by Reid Duvall ‘27

The best time of the year for baseball fans has arrived: the MLB postseason begins on September 30, and twelve teams will compete throughout October to determine who will take home the 2025 World Series title.

The playoffs begin with the Wild Card, featuring four three-game series. In the National League, it’s the Padres against the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds against the LA Dodgers. In the American League, division rivals square off as the Tigers face the Guardians and the Red Sox take on the Yankees—the most iconic rivalry in baseball. The Guardians enter the postseason red-hot, going 17-2 from September 5 to 24 to snatch the AL Central title from the Tigers. Detroit, after a dominant 59-34 start, stumbled to a 28-41 finish. While their cold streak raises concerns, the Tigers still have an edge with Cy Young candidate Tarik Skubal and a solid bullpen. I’m picking Detroit to advance. The Red Sox, sparked by the summer breakout of rookie phenom Roman Anthony, looked dangerous for much of the season. However, Anthony’s recent injury leaves a major void in the lineup. Even though Boston went 9-4 against New York in the regular season, I’m going with the Yankees, who still have Aaron Judge and a strong rotation led by Max Fried and Carlos Rodón. In a short series at Yankee Stadium, the two frontline starters will prevail.

In the NL, the Reds snuck into the playoffs thanks to a late-season Mets collapse. While Cincinnati’s youth and ability to win tight games are impressive, they now face the defending champion Dodgers, who boast a star-studded roster featuring Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and new ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Experience wins in October—Dodgers advance. The other NL Wild Card matchup is a potential thriller. The Padres enter with the best bullpen in the league and a lineup built for October. The Cubs, on the other hand, bring a dangerous offense with multiple 30-homer hitters, plus stars like Kyle Tucker and Nico Hoerner. While both rotations are solid, it’s the bullpens that will decide it—Padres get the edge.

The AL Division Series welcomes the top-seeded Blue Jays and two-seed Mariners. Toronto surged with a ten-game win streak in July and never looked back, while Seattle ended a 24-year division title drought behind MVP candidate Cal Raleigh and a mid-season trade push. This sets up Yankees vs Blue Jays and Tigers vs Mariners. I’m backing the Yankees to upset Toronto. With postseason experience and a lineup that’s handled Blue Jays pitching before, they’re going to have enough to get by the upstart Blue Jays. In the other AL matchup, the Mariners’ elite rotation should overpower a Tigers lineup that has struggled of late.

Over in the NL, the Phillies and Brewers enter the fray. Philadelphia, the World Series favorite (+425), boasts a complete, battle-tested roster and the most electric home atmosphere in baseball. I expect them to outlast the Dodgers in a star-filled series. In Padres vs Brewers, I’m rolling with San Diego. The Brewers’ lack of a true offensive star and small-ball style likely won’t hold up against a deep and dangerous Padres squad. 

The ALCS will pit the Yankees against the Mariners, while the NLCS features a great matchup between the Padres and Phillies. The Phillies’ postseason pedigree, potent offense, and ability to take early leads—especially at Citizens Bank Park—make them a nightmare matchup. As good as San Diego is, Philadelphia advances. The ALCS should be a good one with the two AL MVP candidates headlining it, but Seattle’s superior rotation depth gives them the edge. In a seven-game series, that pitching can make all the difference.

This year, I’m sticking with the Phillies to win it all. With veterans like Trea Turner, Bryce Harper, and Kyle Schwarber, alongside a deep, balanced roster that finished top ten in virtually every offensive and pitching category, they’re built to win. Seattle will make it a fight, but Philadelphia claims its first title since 2008.