The Colorado Rockies season is fully in the rearview mirror. As the quiet of the off-season settles in and we wait for news on the team’s next general manager, Rockies fans can sink into the comfortable armchair that is watching other teams play important baseball in October.
After an exciting slate of Wild Card series where three of four went to three games—thanks for nothing, Cincinnati Reds—the Milwaukee Brewers, Cleveland Guardians, Boston Red Sox, and the aforementioned Reds were all sent packing.
Now the slate for the American League and National League Division Series is set, and by the end of today each series will have their first two games complete in a best-of-five set.
We’ve got underdogs, we’ve got overdogs, and we’ve got some good old fashioned beat downs in a better-late-than-never guide to the 2025 Major League Baseball post-season.
ALDS: No. 2 Seattle Mariners vs No. 6 Detroit Tigers
- Game 1: Tigers 3, Mariners 2 (F/11)
- Game 2: Mariners 3, Tigers 2
- Game 3: Tuesday, October 7th in Detroit at 2:08 PM MDT (FS1)
- Game 4 (if necessary): Wednesday, October 8th in Detroit at 1:08 PM MDT (FS1)
- Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, October 10th in Seattle at 2:40 PM MDT (FS1)
Old Friend Alert: RHP Tommy Kahnle (DET)
For many Rockies fans, this might be the series to watch. Both teams—mired in the muck for many years—are recently resurgent and looking for glory.
The Seattle Mariners made the dance for just the second time since 2001, also walking away with the American League West title for the first time in 24 years. Now they hope to advance to the ALCS on the back of “Big Dumper.” The switch-hitting catcher Cal Raleigh set multiple franchise and league home run records in a historic season and has become the face of the franchise, backing up what might be one of the best rotations in baseball.
The Detroit Tigers were the surprise guest to the dance last season after accomplishing their first winning campaign since 2016 and went further than anyone expected. This year, winning was the expectation. Behind soon-to-be back-to-back Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal, the Tigers were so good for most of the season that they still made the post-season despite a brutal slide to end the year. They went 7-17 in September, losing 10 of their final 12 games and coughing up the American League Central division crown to the Cleveland Guardians. After beating those Guardians in the Wild Card, the Tigers are looking to prove September was an outlier and taste ultimate victory for the first time since 1984.
ALDS: No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays vs No. 4 New York Yankees
- Game 1: Blue Jays 10, Yankees 1
- Game 2: Blue Jays 13, Yankees 7
- Game 3: Tuesday, October 7th in New York at 6:08 PM MDT (FS1)
- Game 4 (if necessary): Wednesday, October 8th in New York at 5:08 PM MDT (FS1)
- Game 5 (if necessary): Friday, October 10th in Toronto at 6:08 PM MDT (FOX)
Old Friend Alert: 3B Ryan McMahon (NYY), RHP Jeff Hoffman (TOR)
Once again the New York Yankees are in the post-season after their 33rd straight campaign over .500 dating back to 1993. They put away former Rockie Trevor Story and the Red Sox in the Wild Card and their star-studded roster of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, a murderer’s row of solid pitching, and often questionable defense is hunting for their first World Series win since 2009. Former Rockies All-Star third baseman Ryan McMahon has already flashed the leather this post-season with a web gem catch, but the Yankees need his bat to wake up as well.
The Blue Jays, meanwhile, are finally delivering on potential after years of falling short. Their mostly-healthy lineup dominated their way to a 94-68 regular season record and the no. 1 seed in the American League. They’ve since beat the stuffing out of the Yankees in the first two games of the series. The boys from north of the border haven’t been past the Wild Card round since 2016 and haven’t made it to the World Series since they won it all in 1993.
