The 2025 MLB Wild Card Series marks the start of this year’s postseason. Here’s everything you need to know — from the final seeding and how to watch each game live to how the best-of-three format works — so you don’t miss a moment of October baseball.
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With the Wild Card Series over, we’re moving onto the rest of the 2025 MLB Playoffs.
American League Wild Card Picture
The final Wild Card picture in the American League is as follows:
- No. 3 Cleveland Guardians – Cleveland’s impeccable September finish — 11 wins in 12 games — pushed them into the postseason as the AL Central winners. They closed strong to clinch home field in the Wild Card round.
- No. 4 New York Yankees – After stumbling through July, the Yankees steadied themselves and finished strong, riding a rejuvenated Aaron Judge and a rotation that finally settled in down the stretch.
- No. 5 Boston Red Sox – The Red Sox had to grind their way into October after an uneven second half, but timely contributions from Trevor Story and Carlos Narváez proved enough. Despite injuries to young star Roman Anthony, Boston held on and secured a spot.
- No. 6 Detroit Tigers – A late-season slump derailed their chances at the AL Central title, but a dramatic win in the final days locked in their postseason spot.
That means the Cubs will be facing off against the Tigers and the Yankees take on the Red Sox in hopes of clinching a coveted spot in the Divisional Round.
National League Wild Card Picture
The final Wild Card picture in the National League is as follows:
- No. 3 Los Angeles Dodgers – Despite stretches of inconsistency and a shaky bullpen, Los Angeles leaned on its star power — including another historic season from Shohei Ohtani — to secure a Wild Card spot.
- No. 4 Chicago Cubs – The Cubs clinched their postseason berth in mid-September and held steady down the stretch to secure a Wild Card spot.
- No. 5 San Diego Padres – San Diego’s aggressive deadline moves paid off as they clawed their way into October despite a rollercoaster finish. Despite tough series, the Padres’ lineup delivered when it mattered to lock down a Wild Card slot.
- No. 6 Cincinnati Reds – The Reds battled their way into the postseason with gritty play down the stretch, earning series wins over both the Mets and Padres before sealing their place in the Wild Card.
With the seeding set, the Dodgers will take on the Reds while the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres go head-to-head.
2025 Wild Card Schedule
Tune in to find out which teams in the AL and NL will make it to the Divisional Series in 2025. Check out the game schedule below:
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Game 1
- No. 6 Detroit Tigers @ No. 3 Cleveland Guardians (AL) | DET 2, CLE 1
- No. 5 San Diego Padres @. No. 4 Chicago Cubs (NL) | CHC 3, SD 1
- No. 5 Boston Red Sox @ No. 4 New York Yankees (AL) | BOS 3, NYY 1
- No. 6 Cincinnati Reds @ No. 3 LA Dodgers (NL) | LAD 10, CIN 5
Wednesday, Oct. 1 – Game 2
- No. 6 Detroit Tigers @ No. 3 Cleveland Guardians (AL) | CLE 6, DET 1
- No. 5 San Diego Padres @. No. 4 Chicago Cubs (NL) | SD 3, CHC 0
- No. 5 Boston Red Sox @ No. 4 New York Yankees (AL) | NYY 4, BOS 3
- No. 6 Cincinnati Reds @ No. 3 LA Dodgers (NL) | LAD 8, CIN 4 (Dodgers win series)
Thursday, Oct 2* – Game 3
- No. 6 Detroit Tigers @ No. 3 Cleveland Guardians (AL) | DET 6, CLE 3 (Tigers win series)
- No. 5 San Diego Padres @. No. 4 Chicago Cubs (NL) | CHC 3, SD 1 (Cubs win series)
- No. 5 Boston Red Sox @ No. 4 New York Yankees (AL) | NYY 4, BOS 0 (Yankees win series)
(*if necessary)
MLB Wild Card Format
There are 30 teams spread across two leagues, the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). Within each league, 15 teams are split into three divisions of five: East, Central, and West. Every season, teams play 162 games from late March through the end of September, hoping their record earns them a spot in the postseason.
Since 2023, each team has played against all 29 opponents on the schedule. In the past, teams played a heavier slate of games against their division rivals, but the balanced schedule has increased competition and given fans more variety.
HOW DO TEAMS MAKE IT TO THE MLB POSTSEASON?
At the end of the regular season, the three division winners in each league (AL East, Central, West and NL East, Central, West) automatically qualify for the postseason. They are seeded 1 through 3 by overall record.
The next three teams in each league with the best records, regardless of division, qualify as Wild Cards and are seeded 4 through 6. This format has been in place since 2022. And that’s what we’re talking about here.
WHAT ARE WILD CARD TEAMS?
Wild Cards are teams that didn’t win their division but still posted strong records. Prior to 2012, only one Wild Card team per league advanced. From 2012 through 2021, two Wild Cards per league played a single-elimination game for the right to move on.
Beginning in 2022, MLB expanded to three Wild Cards per league and replaced the single-elimination game with a best-of-three Wild Card Series. This change gave more teams playoff opportunities while reducing the randomness of a one-game format.
CURRENT MLB WILD CARD FORMAT
Here’s how the 12-team bracket works in 2025:
- Seeds 1 and 2 (the division winners with the best records) receive first-round byes into the Division Series.
- Seed 3 (the division winner with the worst record) hosts Seed 6 (the final Wild Card) in a best-of-three Wild Card Series.
- Seed 4 (the top Wild Card) hosts Seed 5 (the second Wild Card) in another best-of-three Wild Card Series.
- All games in each Wild Card Series are hosted by the higher seed.
This format means the 3-seed, despite winning its division, can be eliminated before even reaching the Division Series — while the 1 and 2 seeds enjoy extra rest.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does the wild card race work in MLB?
Three teams from the American League and National League earn a wild card slot in addition to the three division winners to make six playoff spots in each league. In the wild card series, fourth and fifth seeds play a three-game series to determine who plays the number one seed. And the third and sixth seeds play a three-game series to determine who plays the second seeded team.
Is the MLB wild card 3 or 5 games?
The MLB wild card round is a three-game series between the 4th and 5th seed and the 3rd and 6th seed to determine who plays the #1 and #2 seeds respectively.
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