Red Sox Clinch Wild Card as MLB Playoff Picture Firms Up

BOSTON, Mass. — The Major League Baseball playoff picture is nearly set as the 2025 regular season reaches its final weekend. On Friday night, the Boston Red Sox secured a wild card berth, marking an important step towards postseason play.

In the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres have all secured their spots. The Brewers and Phillies won their respective divisions, while the third wild card spot remains a contest between the New York Mets and Cincinnati Reds, who are vying to the end for the chance to join the postseason.

The American League playoff race is more complicated. The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees are tied for the AL East title, with Toronto currently holding the tiebreaker advantage. The losing team will compete as the top AL wild card. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Guardians are attempting a historic comeback against the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central title.

In a significant development, the Seattle Mariners clinched the AL West title for the first time since 2001 and will receive a first-round bye. However, the top seed is still undecided. The Red Sox have captured the second wild card spot, while the Tigers and Houston Astros are still in contention for the remaining wild card positions.

Under the current playoff structure, there are a total of 12 postseason berths — six for division winners and three for wild card teams in each league. The top two division winners from each league, based on overall record, will earn first-round byes. The Wild Card Series begins on Tuesday, Sept. 30.

If the season were to end today, the playoff matchups would feature the Blue Jays and Mariners receiving byes, with the Guardians facing the Tigers and the Yankees taking on the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series. In the National League, the Brewers and Phillies would also receive byes, while the Dodgers would meet the Reds and the Cubs would battle the Padres in the Wild Card round.