Here we are, baseball enthusiasts. The regular season concluded in a frenzied rush, but after the full slate of 162 contests, the postseason is set to commence with the initial wild-card matchups.
Four best-of-three showdowns will be getting underway, so let’s dive right in. Presented here is an overview of the wild-card series, including anticipated starters, pivotal players, and forecasts for each series.
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Yahoo’s forecasts for the opening round of the playoffs. (Mallory Bielecki/Yahoo Sports)
No. 6 Detroit Tigers vs. No. 3 Cleveland Guardians
Projected starters
Game 1: Tarik Skubal (DET) vs. Gavin Williams (CLE)
Game 2: Jack Flaherty (DET) vs. Tanner Bibee (CLE)
Game 3: Casey Mize (DET) vs. Slade Cecconi (CLE)
How they got here
Tigers: Detroit presented itself as the AL’s dominant force for a significant portion of the first half. Entering the All-Star break, the Tigers boasted the league’s premier record, performing as a more potent incarnation of the 2024 team that surprisingly clinched a playoff berth. Tarik Skubal’s performances were remarkable, the supporting pitching was adequate, and the offense, composed of versatile players, was effective. Even Javy Baéz secured an All-Star selection. Everything appeared promising.
However, fortunes turned dramatically. Detroit’s performance declined to a 28-37 record post-break, the poorest among playoff contenders. When the Guardians surged in September, the Tigers failed to recover, relinquishing their divisional lead in the season’s final week. Only a comparable stumble by the Astros maintained Detroit’s position in the playoff picture. Despite this, the Tigers are now contenders, equipped with arguably the best pitcher in the sport.
Guardians: On the morning of September 5, the Guardians trailed the Tigers by 11 games in the division standings, settling into third place in the AL Central. Playoff projections, according to FanGraphs, pegged their chances at 2.9%. Divisional prospects were even bleaker, registering at a negligible 0.1%. The remaining weeks appeared destined to be a footnote to a turbulent season marked by gambling investigations leading to administrative leave for two players.
Instead, history unfolded.
Fueled by a resurgent pitching staff, the Guardians capitalized on their signature blend of sharp defense, proactive baserunning, and the unwavering spirit exemplified by José Ramírez to orchestrate an unprecedented comeback. The team concluded the season with a 19-4 run in their final 23 games, overtaking the faltering Tigers.
The strength of conviction is significant, and the Guardians possess it in abundance.
X-factors
Tigers: Riley Greene
Prior to the break, Greene’s .879 OPS positioned him 15th among qualified hitters, indicating his emergence as a rising star and the linchpin of Detroit’s lineup. This earned him the honor of batting second for the AL in the All-Star Game, directly ahead of Aaron Judge.
However, since then, Greene’s OPS has dipped to .694, ranking 117th among qualified hitters. He is considered the team’s premier hitter and offensive cornerstone, but his performance waned as the season’s challenges mounted. The optimal version of Greene is a potent, imposing force, representing a genuine power threat. The Tigers require his resurgence to navigate their upcoming series in Cleveland.
Guardians: Jhonkensy Noel and José Ramírez
Known affectionately as “Big Christmas,” Noel is the sole Guardian on the active roster to have homered against Tarik Skubal. Across 145 plate appearances against the reigning AL Cy Young winner, Cleveland’s roster collectively slugs .311. For context, Austin Hedges, Cleveland’s reserve catcher known for his defense, maintains a .313 career slugging percentage.
The right-handed Noel is likely to face Skubal three times in the opening game, and his success — particularly with runners on base — could significantly impact the series outcome.
Ultimately, the focus remains on Ramírez. His confidence and swagger invigorate the entire Guardians squad. He serves as the catalyst, the heart, and the definitive figure for this team.
How they win
Tigers: Skubal dominates, avoiding any self-inflicted errors. Despite Cleveland’s victories in their recent encounters, Skubal yielded just two earned runs over those outings while recording 17 strikeouts. It is plausible that the American League’s top pitcher enters Progressive Field, quiets the crowd, and alters the trajectory of the series.
What follows then?
Baseball can be unpredictable, and Cleveland’s offensive output remains relatively moderate. The Guardians ranked 14th in OPS during their pursuit of the Tigers in September. Skubal, combined with an off day for Cleveland’s lineup, could propel Detroit into the ALDS.
