MLB Postseason Previews 2025: The Wild Card Series
- Om Brown
- 2 days ago
- 10 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
It’s finally here! The best month for sports. We are a month into the NFL season, and both the NBA and NHL get underway at some point this month. However, the greatest playoffs out of any professional league is the MLB Postseason, and I will be there every step of the way with you, previewing each round, giving my honest thoughts on all the matchups, as well as my predictions. October baseball has no equal!
Each round, I will recap what happened in the previous one, as well as keep track of my official predictions that I had. Of course, this preview of the Wild Card Series will not have a recap, as it is the first round, but expect that moving forward. For matchups themselves, I will have an outlook for each team, an X-Factor, projected pitching matchups, as well as who I think will win the series.
Without further ado, let’s jump into what looks like a chaotic opening week to the playoffs!
American League:
Winner to face #2 Seattle Mariners (90-72, 1st in ALW)
Last Postseason Meeting: 2024 ALDS (CLE won 3-2)
Detroit’s Outlook: On September 1st, the Tigers held the top spot in the division, 9 games up on the Royals, and 10.5 up on the Guardians. At the end of the month, they find themselves as a wild card team in a rematch of last season’s ALDS. It was a shocking collapse, but they are in, and that is all that matters. Detroit has the best pitcher in the AL in LHP Tarik Skubal (13-6, 2.21 ERA, 241 K), who is in line to win his second straight CY Young. Since the Wild Card Round is a best-of-3, having Skubal toe the rubber in the first contest is a huge plus for the Tigers. Their lineup has struggled in the second half, but they have plenty of pop, with both OF Riley Greene and 1B Spencer Torkleson hitting 30 homers. OF Kerry Carpenter (26 HR) likely would have joined them if he had played all 162. Momentum isn’t on their side, but if Skubal delivers and the lineup can tack off some runs, the Tigers will advance.Â
Team X-Factor:Â RHP Jack Flaherty (8-15, 4.64 ERA, 188 K)
Flaherty, a 2024 World Series champion, re-signed with the Tigers after they traded him to LA at last year’s deadline. He had a 2.95 ERA in his half-season in ‘24 with Detroit. They desperately need him to revert to that form when he takes the ball behind Skubal, likely in Game 2.
Cleveland’s Outlook: At the trade deadline, the Guards sat at 54-54, 9 games behind the Tigers and 3 games back in the wild card. They sold off rehabbing ace Shane Bieber to the Blue Jays. Then two pitchers, Luis Ortiz and All-Star closer Emmanuel Clase, were suspended for alleged sports gambling. And then Cleveland won the division. On the backs of some great pitching, especially RHP Tanner Bibee’s 1.30 ERA in September, the team that scored the 3rd-least runs in 2025 took the division right out of the Tigers’ hands (paws?). 3B Jose Ramirez has put together another ridiculous season with 30 bombs, 85 RBI and 41 SB. However, their lack of run scoring is a very major flaw. Only the Rockies and Pirates scored fewer. But, in October, momentum is a huge factor, and the Guardians seem to have it all right now. Can they plate enough runners to continue what has been a miraculous season?
Team X-Factor: RHP Gavin Williams (12-5, 3.06 ERA, 173 K)
Like Bibee, Williams has been electric in September, as he had a 1.88 ERA for the month. He will need to continue the same type of performance, especially since he faces off vs. Skubal in Game 1.
Probable Pitching Matchups:
Game 1 - LHP Tarik Skubal (DET) vs. RHP Gavin Williams (CLE)
Game 2 - RHP Jack Flaherty (DET) vs. RHP Tanner Bibee (CLE)
Game 3 (if necessary) - RHP Casey Mize (DET) vs. LHP Slade Cecconi (CLE)
Series Prediction: Tigers win 2-1
Cleveland has been unreal this final month. However, their lack of offense all season is concerning to me. The Tigers did struggle this month, but whenever you have the best pitcher in the league on the mound in a series, especially a short one, it makes you a little more confident. I think Skubal and the Detroit staff keep the Guardians bats quiet while their lineup does just enough to get into the ALDS.