NLDS: No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers vs No. 4 Chicago Cubs
- Game 1: Brewers 9, Cubs 3
- Game 2: Monday, October 6th at in Milwaukee at 7:08 PM MDT (TBS)
- Game 3: Wednesday, October 8th in Chicago at 3:08 PM MDT (TBS)
- Game 4 (if necessary): Thursday, October 9th in Chicago at 7:08 PM MDT (TBS)
- Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, October 11th in Milwaukee at 2:38 PM MDT (TBS)
Old Friend Alert: OF Isaac Collins (MIL), RHP Nick Mears (MIL), LHP Drew Pomeranz (CHC)
The Milwaukee Brewers haven’t played in the World Series since 1982. Could this be the year that changes? The Brew Crew dominated their way to an MLB-best 97-65 record and are just an all-around excellent ball club. Their patient batters may not have as much thump as other lineups, but they draw plenty of walks and limit strikeouts and finished the regular season with the third-most runs scored. Their excellent pitching staff had the second-best team ERA and the fifth-most strikeouts in the league.
The division rival Chicago Cubs were also a team that did everything well in 2025… just not as well as the Brewers did them. The Cubs had the fifth-most runs scored during the regular season and tied for the eighth-best team ERA. The Cubs carry considerably more power in their lineup. Six of their batters finished the season with 20 or more home runs, and three of those had 30 or more.
NLDS: No. 3 Los Angeles Dodgers vs No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies
- Game 1: Dodgers 5, Phillies 3
- Game 2: Monday, October 6th in Los Angeles at 4:08 PM MDT (TBS)
- Game 3: Wednesday, October 8th in Philadelphia at 7:08 PM MDT (TBS)
- Game 4 (if necessary): Thursday, October 9th in Philadelphia at 4:08 PM MDT (TBS)
- Game 5 (if necessary): Saturday, October 11th in Los Angeles at 6:08 PM MDT (TBS)
The Philadelphia Phillies finished just a game behind the Brewers for best record in the National League. They have their own insane slugger in Kyle Schwarber, who clubbed 56 home runs this season, and a Cy Young candidate in Christopher Sánchez. They’re deep, they’re talented, and they’re probably the best team right now to give their opponent a run for their ample money.
The Los Angeles Dodgers… Look, if you’re reading this you probably aren’t rooting for them, are you? Are they baseball’s newest version of the Evil Empire? Drowning in an embarrassment of physical and hypothetical riches with some of the most money in baseball, plus superstar talents in Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman, and more? They’re extremely good. They are also the bad guys.
Final Thoughts and Predictions
I’m generally pretty happy with how the Division Series shook out this season, but if we end up with another Yankees vs Dodgers World Series I would consider that a worst case scenario. Thankfully, I think we should be safe. Here’s where I think we end up at the end of the week.
ALDS Predictions:
- Blue Jays eliminate the Yankees 3-0.
- Tigers eliminate the Mariners 3-2.
- Brewers eliminate the Cubs 3-1.
- Dodgers eliminate the Phillies 3-2.
Who do you think advances to the Championship Series? Let us know in the comments.
Johnson, Curry create meaningful surprise for alma mater’s baseball program | MLB.com
Rockies farmhand Xzavion Curry joined Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Termarr Johnson in making a special delivery to Benjamin E. Hays High School in Atlanta Georgia. The two professionals dropped off truckloads of new baseball equipment for the young players at their alma mater.
“When I was here, we had the bare minimum of baseball stuff,” Curry said. “I remember when we got a scoreboard for the first time and we all came to the field and we were happy. Our batting cages out there down at the field, it was just a little batting cage by the trees and it wasn’t really much. It’ll really help the program excel and just move in the right direction. … Just to boost the morale and all of that.”
Tomorrow [Today] is Arizona Fall League Opening Day! Here’s all you need to know | MLB.com
The Autumn wind is in the air. That means pumpkin spice lattes, crunchy leaves, and of course, the Arizona Fall League. Minor League Baseball’s premiere finishing school for prospects and farmhands starts tomorrow with the Scottsdale Scorpions hosting the Peoria Javelinas.
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