The Big Picture (A Quick Catch-Up for Casual Fans)
The 2025 MLB postseason kicked off at the end of September with 12 teams, and now we’re deep into the Division Series round. The format:
- Wild Card Round (best-of-three) eliminated 4 teams
- Division Series (best-of-five) determines who moves to the League Championship Series
- Next up: the ALCS and NLCS (best-of-seven), then the World Series starts October 24.
For fans who don’t follow every pitch, here’s where things currently stand:
- In the American League, the Toronto Blue Jays have eliminated the Yankees in the ALDS and are waiting to face the winner of the Mariners vs. Tigers.
- In the National League, the Dodgers have advanced past the Phillies after a dramatic walk-off error in Game 4.
- Meanwhile, the Cubs and Brewers series has forced a decisive Game 5 after Chicago shut out Milwaukee in Game 4.
So, we’re down to a nail-biting stretch. Let’s break down each league in more detail.
American League: Grit, Offense, and a Spotlight on Toronto
AL Recap and Storylines
Wild Card & Setup
- The Blue Jays and Mariners were the top two seeds in the AL and thus bypassed the Wild Card round.
- The Wild Card round produced some drama: the Tigers beat the Guardians to get into the ALDS.
- The Red Sox and Yankees battled in a rivalry matchup; the Yankees prevailed to face Toronto.
Division Series Highlights
- The Blue Jays came out swinging. In Game 2, they blasted a ton of offense and rookie Trey Yesavage struck out 11 over 5⅓ dominant innings.
- Game 3 saw a wild comeback by the Yankees: they trailed 6–1 and scored eight straight runs to extend the series.
- But Toronto’s defense cracked in Game 3, allowing mistakes and letting New York hang around.
- In the deciding game, the Blue Jays closed it out and eliminated the Yankees, securing their spot in the ALCS.
On the other side, the Mariners and Tigers have gone deep. The series is tied, and Game 5 will be the decider. Detroit is sending Tarik Skubal to the mound for what would be his third playoff start
What to Watch Next: ALCS
- Toronto awaits the Mariners or Tigers. The ALCS starts October 12.
- Toronto is trying to break a long pennant drought — their last trip to the World Series was in 1993.
- Their starting pitching and bullpen depth are being heavily scrutinized as they face fresher opponents.
Human Notes
- Watching the Blue Jays’ clubhouse right after they knocked out the Yankees was a moment: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and David Ortiz even chanted “Yankees lose!” right in front of Yankee greats.
- For Yankees fans, it’s been painful: they conceded 23 runs in the first two games of the series — a postseason low point for the franchise.
- Toronto’s ability to combine power with clutch pitching has made them look dangerous — especially when their youthful arms get rolling.
National League: Drama, Errors, and a Do‐or‐Die Game
NL Recap & Storylines
Wild Card & Setup
- The Dodgers knocked out the Reds in the Wild Card round.
- The Cubs defeated the Padres in their Wild Card matchup to advance.
- The top two NL seeds — Brewers (No. 1) and Phillies (No. 2) — awaited in the Division Series.
Division Series Highlights
- Dodgers vs. Phillies: a tense, tight series that ended in Game 4. In the 11th inning, Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering fielded a grounder and made a wild throw past home, letting the winning run score. That error eliminated Philadelphia and sent LA to the NLCS.
- The L.A. bullpen also shined — rookie Roki Sasaki tossed three perfect innings in relief.
- Meanwhile, the Cubs forced a Game 5 against the Brewers after a dominant 6–0 shutout in Game 4.
So now, Game 5 in Milwaukee will decide who faces the Dodgers in the NLCS.
What to Watch Next: NLCS
- Dodgers are waiting for the Brewers vs. Cubs winner. That matchup begins October 13.
- The Dodgers have experience: this will be their eighth NLCS in 13 seasons.
- The Cubs, riding momentum, can keep surprising — a win would put them in the position to knock off LA on the biggest stage.
Human Notes
- That Kerkering error hurts — for a young reliever, postseason pressure is brutal. Phillies fans have seen heartbreaking playoff exits before, but this one stings. The Guardian+1
- On the Cubs side, after trailing 2–0 in the series, the 6–0 Game 4 win was a statement: they’re not done, not by far.
- The matchup going into Game 5 will be as much about bullpen stamina and nerves as starting arms.
Final Thoughts & What to Watch
- Pitching depth and bullpen management will be critical from here on out. Teams that can ride multiple arms will have an edge.
- Momentum matters. The Cubs have it. Toronto looks sharp. But a cold night, a misplay, a bullpen meltdown — October is unpredictable.
- Expect more drama: extra innings, walk-offs, heroic outs, and heartbreak.
So if you’ve been off the baseball beat, here’s where we are: blue-chip teams like Toronto and LA are advancing, both leagues have cliffhangers in their final games, and we’re about to see who’s battle-tested enough to go to the World Series
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