The 2025 MLB postseason was, quite frankly, a fever dream for anyone who likes sleep or predictable outcomes. We saw everything from 18-inning marathons to the Los Angeles Dodgers pulling off a back-to-back championship run that felt both inevitable and impossible at the same time. If you missed the chaos or just need to recap the 2025 mlb playoffs schedule and results, you’ve come to the right place.
Baseball is weird. We know this. But 2025 took that weirdness and dialed it up. The Dodgers took down the Toronto Blue Jays in a seven-game World Series that didn't end until November 1. It was the eighth time in history a team went back-to-back.
How the Bracket Actually Looked
The format stayed the same as the last few years, which basically means total chaos in the first week. We had 12 teams. Six from the American League, six from the National League. The top two seeds in each league—Toronto and Seattle in the AL, Milwaukee and Philadelphia in the NL—got to sit at home and watch the Wild Card teams beat each other up for three days.
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Honestly, the Wild Card round is a meat grinder. It started on September 30. All four series were best-of-three, and every single game was hosted by the higher seed. No travel days. No rest. Just pure adrenaline.
In the AL, the Detroit Tigers shocked the Cleveland Guardians, winning that series 2-1. Meanwhile, the New York Yankees took care of the Boston Red Sox in three games. Over in the NL, the Dodgers (who were somehow the 3-seed despite being the defending champs) swept the Cincinnati Reds. The Chicago Cubs edged out the San Diego Padres in a tense 2-1 series victory.
The Division Series: Where the Giants Fell
The Division Series (DS) kicked off on October 4. This is a best-of-five format. It's usually where we see the "bye week rust" talk start, and 2025 didn't disappoint in that department.
The Toronto Blue Jays didn't seem to care about rust. They absolutely dismantled the Yankees in four games. Game 2 was a 13-7 blowout that felt more like a slow-pitch softball game than a playoff matchup. But the other AL series? That was the one. The Seattle Mariners and Detroit Tigers went the full five games. It ended on October 10 with a 15-inning Game 5 that Seattle barely survived.
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National League Highlights
- Milwaukee Brewers vs. Chicago Cubs: The Brewers moved on after a gritty five-game series.
- Philadelphia Phillies vs. LA Dodgers: The Dodgers proved they were the "final boss" of baseball by taking out the 2-seeded Phillies in four games.
League Championship Series Drama
By the time we got to the LCS on October 12, the field was down to four teams. This is a best-of-seven. It’s a test of pitching depth and who has the most coffee in the clubhouse.
The NLCS was a lopsided affair. The Dodgers swept the Brewers. It wasn't even close. They outscored Milwaukee 15-4 over the four games. Shohei Ohtani and the rest of that lineup looked like they were playing on a different planet.
The ALCS was the complete opposite. Seattle and Toronto went to a Game 7 on October 20. The Blue Jays took it 4-3 in a game that came down to a bases-loaded flyout in the ninth. If you're a Mariners fan, I'm sorry. That one had to hurt.
The 2025 MLB Playoffs Schedule: World Series Timeline
The Fall Classic began on October 24. Because Toronto had a 94-68 record compared to the Dodgers' 93-69, home-field advantage actually went to the Blue Jays.
The schedule was a grueling 2-3-2 format:
- Game 1 (Oct 24): Blue Jays 11, Dodgers 4 (Toronto leads 1-0)
- Game 2 (Oct 25): Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 1 (Series tied 1-1)
- Game 3 (Oct 27): Dodgers 6, Blue Jays 5 in 18 innings (LAD leads 2-1)
- Game 4 (Oct 28): Blue Jays 6, Dodgers 2 (Series tied 2-2)
- Game 5 (Oct 29): Blue Jays 6, Dodgers 1 (Toronto leads 3-2)
- Game 6 (Oct 31): Dodgers 3, Blue Jays 1 (Series tied 3-3)
- Game 7 (Nov 1): Dodgers 5, Blue Jays 4 in 11 innings (LAD wins 4-3)
That Game 3 was insane. 18 innings. It lasted over six hours. Players were literally falling asleep in the dugout. But that's October (and November) baseball for you.
Why 2025 Felt Different
Most people get wrong that the "best" team always wins. They don't. The Dodgers were the 3-seed. They had to play an extra round. They had to travel more. Yet, they ended up holding the trophy.
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The 2025 season also showed us that the pitch clock actually works in the playoffs. Even that 18-inning marathon moved faster than it would have five years ago. Also, the lack of the "ghost runner" in extras during the postseason makes the games feel like real baseball again. It's stressful, sure, but it's authentic.
Expert Insights for Future Postseasons
If you're looking at the 2025 mlb playoffs schedule to figure out how to plan for 2026, keep these things in mind. First, the 1-seed doesn't guarantee a trip to the World Series. Toronto made it, but Milwaukee and Philadelphia didn't even get past the first round they played. Second, bullpen depth is everything. The Dodgers won because they had six guys who could throw 100 mph in the 11th inning of Game 7.
To get the most out of your postseason experience next year, start tracking the "Quality Start" metrics of the top three pitchers in each rotation by August. That's usually the best indicator of who will survive the Division Series. Also, pay attention to head-to-head tiebreakers in September; since "Game 163" is gone, those Tuesday night games in August actually determine who hosts the Wild Card round.