2025 MLB Playoff Schedule; Bracket and Matchups

2025 MLB Playoff Schedule

The 2025 MLB Playoff schedule will be here before you know it. The Wild Card round of play will start on September 30th, 2025. The opening round of play is a best-of-three game playoff that takes place on three consecutive days. The first team to win two games moves on to the Divisional round of play. The 2025 World Series will start on around Friday, October 24th, 2025. 

*All Dates are notionally based on the 2024 MLB Playoff schedule. As more information is made available by the league, we will update you here.

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How Many MLB Teams will Make the 2025 Playoffs? 

Just like the past several seasons, we will see 12 teams earn a spot in the 2025 MLB postseason. MLB expanded the playoffs in 2022 to the format that we see today. Three divisional winners and three Wild Card teams earn spots from both the American and National League respectfully this year. 

What is the 2025 MLB Playoff Schedule? 

Please keep in mind that October will take a hot minute to get here. MLB reserves the right to adjust dates/times/broadcast networks as they deem fit. All of the schedule dates we include are now confirmed by MLB.

Wild Card Series (Best of 3 games): September 30- Oct 2, 2025 October 

Division Series (Best of 5): October 4-11

Championship Series (Best of 7): October 12-21.

World Series Schedule (Best of 7): October 24-November 1.

***Based on the  MLB Playoff policy release for 2024, if we see an early conclusion to both the ALCS and NLCS, we might see the World Series start a few days sooner (keeping us out of November). 

How Many Rounds are in the 2025 MLB Playoffs? 

The 2025 MLB Playoffs have four rounds of play. Each round is a series between two teams playing a “best of” single elimination formatted matchup. The number of games increases the deeper into the playoffs we go. The Wild Card round is a “Best-of-Three” game series, while the ALCS/NLCS and World Series are “Best-of-Seven” affairs. Before getting to the Championship Series in each league, the Divisional Series are played as a best-of-five matchup.

How Does the MLB Wild Card Series Work? 

First, MLB uses this seeding format for both the American and National League. The #1 seed in each league has the best record period. The #2 seed has the second best record and is a division winner. The #3 seed is the third best record for a division winner. #4, #5, and the #6 seeds are the best records of the non-divisional winners. Then, in the Wild Card Series, #3 plays #6, and #4 plays #5. There are no off-days or travel in the Wild Card round of play. The higher seed hosts up to three games. 

How is Home-Field Advantage Determined for the World Series? 

The team with the best regular season record gets the World Series home field advantage. They will host the first game regardless of seeding. If there is a game 7, it will also be played on their field. If both teams have the same regular season records, then the standard MLB divisional tiebreaker rule set is used to determine who has the advantage.

How Does the MLB Division Tiebreaker Work? 

With the change in the MLB Playoff format, there is no longer the possibility for a 163rd game to determine a tiebreaker. Instead, MLB first uses the two teams’ head-head records. If they are still tied, then the following metrics are used: record against other teams in their division, record against other teams in their league but outside their division. Then, the record of their last half of intraleague games. Sounds simple right? 

Can I get a 2025 MLB Playoff Bracket? 

2024 MLB Playoff Schedule
Complete 2024 MLB Playoff Bracket

The 2024 Playoff bracket is filled out above for you from the MLB.com bracket. All of the updated 2025 MLB Playoff brackets are for you below.

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Printable 2025 MLB Playoff Bracket – Blank

Here’s the printable 2025 MLB playoff bracket for you. It’s blank, and show’s you where the seeds will be placed for each round of the playoffs.

Printable 2025 MLB Playoff Bracket

2025 MLB Playoff Picture – Printable Bracket

Here’s the 2025 MLB Playoff Bracket for you. Divisional Round starts on October 4th, 2025.

Printable 2025 MLB Playoff Bracket

2025 MLB Playoff Schedule – Games and TV Broadcasts

The details of the 2025 MLB Playoff schedule are tentative and based on the 2024 schedule. The same holds true for the TV networks listed for you before. Where you see ESPN listed, it can be any ESPN platform that covers the game (though likely to be ABC or ESPN). 

