What's Happening?
As the 2025 Major League Baseball season enters its final three weeks, teams are gearing up for the playoffs and awards races. The season has been marked by parity, with no team likely to reach 100 wins for the second consecutive year. The Milwaukee Brewers are the only team with a chance to hit this milestone, needing to win 14 of their remaining 21 games. In the American League, the New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, and Houston Astros have high playoff probabilities, while the Seattle Mariners have a 75% chance. The National League sees the Brewers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Mets, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres as strong contenders. Awards races are also intensifying, with Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh competing for AL MVP, and Shohei Ohtani leading the NL MVP race. Paul Skenes is favored for the NL Cy Young award.
Why It's Important?
The final weeks of the MLB season are crucial for teams vying for playoff spots and individual awards. The lack of a dominant team this year highlights the competitive nature of the league, offering opportunities for smaller market teams to make an impact. The playoff races will determine which teams advance directly to the division series, bypassing the wild card round. The awards races, particularly for MVP and Cy Young, can significantly impact player careers and team strategies. The outcomes of these races will influence team decisions in the offseason, including potential managerial changes and player trades.
What's Next?
As the regular season concludes, teams will focus on securing their playoff positions and preparing for postseason matchups. The Brewers, Dodgers, Phillies, and other top teams will aim to maintain their standings to avoid the wild card round. Meanwhile, teams on the fringe, like the Arizona Diamondbacks, will strive to disrupt the playoff picture. The awards races will continue to evolve, with players making final pushes to secure their titles. Managerial changes may occur based on team performances, with potential retirements and firings affecting team dynamics.
