{"id":144718,"date":"2025-09-15T10:28:11","date_gmt":"2025-09-15T10:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/144718\/"},"modified":"2025-09-15T10:28:11","modified_gmt":"2025-09-15T10:28:11","slug":"mlb-postseason-watch-2025-bracket-clinching-scenarios-games-to-watch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/144718\/","title":{"rendered":"MLB postseason watch 2025: Bracket, clinching scenarios, games to watch"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s the final countdown. No, really. That\u2019s because just two weeks separate the regular season from October madness, and MLB\u2019s playoff race could not be more chaotic.<\/p>\n

Entering play on Monday, here\u2019s where every contending team stands with roughly 13 games to go.<\/p>\n

This story will be updated<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s in?<\/p>\n

Tickets already punched:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Milwaukee Brewers, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Philadelphia Phillies<\/p>\n

On Saturday, the Brewers became the first team to clinch a playoff spot. In an emotional postgame celebration, manager Pat Murphy read a letter from the late Bob Uecker.<\/p>\n

The NL Central still remains in play for the Brewers, who have a 5 1\/2 game lead over the Chicago Cubs.<\/p>\n

A MUST watch \ud83d\udc47<\/p>\n

Pat Murphy read an emotional letter from Bob Uecker as the Brewers celebrated clinching the postseason \ud83e\udd79 pic.twitter.com\/5j6sJCPmb7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Milwaukee Brewers (@Brewers) September 14, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

After a drubbing against the Royals and a Mets walk-off win against the Rangers on Sunday, it was the Giants\u2019 loss to the Dodgers that helped the Phillies claim an October berth.<\/p>\n

Hey, when it comes to the postseason, you\u2019ll take it any way you can get it. With a 12 game lead in the NL East, the Phillies should have more celebrating to do soon as their magic number is just one.<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s next?<\/p>\n

On the brink of clinching a playoff spot:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Detroit Tigers, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

New York Yankees, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Toronto Blue Jays, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Los Angeles Dodgers, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Chicago Cubs, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

San Diego Padres<\/p>\n

Who\u2019s clinging to life?<\/p>\n

It’s gonna be interesting:<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

New York Mets, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

San Francisco Giants, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Arizona Diamondbacks, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Cincinnati Reds, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Texas Rangers, <\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Cleveland Guardians<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a full-on collapse in Queens as the Mets have not only squandered any chance at winning the NL East, but have found themselves nearly out of the running for the wild card, too. Entering Monday, New York has a 1 1\/2 game lead over the Giants, with the Diamondbacks (two games back) and Reds (2 1\/2 games back) hot on its tail.<\/p>\n

The Giants and Diamondbacks will face each other beginning Monday, and it\u2019s safe to say that this series will likely determine the season.<\/p>\n

The Reds remain alive despite an awful weekend series against the A\u2019s. The Reds will play the Cardinals before entering a homestand against the Cubs and Pirates.<\/p>\n

The Rangers enter Monday still in the hunt for an AL Wild Card spot and with the division not entirely out of reach.<\/p>\n

Winners of nine of its last 10, the Guardians are 2 1\/2 games back of the Astros in the wild card.<\/p>\n

If the playoffs started todayAmerican League<\/p>\n

Toronto and Detroit would both receive first-round byes after finishing as the AL\u2019s No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. Toronto would also have home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for finishing with the AL\u2019s best record.<\/p>\n

AL Wild Card series: No 6. Astros at No. 3 Mariners vs.; No. 5 Red Sox at No. 4 Yankees.<\/p>\n

With Seattle jumping Houston to lead the AL West, the Mariners would play host to a scuffling Astros club. The Yankees similarly would play host to their long-time rival Red Sox in the AL\u2019s other best-of-three series.<\/p>\n

ALDS: Mariners\/Astros vs. Tigers; Yankees\/Red Sox vs. Blue Jays<\/p>\n

National League<\/p>\n

The Brewers and Phillies would enter as the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds, respectively, both receiving first-round byes. Should the Brewers make it to the World Series, they\u2019d maintain home-field advantage due to ending with the league\u2019s best record.<\/p>\n

NL Wild Card series: No. 6 Mets at No. 3 Dodgers; No. 5 Padres at No. 4 Cubs.<\/p>\n

As the weakest division winner, the Dodgers would begin the postseason with an NLCS rematch against the Mets. The Cubs and Padres would similarly square off as the Wild Card\u2019s two other seeds.<\/p>\n

NLDS: Dodgers\/Mets vs. Phillies, Cubs\/Padres vs. Brewers<\/p>\n

What to watch this week<\/p>\n

Rangers at Astros, Monday through Wednesday: Neither team can afford a loss, with both the wild card and division still at stake.<\/p>\n

Mariners at Astros, Friday through Sunday: Seattle could further stake its lead in the AL West in this head-to-head matchup.<\/p>\n

Phillies at Dodgers, Monday through Wednesday: A potential preview of the NLDS starts early with a three-game west coast swing.<\/p>\n

Guardians at Tigers, Tuesday through Thursday: The two clubs will face off six times over the season\u2019s final two weeks, making the AL Central far from a lock.<\/p>\n

(Top photo of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrating on Saturday: Larry Radloff \/ Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)<\/p>\n