Yankees rally for walk-off win, clinch playoffs (0:47)After tying the score on a wild pitch, Jose Caballero loops a walk-off single to center field to help the Yankees clinch a spot in the playoffs. (0:47)
What are this October’s MLB playoff matchups as it stands now?
A number of teams are starting to shift their focus to October as the final month of the 2025 MLB regular season continues.
Beyond division races, there are many storylines to watch as the regular season comes to an end and playoffs begin: Where do current playoff matchups stand? What games should you be paying attention to each day leading up to October? Who will be the next team to clinch a postseason berth? And what does the playoff schedule look like?
The Brewers clinched the season’s first playoff spot for a second consecutive year on Sept. 13 and followed up by securing their third straight NL Central title.
The Cubs clinched their spot in the postseason on Sept. 17 and will be making their first playoff appearance in a full-length season since 2018.
The Blue Jays became the first AL team to secure a postseason berth with a with over the Royals on Sunday.
The Padres clinched their fourth postseason trip in six years with a walk-off win over the Brewers on Monday.
The Yankees became the second AL team to clinch a playoff spot with a walk-off win over the White Sox on Tuesday. With a win on Wednesday, they tied the Blue Jays — who lost to the Red Sox — for the AL East lead with four games to go.
The Mariners clinched their first postseason appearance since 2022 on Tuesday and, with a 9-2 win on Wednesday, won their first AL West crown since 2001.
The Brewers were the first MLB team to seal its spot in October, and the Phillies — who then sealed an NL East title — clinched next. A group of contenders have separated themselves atop the NL standings with the New York Mets, Arizona Diamondbacks and Cincinnati Reds battling for the final playoff spot, and there is intrigue in the NL West as the Dodgers attempt to fend off the Padres for the division crown.
Looking for something to watch today? Here’s the baseball game with the biggest playoff implications:
ALDS Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4 Game 2: Sunday, Oct. 5 Game 3: Tuesday, Oct. 7 Game 4: Wednesday, Oct. 8* Game 5: Friday, Oct. 10*
NLDS Game 1: Saturday, Oct. 4 Game 2: Monday, Oct. 6 Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 8 Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 9* Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 11*
ALCS Game 1: Sunday, Oct. 12 Game 2: Monday, Oct. 13 Game 3: Wednesday, Oct. 15 Game 4: Thursday, Oct. 16 Game 5: Friday, Oct. 17* Game 6: Sunday, Oct. 19* Game 7: Monday, Oct. 20*
NLCS Game 1: Monday, Oct. 13 Game 2: Tuesday, Oct. 14 Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 16 Game 4: Friday, Oct. 17 Game 5: Saturday, Oct. 18* Game 6: Monday, Oct. 20* Game 7: Tuesday, Oct. 21*
Game 1: Friday, Oct. 24 Game 2: Saturday, Oct. 25 Game 3: Monday, Oct. 27 Game 4: Tuesday, Oct. 28 Game 5: Wednesday, Oct. 29* Game 6: Friday, Oct. 31* Game 7: Saturday, Nov. 1*
The Blue Jays are trying to hold for the AL’s No. 1 seed and division title. While Toronto sits atop the AL East, the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are duking it out for wild-card seeding. And the Seattle Mariners separated themselves from the Houston Astros in a two-team AL West race to win their first division crown since 2001. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians are going toe-to-toe with the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central while also playing themselves into a tight race for the final wild-card spot.
Yankees rally for walk-off win, clinch playoffs (0:47)After tying the score on a wild pitch, Jose Caballero loops a walk-off single to center field to help the Yankees clinch a spot in the playoffs. (0:47)
After tying the score on a wild pitch, Jose Caballero loops a walk-off single to center field to help the Yankees clinch a spot in the playoffs. (0:47)
And in the biggest twists of the 2025 season, the Cleveland Guardians have rocked the American League playoff picture with a September surge, emerging as a serious contender in both the AL Central and wild-card race: With another win over the Tigers on Wednesday, the Guardians are now in sole position of the AL Central lead. Meanwhile, the New York Mets’ prolonged struggles have opened the door for the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL wild-card race.
Key links: Full MLB standings | Wild-card standings
The Dodgers clinched their 13th consecutive playoff appearance on Friday.
Wild-card round: (6) Tigers at (3) Guardians, (5) Red Sox at (4) Yankees
ALDS: Tigers/Guardians vs. (2) Mariners, Red Sox/Yankees vs. (1) Blue Jays
Wild-card round: (6) Mets at (3) Dodgers, (5) Padres at (4) Cubs
NLDS: Mets/Dodgers vs. (2) Phillies, Padres/Cubs vs. (1) Brewers
Wild-card series Best of three, all games at better seed’s stadium
The Red Sox can clinch a postseason berth as early as Thursday.
The Guardians can clinch a postseason berth as early as Thursday.
The Dodgers can clinch the NL West as early as Thursday.
Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30 Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1 Game 3: Thursday, Oct. 2*