Guardians: By maintaining their established winning formula, relying on exceptional starting pitching, flawless defense, electrifying moments from J-Ram, timely infield hits, and favorable circumstances. The atmosphere within the Cleveland Guardians currently feels like the most enjoyable and uplifting in baseball. They exemplify every cliché about teamwork and attention to detail, all while competing without significant expectations.
Series prediction: Guardians in three
Skubal shines in Game 1, but the Guardians secure victories in the following two games, extending their remarkable journey.
— Mintz
No. 5 Boston Red Sox vs. No. 4 New York Yankees
Projected starters
Game 1: Garrett Crochet (BOS) vs. Max Fried (NYY)
Game 2: Lucas Giolito (BOS) vs. Carlos Rodón (NYY)
Game 3: Brayan Bello (BOS) vs. Cam Schlittler (NYY)
Note: Boston has not specified the order for Giolito and Bello, though Giolito’s recent performances have been stronger. The Yankees have not yet named their Game 3 starter; Luis Gil and Will Warren are also options.
How they got here
Red Sox: The season was filled with ups and downs.
The 2025 Red Sox experienced numerous noteworthy events, including trading franchise cornerstone Rafael Devers following a publicly contentious disagreement over his defensive role. This situation escalated due to a season-ending knee injury to Tristan Casas, the presumed first baseman of the future, on May 2. High-profile free agent acquisition Alex Bregman was sidelined for two months with a quad issue. Three highly touted prospects debuted, with varying outcomes: Kristian Campbell underperformed, while Marcelo Mayer and Roman Anthony suffered injuries. Garrett Crochet, a Cy Young Award contender, visited pandas at the zoo. The team hovered around .500 before a nine-game winning streak propelled them back into playoff contention.
The 2025 Red Sox appeared to condense five seasons into one, and they now face another.
Yankees: The Yankees boast baseball’s most formidable offense, leading MLB in runs, home runs, slugging percentage, and OPS. Aaron Judge is a frontrunner for the MVP award. Giancarlo Stanton overcame a series of elbow issues and consistently threatened fans in the outfield with his powerful hits. Jazz Chisholm Jr. solidified his status as a premier second baseman. Ben Rice and Trent Grisham enjoyed breakout seasons, and Cody Bellinger found his rhythm. Apart from Anthony Volpe’s struggles, the Yankees’ hitters thrived.
The rotation also excelled, compensating for ace Gerrit Cole’s UCL tear during spring training. Max Fried impressed in his debut season in the Bronx, while Carlos Rodón revitalized his game with a crucial bounce-back season. Rookies Cam Schlittler and Will Warren emerged as key contributors. The bullpen’s performance will be addressed later.
The Yankees struggled against playoff-caliber teams for a significant portion of the season before improving in September against Houston, Toronto, Boston, and Detroit. Concerns persist regarding their defense and baserunning, which hindered them in the 2024 World Series, but the team is performing well at a critical time.
X-factors
Red Sox: Left-handed specialists Romy González and Rob Refsnyder
New York’s top two starters, Fried and Rodón, are both left-handed. This season, González and Refsnyder have combined for 13 hits in 35 at-bats against left-handed Yankees pitchers, including six extra-base hits and seven walks, translating to a .371/.476/.629 batting line. While Trevor Story, Alex Bregman, and Carlos Narvaez will be vital, González and Refsnyder’s performance against Fried and Rodón could significantly impact the series.
Yankees: The bullpen
The bullpen has been the team’s weak point all season and could prove to be their Achilles’ heel in October. David Bednar, acquired from Pittsburgh, has performed well as the closer, but the bridge between him and the starters has been inconsistent. The Luke Weaver/Devin Williams pairing has not met expectations, and Camilo Doval, another deadline addition, has demonstrated flashes of brilliance but lacks consistent reliability. The same applies to Fernando Cruz, whose splitter initially baffled hitters but has become less effective recently.
Despite the notable names and impressive pedigrees, the bullpen’s ability to perform under pressure in October remains uncertain.
How they win
Red Sox: Crochet dominates in Game 1, leading the Sox to a low-scoring victory aided by solo home runs against Fried and the Yankees’ bullpen. Boston then capitalizes on Game 2 starter Rodón, who struggled in his three starts against the Sox this year, allowing 10 earned runs in 15⅔ innings. This quick turnaround sends the Yankees home early and reignites baseball’s most storied rivalry.
