finally ended by a Jorge Polanco single scorched into right with the bases loaded. Polanco brought in JP Crawford for the winning run. The Tigers’ season had been ended but they have a lot to look forward to in the future as long as Skubal re-signs in the 313. The Mariners will now take on the Blue Jays in a battle of the countries.
Cubs vs. Brewers
The Cubs had a much improved season compared to last year. Led by the young Pete Crow-Armstrong and Japanese star, Seiya Suzuki, the Cubs finished 92-70, a 9 win increase from last year. While the Cubs had many sluggers, their pitching staff and bullpen was lacking. But they were great defensively recording only 61 errors which was 3rd in all of baseball. They only came 2nd in their division below the Brewers who finished the season very strong
The Brewers started the season injured. Rhys Hoskins wasn’t panning out after he left Philadelphia to join Milwaukee. The Brewers however, ended their last 50 games with a record of 38-12, unexpectedly climbing to the top of the National League over the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets (who didn’t end up making the playoffs). The Brewers ranked 3nd in batting average and total runs scored. They really didn’t have a glorified All-Star on their team with their payroll for the 2025 season being only $121.6 million. The chunk of that money came from their left fielder, Christian Yelich, their injured first baseman, Rhys Hoskins, and their veteran starting pitcher, Freddie Peralta. All of them had pretty mediocre seasons. Nobody expected young stars like Brice Turang and Caleb Durbin to step in during the final stretch of the season and bring the Brewers to a 1 seed.
The Cubs entered the Divisional Round after beating the San Diego Padres 2-1 in the Wild Card. The Brewers, fresh off the bye week, were ready to get to work. With Rhys Hoskins left off the playoff roster with a thumb injury, the former 3rd overall pick in 2019, Andrew Vaughn would get the start at first base. The Brewers blew out the Cubs in game 1 with a final score of 9-3. The Cubs’ starting pitcher for game 1, Matthew Boyd, pitched only 0.2 innings after giving up 2 runs. It was the exact same outcome in game 2 with the Brewers pummeling the Cubs, 7-3. Seiya Suzuki blasted a 3 run home run in the top of the first but those were the only runs that the Cubs would score in that game. Facing elimination, the Cubs rallied back in Chicago and won game 3 in a tight game 4-3. Despite the win, their pitching still had flaws and that would show later in the series. Game 4 in Chicago was another win for the Cubbies, forcing a win or go home situation. The Cubs won 6-0. Game 5 back in Milwaukee was a fun one. It started with a solo home run by Brewers catcher, William Contreras, in the bottom of the first inning. But the very next inning, Seiya Suzuki responded right back with a homer of his own. 2 innings later, Andrew Vaugn, playing for the injured Hoskins, hit a huge homer into left field to take a 2-1 lead over the Cubs. The Cubs tried to fight back but the Brewers bullpen was just too strong for them with right hander Abner Uribe pitching 2 hitless innings and receiving the save. The Brewers ultimately won 3-1 and would face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Championship Series. The Cubs had a great season and have a lot to look forward to for next year, but their right fielder and DH Kyle Tucker’s contract ends this year and he could be looking to make more money than the Cubs can afford which would be a huge loss for them next season.
Who to look out for in the Championship Series
Right fielder George Springer has been huge for the Blue Jays all season long. He went 3/17 in the series versus the Yankees but was still clutch, hitting a home run in game 2. His season average of .309 will come in handy for the Blue Jays and with the help of Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the Blue Jays could be looking at a World Series.
It sounds obvious but look out for Freddie Freeman on the Dodgers during their series versus the Brewers. With Shohei Ohtani going 1/18 during the NLDS versus the Phillies, you can expect the future hall of fame 1st baseman to step up for his $700 million teammate. Last year, Freeman hit 4 home runs against the Yankees in the World Series to bring the Commissioner’s Trophy back to Los Angeles and I would expect more of that this year.
Who will win it all this year? Only time will tell. The stage has been set and the spotlight is brighter than ever this year. Can Cal Raleigh prove that he is deserving of MVP? Will Shohei finally show up for his city and bring glory to Japan? Will we see a small market World Series with the Brewers and Mariners or a clash of countries with the Dodgers and Blue Jays?
