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?
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.
2025 MLB Playoff Picture – Printable Bracket
Here’s the 2025 MLB Playoff Bracket for you. Divisional Round starts on October 4th, 2025.
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)
| Series | Game | Matchup (Away @ Home) | Time (ET) | TV/Streaming |
| AL Wild Card A | 3 | Detroit Tigers @ Cleveland Guardians | 3:08 p.m. | ABC, ESPN App |
| NL Wild Card A | 3 | San Diego Padres @ Chicago Cubs | 5:08 p.m. | ESPN, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes |
| AL Wild Card B | 3 | Boston Red Sox @ New York Yankees | 8:08 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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