The end of the 2025 season didn’t disappoint. Although most of the teams, just not seeding, were already decided in the AL and NL, there were a couple last-minute surprises that altered the playoff picture
in ways no one could’ve predicted at the start of the season. Instead of covering individual divisions, the final recap from September 21-28 will cover the biggest winners and losers in both leagues.
American League
Hot: Cleveland usurps Detroit in the Central
A final 4-3 push in the final week provided the Guardians just enough wins to snatch the AL Central from the Tigers at the last possible second. Braya Rocchio’s three-run homer in the 10th inning on September 28 walked
Cleveland off 9-8 to earn the team their 88th win. Detroit’s same-day loss to Boston sealed the seeding. The Guardians have home field advantage in the wild card round, where they’ll face none other than the Tigers.
Hot: Cal Raleigh lifts Seattle to first AL West title in two decades
The Mariners won the AL West for the first time since 2001, with much help from AL MVP candidate Cal Raleigh. Raleigh pummeled two home runs in Seattle’s 9-2 stomping over Colorado, becoming the seventh player in history to hit 60 home runs in a single season. While the Mariners haven’t solely relied on Raleigh, Seattle wouldn’t be where it is today without his big-time moments and 7.3 WAR.
Not: Tigers embarrass themselves
Detroit looked foolish at the end of their season. They were swept by the Braves and lost road series against Cleveland and Boston to stumble into 2-10 during their final two weeks. Although they somehow managed to stumble into the postseason thanks to Houston’s spotty hitting, the Tigers entered September with a nine-game lead on the Royals and 10 1/2 -game lead on the Guardians. From there, Detroit went 7-16 without enduring any major injuries.
National League
Hot: Reds edge Mets for final wild card spot
Cincinnati stayed the course, and it paid off. Despite entering the season with long odds to make the playoffs, the Reds defied the experts. A pivotal sweep against the Cubs and a road series win against the Brewers was all Terry Francona needed to lead a slightly above-average team to the postseason. And, of course, Francona got plenty of help from the Mets tanking their season.
Hot: Milwaukee sets franchise win record
In their final game of the year, Pat Murphy and the Brewers notched win No. 97, at home. Danny Jansen delivered the go-ahead, two-run homer to lift Milwaukee over Cincinnati, 4-2, in the fourth inning. Although they had already earned the NL’s top seed with Philadelphia’s 5-0 loss to the Twins the day before, that final win just added icing on top of an already well-decorated cake.
Not: Mets somehow miss the playoffs
New York’s offseason spending spree turned out to be a waste, as the Mets failed to control the NL East. Instead of commanding a relatively thin division, New York went 10-15 in September and lost four of six to the Nationals and Marlins in what could only be interpreted as an epic fail of a season finale. Last year, Carlos Mendoza was a NL Manager of the Year finalist; this year, he’s on the cusp of losing his job.