Winner to face #1 Toronto Blue Jays (94-68, 1st in ALE)
Last Postseason Meeting: 2021 AL WC Game (BOS won 1-0)
Boston’s Outlook: The Red Sox are a very odd team. They have talent, but saw their young 21-year-old star OF Roman Anthony go down with an oblique injury at the start of September. Since then, the offense has been very inconsistent. All season, they have struggled to hit good pitching, which they will face in the postseason. SS Trevor Story quietly put up 25 bombs, 95 RBI, and went 31-32 on steals. He will be a key part of the lineup. Unlike their hitting, Boston’s bullpen has been elite this season with a 3.41 ERA. That unit is anchored by LHP Aroldis Chapman, who earned just 8 runs this season. They might also have the best trio of starters in these playoffs with lefty ace Garrett Crochet, as well as righty’s Brayan Bello and Lucas Giolito, though Gio will miss the Wild Card with an elbow problem. In a 3-game playoff, starting pitching is everything, and Boston’s will definitely give them a shot.
Team X-Factor: 3B Alex Bregman (.278 AVG, 18 HR, 62 RBI)
Bregman was paid $40 million in the offseason, and was part of the reason why Rafael Devers was traded. He was hitting .276 with 11 home runs and 35 RBI in 51 games up until a May quad strain. Since returning, his numbers have fallen off a cliff with a .256 AVG, 7 bombs, and just 27 driven in during 63 contests. It’s imperative that he figures it out, otherwise it will be a short return to October for the Red Sox.
New York’s Outlook: The Yankees are tied for the best record in the league, but miss out on a bye due to the Blue Jays winning the division. They sport the best hitter in the world, OF Aaron Judge. He hit .331, smashed 53 homers, and drove in 114 runs. NY also has 2B Jazz Chisholm (31 HR), OF Cody Bellinger (29 HR), and DH Giancarlo Stanton, who hit 24 bombs in only 77 contests. The Bronx Bombers lived up to their name, leading the league in longballs with 272 total. Their rotation might have the best duo in the postseason, as lefties Max Fried (2.86 ERA) and Carlos Rodon (3.09) have 19 and 18 wins, respectively. The pair threw exactly 195.1 innings each, living up to their massive contracts. The Yankees haven’t won a title since 2009. This is their best year to finally get over the hump. They have the best roster in a wide open American League.
Team X-Factor: OF Aaron Judge (.313 AVG, 53 HR, 114 RBI)
In 53 postseason games, Judge has hit .203, with 15 home runs and 31 ribbies. His OPS in October is .761 compared to his insane 1.149 career regular season OPS. For the Yankees, it's simple; if Judge hits even just 25% better in the playoffs, they will win. If not, they will go home empty-handed again.
Probable Pitching Matchups:
Game 1 - LHP Garrett Crochet (BOS) vs. LHP Max Fried (NYY)
Game 2 - RHP Brayan Bello (BOS) vs. LHP Carlos Rodon (NYY)
Game 3 (if necessary) - LHP Connelly Early (BOS) vs. RHP Cam Schittler (NYY)
Series Prediction: Yankees win 2-1
I love the Sox, but their flaws are too great for them to overcome, especially considering that the Yankees lineup is far better. Boston’s bats have been very hot-and-cold since Anthony went down, and now that they have to face two of the best lefties in the AL back-to-back, I have little confidence in their ability to plate enough runs. All it takes is one big hit for the Yankees, and the Stadium will be rocking. I just can’t pick against the better all around team, even if it means picking the Red Sox to lose.
National League:Â
Winner to face #2 Philadelphia Phillies (96-66, 1st in NLE)
Last Postseason Meeting: 1995 NLDS (CIN won 3-0)
Cincinnati’s Outlook: The Reds snuck into the field on the final day of the season as the Mets lost to the Marlins. Their team has been carried by the impressive starting pitching triumvirate of LHP Andrew Abbott (2.87 ERA), LHP Nick Lodolo (3.33 ERA), and RHP Hunter Greene (2.76 ERA, 19 games). Their lineup is uninspiring, but they do have some star power with SS Elly De La Cruz. Cincy’s path to the NLDS is simple. Pitch very well and try to score some runs when LA breaks out their bullpen, which has been shaky all year. It helps that they are managed by the legendary Terry Francona, who has been in plenty of tough situations during his career. However, it is a very challenging task for them to take on the Dodgers.
