MLB Postseason Heats Up: Wild Card Series Underway!
The 2025 Major League Baseball playoffs are officially in full swing, kicking off with a thrilling Wild Card Series featuring some of baseball's most exciting teams. Following the format changes introduced in 2022, the expanded 12-team playoff picture promises more drama and intensity than ever before.
Tuesday's games saw the Detroit Tigers, Cleveland Guardians, San Diego Padres, and Chicago Cubs battling it out in afternoon matchups. Later in the evening, the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, and Los Angeles Dodgers took center stage, each vying for a coveted spot in the next round.
Understanding the Wild Card Format
So, how exactly does this Wild Card Series work? Let's break it down:
- Expanded Field: The tournament includes six teams from both the American and National Leagues.
- Division Winners: Each league sends its top three division winners.
- Wild Card Teams: The remaining three spots in each league are filled by Wild Card teams.
- Bypasses: The top two division winners in each league get a bye straight to the Division Series.
- Wild Card Face-Off: The remaining eight teams compete in the Wild Card round for the right to advance.
- Championship Series: Four teams then move on to the Championship Series.
- World Series: Finally, one team from the AL and one from the NL will face off in the World Series.
Best-of-Three Structure
The Wild Card Series is a best-of-three format, played entirely at the home park of the team with the higher seed. This gives the higher-seeded team a significant advantage. Games are played over three consecutive days to avoid prolonged delays for teams awaiting their Division Series opponents.
What's Next?
After the Wild Card Series, the bracket remains fixed. The No. 1 seed will face the winner of the No. 4 vs. No. 5 series, and the No. 2 seed will play the winner of the No. 3 vs. No. 6 series. The Division Series begins on Saturday, promising even more exciting baseball action.