2025 Wild Card Series Schedule 

Tuesday, Sept. 30
Tigers @ Guardians, AL Wild Card Series Game 1: 1 p.m. on ESPN
Padres @ Cubs, NL Wild Card Series Game 1: 3 p.m. on ABC
Red Sox @ Yankees, AL Wild Card Series Game 1: 6 p.m. on ESPN
Reds @ Dodgers, NL Wild Card Series Game 1: 9 p.m. on ESPN
Wednesday, October 1
Tigers @ Guardians, AL Wild Card Series Game 2: 1 p.m. on ESPN
Padres @ Cubs, NL Wild Card Series Game 2: 3 p.m. on ABC
Red Sox @ Yankees, AL Wild Card Series Game 2: 6 p.m. on ESPN
Reds @ Dodgers, NL Wild Card Series Game 2: 9 p.m. on ESPN
Thursday, October 2
Tigers @ Guardians, AL Wild Card Series Game 3*: 1 p.m. on ESPN
Padres @ Cubs, NL Wild Card Series Game 3*: 3 p.m. on ABC
Red Sox @ Yankees, AL Wild Card Series Game 3*: 6 p.m. on ESPN
Reds @ Dodgers, NL Wild Card Series Game 3*: 9 p.m. on ESPN
*(if necessary)

2025 AL and NL Wild Card Schedule 

Updated 2025 MLB Wild Card Round Schedule (Game 3)

SeriesGameMatchup (Away @ Home)Time (ET)TV/Streaming
AL Wild Card A3Detroit Tigers @ Cleveland Guardians3:08 p.m.ABC, ESPN App
NL Wild Card A3San Diego Padres @ Chicago Cubs5:08 p.m.ESPN, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes
AL Wild Card B3Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees8:08 p.m.ESPN, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes

2025 MLB Division Series Schedule

The 2025 MLB Division Series schedule is updated for you below. First pitch times for the games will be set by MLB closer to the time.

Saturday, Oct. 4

  • BOS/NYY Winner vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Game 1 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
  • Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners, Game 1 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
  • Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers, Game 1 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Game 1 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)

Sunday, Oct. 5

  • BOS/NYY Winner vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Game 2 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
  • Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners, Game 2 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)

Monday, Oct. 6

  • Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers, Game 2 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Game 2 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)

Tuesday, Oct. 7

  • BOS/NYY Winner vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Game 3 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
  • Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners, Game 3 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)

Wednesday, Oct. 8

  • Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers, Game 3 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Game 3 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
  • BOS/NYY Winner vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Game 4* (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
  • Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners, Game 4* (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)

Thursday, Oct. 9

  • Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers, Game 4* (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Game 4* (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)

Friday, Oct. 10

  • BOS/NYY Winner vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Game 5* (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
  • Detroit Tigers vs. Seattle Mariners, Game 5* (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)

Saturday, Oct. 11

  • Chicago Cubs vs. Milwaukee Brewers, Game 5* (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
  • Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies, Game 5* (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)

*If necessary. Schedules are subject to change based on game outcomes and MLB announcements.

2025 MLB League Championship Series Schedule

October 12, 2025
ALCS Game 1 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
October 13
ALCS Game 2 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
NLCS Game 1  (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
October 14
NLCS Game 2 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
October 15
ALCS Game 3 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
October 16
NLCS Game 3 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
ALCS Game 4 (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
October 17
NLCS Game 4 (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
ALCS Game 5* (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
October 18, 2025
NLCS Game 5* (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
October 19, 2025
ALCS Game 6* (FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
October 20, 2025
NLCS Game 6* (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
ALCS Game 7*(FOX/FS1/FOX Deportes)
October 21, 2025
NLCS Game 7*  (TBS, truTV, HBO Max)
*(if necessary)

2025 ALCS and NLCS Schedule 

2025 World Series Schedule

October 24th, 2025
Game 1, at better 2025 record (FOX)
October 25th, 2025
Game 2, at better 2025 record (FOX)
October 27th, 2025
Game 3 (FOX)
October 28th, 2025
Game 4 (FOX)
October 29th, 2025
Game 5* (FOX)
October 31st, 2025
Game 6*, at better 2025 record (FOX)
November 1st, 2025
Game 7*, at better 2025 record (FOX)
*(if necessary)

2025 World Series Schedule

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