Team X-Factor: LHP Andrew Abbott (10-7, 2.87 ERA, 149 K)
Los Angeles’ Outlook: The defending champs find themselves in the Wild Card Round after an odd season. DH/P Shohei Ohtani returned to the bump this year, and had put together another impressive offensive season with 55 bombs, but once again, their pitching staff was decimated with injuries. Only RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (2.49 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) made 30 starts. I already said that their bullpen was a mess, but they too saw the injury bug hit, robbing key pieces like RHP Michael Kopech of their seasons. However, the guy who was supposed to stabilize it, closer LHP Tanner Scott, went 1-4 with a whopping 10 blown saves. They will only go as far as their pitching will take them.
Team X-Factor: SS Mookie Betts (.258 AVG, 20 HR, 82 RBI)
The 32-year old Betts struggled this season. Up until August, his best month for average was May when he hit .258. He came alive in August and September, hitting .288 and .299, respectively, in those months. The Dodgers need that version of him in the playoffs.
Probable Pitching Matchups:
Game 1 - RHP Hunter Greene (CIN) vs. LHP Blake Snell (LAD)
Game 2 - LHP Andrew Abbott (CIN) vs. RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)
Game 3 (if necessary) - LHP Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs. RHP Tyler Glasnow (LAD)
Series Prediction: Dodgers win 2-0Â
The Dodgers are simply too talented on paper to lose this round. They have their flaws, but still have the best player in the world in Ohtani. They should be able to score enough runs to back their starters, even though the Reds boast a good rotation.
Winner to face #1 Milwaukee Brewers (97-65, 1st in NLC)
Last Postseason Matchup: 1984 NLCS (SD won 3-2)
San Diego's Outlook: The Padres entered the season after not making many moves in the offseason. I was low on them and thought that they’d fall off and miss the playoffs. They proved me wrong big time, but not in the way that I would have thought. They do have a good lineup with 3B Manny Machado, OF Fernando Tatis Jr, and OF Jackson Merrill, but it was their rotation and bullpen that stood out this year. To start they have RHP Nick Pivetta, who turned out a career year during his first year in SD, having a 2.87 ERA in 181.2 innings, as well as strikeout artist RHP Dylan Cease. Righty’s Yu Darvish and Michael King are also healthy for October, after missing parts of the year due to injury. Out of the pen, they have possibly two of the best closers in the game in RHP Robert Suarez and RHP Mason Miller, as well as lefty All-Star Adrian Morejon. In the postseason, you can never have too many good options to toe the bump, and the Padres have the best rotation out of anyone. Pitching is their key this October.
Team X-Factor: RHP Dylan Cease (8-12, 4.55 ERA, 215 K)
Cease struggled this season, but will get a shot at revenge against the team that drafted him. He has always been a high strikeout guy, and still had vintage games this year. All it takes is one performance in a short series, and if he has his wipeout slider, he will deliver like his old self again.
Chicago’s Outlook: The Cubs don’t have great pitching the way other contenders have. We knew that. But they need their offense to wake up. It is as simple as that. OF’s Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong had stellar first halves, but struggled after the All-Star Game. They need to find their strokes again for the Cubbies to have a chance this postseason. At the trade deadline, Chicago was 1 game back of the NL Central lead. They ended 5 games back. The Cubs have the talent, the question will be if their bats can wake up.
Team X-Factor: OF Pete Crow-Armstrong (.245 AVG, 31 HR, 95 RBI)
PCA had a breakout first half, and had an average of .308 for the month of July. The last two months of the year, he hit .192. He absolutely has to regain the contact that he had during the summer.
Probable Pitching Matchups:
Game 1 - RHP Nick Pivetta (SD) vs. LHP Mathew Boyd (CHC)
Game 2 - RHP Dylan Cease (SD) vs. LHP Shota Imanaga (CHC)
Game 3 (if necessary) - RHP Yu Darvish (CHC) vs. RHP Jameson Taillon (CHC)
Series Prediction: Padres win 2-1
Pitching is king in the postseason, and the Padres have a lot more of it and are more talented. To me, it's simple. They’ve pitched great all year, while the Cubs have struggled offensively in the second half. San Diego just has to get a lead early to let their staff suffocate Chicago.
Final Thoughts:
I did very similar coverage last season for the College Football Playoff and I loved it. So naturally, doing the same for my favorite sport, especially since my Red Sox are back in the postseason picture, is a blast. Make sure to check out my coverage all postseason long!