With the MLB Regular Season ending on September 28, 2025, the postseason has officially started with twelve total teams striving to win the glorious World Series trophy in October. This year, there have already been multiple surprises, such as the Mets missing the playoffs despite their $342 million dollar payroll, with many more sure to come in the following weeks. Here are my predictions for each team’s playoff runs for this year’s MLB postseason:
- AL Wild Card: The New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians will defeat the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers, respectively.
Yankees vs Red Sox: The Yankees will ultimately be victorious against the Red Sox in the Wild Card Series. The Yankees have arguably the most dangerous offense in this year’s postseason, with lethal sluggers such as the always dangerous Aaron Judge, former MVP Giancarlo Stanton, and Jazz Chisholm, who posted a 30-30 season this year (30 homeruns + 30 steals). While the Red Sox have one of the best bullpens in baseball, with them posting the second-lowest ERA of 3.41 this year, one of their key starters, Lucas Giolito, will be unable to pitch in this Wild Card Series. In a short series like the Wild Card, teams cannot afford to lose games, and without Lucas Giolito, the Red Sox will have a tough time fending off the Yankees’ star-studded offense. The Yankees will win the series against the Red Sox, two games to one.
Guardians vs Tigers: The Guardians will sweep the Tigers two games to zero in the Wild Card Series. Earlier in the season, the Tigers emerged as one of MLB’s powerhouses in the American League, with them being the first team to reach 60 wins. However, due to injuries in the bullpen and lackluster offensive performances towards the end of the regular season, the Tigers have significantly struggled, posting a mere 9-21 record in their last 30 games (as of September 25). Given the Tigers’ recent slump and the injuries to their pitching, I am giving the Guardians the edge in this series, with them sweeping the Tigers in two games.
- NL Wild Card: The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers will beat the Chicago Cubs and Cincinnati Reds, respectively.
Padres vs. Cubs: The Padres have been one of the hottest teams in the NL throughout the season, rivaling the reigning World Series champions, the Dodgers. The Padres have had the best bullpen in MLB, posting an impressive 3.06 ERA throughout the year. In a short series like the Wild Card, there will be essential high-leverage situations for both teams; however, the Padres’ bullpen and dangerous offensive stars, such as Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, will help the Padres beat the Cubs two games to one.
Dodgers vs Reds: The Dodgers are the favorites for a reason. They have one of the most, if not the most, impressive pitching rotations in all of baseball, with stars such as former Cy Young winner Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and, of course, former MVP and two-way star Shohei Ohtani. The Dodgers also boast one of the best offenses in all of baseball, with MVPs at multiple positions like Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Shohei Ohtani. Even though the Reds have a respectable pitching rotation and emerging stars such as pitcher Hunter Greene and speedy power bat in Elly De La Cruz, the Dodgers are clearly favored in this Wild Card Series.
- AL Division Series: The New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners will defeat the Toronto Blue Jays and Cleveland Guardians, respectively.
Yankees vs Blue Jays: The Yankees will ultimately defeat the Blue Jays in the ALDS, with the series going the distance, with the Yankees winning three games to two. Recently, the Yankees have emerged as the best team in baseball. With their combined strength at offense, with stars like Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, and starting pitching, with pitchers such as Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, the Yankees have a very good chance of beating the very capable Blue Jays. Additionally, the Yankees’ bullpen has improved greatly with Devin Williams and Camilo Doval bouncing back from their lackluster performances earlier this season. Yes, the Blue Jays have one of the best offenses in baseball, with their team leading the league in batting average and on-base percentage; however, the Yankees will be able to shut down the Blue Jays with their improved pitching and exploit the Blue Jays’ lackluster bullpen with their powerful offense.
Mariners vs. Guardians: The Mariners have been one of the most dominant teams at home and boast very capable starting pitchers in Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, and Luis Castillo. The Guardians have decent starting pitchers and have great players on offense, such as the always dangerous Jose Ramirez; however, the Mariners have higher run production and will be able to outpitch the Guardians. The Mariners will beat the Guardians three games to one.
- NL Division Series: The Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies will beat the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, respectively.
Brewers vs Padres: The Brewers have been the best team in the National League this year, holding the best record in the NL. The Brewers have extreme depth at every position and are an extremely well-rounded team that is sufficient at every position. Combined with their offense and bullpen, the Padres will definitely steal a few games from the Brewers; however, the Brewers will prevail as their consistency will help them beat the Padres over the five-game series. The Brewers will beat the Padres three games to two.
Phillies vs Dodgers: I know. I previously said that the Dodgers are the favorites to win the World Series. However, this is the year the Phillies will take a step forward and emerge as the best team in the NL. The Phillies have a super-powerful lineup with sluggers on offense consisting of players such as Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, and depth at pitching, with very good left-handed pitchers. The Dodgers are still extremely dangerous with elite players at every position and have been consistently good in the playoffs. Despite this, however, this is the year the Phillies can defeat the Dodgers and make a deep run into the playoffs. The Phillies will defeat the Dodgers in a close series with low-scoring games, three games to two.
- AL Championship Series: The New York Yankees will beat the Seattle Mariners.
This will be a very close series, as both the Yankees and Mariners have very good rotations and offenses. However, the Yankees have the edge in this matchup due to their run production and offensive upside. On any given day, the Yankees can post insane offensive numbers against any team in the MLB. On the other hand, Seattle’s amazing pitching can shut down any team in the MLB. This will be an incredibly close series between two great teams vying for a championship spot; however, the Yankees will win four games to three.
- NL Championship Series: The Philadelphia Phillies will defeat the Milwaukee Brewers.
Philadelphia’s offense will carry the Phillies through their championship series vs the Brewers. Throughout the year, the Phillies’ offense has consistently proven itself to be one of the best in the league and will likely be effective against the Brewers’ starting pitching and bullpen. Even though the Brewers do have immense depth at multiple skill positions and will test the Phillies in some games, the Phillies’ ability to close out and win close games will lead them to victory. The Philadelphia Phillies will beat the Milwaukee Brewers four games to two.
- World Series: The Philadelphia Phillies will beat the New York Yankees in a close series.
This is the Philadelphia Phillies’ year to win it all and bring home a World Series Trophy. Yes, the Yankees have one of the best offenses and starting rotations in all of baseball and are especially clutch in October. However, the Phillies have elite players at all positions on offense and have pitching depth that exceeds the Yankees (which will be especially helpful in this World Series format). Furthermore, the Phillies have proven to be a more clutch team in high-leverage situations and are especially good at finding ways to neutralize the other team’s offense, whether through pitching or good defense. The Yankees will come close, but this is the year that the Phillies will win it all. The Phillies will win the World Series against the Yankees, winning four games to three.