Yankees: By overpowering Boston. The Yankees’ lineup is superior to the Red Sox’s, which could be a decisive advantage. While anything can happen in a short series, New York’s firepower feels like a game-changer.
Series prediction: Yankees in two
Fried keeps Game 1 close enough for New York’s lineup to erupt late, and the Red Sox cannot recover, fading quietly in Game 2.
— Mintz
The postseason begins with rivalry matchups in Tigers vs. Guardians and Red Sox vs. Yankees. (Stefan Milic/Yahoo Sports)
No. 6 Cincinnati Reds vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Dodgers
Projected starters
Game 1: Hunter Greene (CIN) vs. Shohei Ohtani (LAD)
Game 2: Nick Lodolo (CIN) vs. Blake Snell (LAD)
Game 3: Andrew Abbott (CIN) vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LAD)
How they got here
Reds: Hiring Terry Francona as manager during the offseason signaled to the fan base and the organization that expectations were increasing. However, for much of the 2025 season, a postseason appearance seemed unlikely for Cincinnati.
That changed when the New York Mets left the door open for the third NL wild-card spot. The Reds outperformed New York over the final three months, reaching the playoffs for the first time since 2020 and the first time in a full season since 2013.
Dodgers: Entering the season, expectations were high for the Dodgers, especially after adding Blake Snell, Tanner Scott, and Roki Sasaki during the winter. However, baseball is unpredictable, and the Dodgers faced challenges in 2025. Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman struggled offensively, but Shohei Ohtani compensated by hitting a franchise-record 55 home runs and is likely to win his third consecutive MVP Award while returning to the mound.
Injuries plagued L.A.’s starting rotation in the first half, as in previous seasons. However, the Dodgers improved in the second half, with a rotation featuring Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, and Shohei Ohtani. Ultimately, the Dodgers captured the NL West title for the 12th time in the past 13 seasons.
X-factors
Reds: Hunter Greene
If the Reds win this series against the Dodgers, it will be due to Greene’s strong performance in Game 1. When Greene is at his best, as he showed when he nearly threw a no-hitter against the Cubs on Sept. 18, he can make a real impact. If Greene excels in L.A., the Reds have a chance.
Dodgers: Roki Sasaki
Sasaki missed most of the season with a shoulder impingement, so it was uncertain if he would return. Even when healthy, his performance lacked consistency. However, since returning to the big leagues in a relief role, the rookie right-hander has looked like a different pitcher, with an unhittable fastball and a signature splitter that keeps hitters off-balance.
Sasaki is the ultimate X-factor because the Dodgers’ bullpen is vulnerable, particularly in high-leverage situations. When at his best, Sasaki has the filthiest stuff on the Dodgers’ roster, and with Blake Teinen and Tanner Scott struggling, the Dodgers could make Sasaki their closer this postseason.
Even though Sasaki’s stuff has looked electric, the pressure of the postseason is different. Fortune favors the bold, and the Dodgers might not have a better option.
How they win
Reds: Pitching is key. The Reds reached the postseason because of strong starting pitching, and their starters must carry them again if they hope to beat the Dodgers. Cincinnati will use Greene, Andrew Abbott, and Nick Lodolo against L.A. If anything can stop the Dodgers’ world-class lineup, it’s the Reds’ pitchers.
Dodgers: There’s no secret to the Dodgers’ success. When their superstars perform at their best, they are nearly unbeatable. The combination of Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman gives them a trio that few teams in MLB history could rival. If just one of them has a big series, that could be enough to carry this team into the next round. But L.A.’s bullpen is its weak link heading into October. The Dodgers will need length from their starters to keep that bullpen from being exposed.
Series prediction: Dodgers in three
The Dodgers have more elite talent than the Reds, but the starting pitching could be the equalizer in this series. Greene has shown that he can be one of baseball’s elite aces, and the Reds have enough to win a 3-2 or 2-1 game. Ultimately, the Dodgers’ high-powered offense will make the difference in this series. With players like Andy Pages and Teoscar Hernández hitting at the bottom of the order, their lineup depth is nearly unbeatable.
— Dorsey
No. 5 San Diego Padres vs. No. 4 Chicago Cubs
Projected starters
Game 1: Nick Pivetta (SD) vs. Shota Imanaga (CHI)
Game 2: Dylan Cease (SD) vs. Matthew Boyd (CHI)
Game 3: Yu Darvish (SD) vs. Jameson Taillon (CHI)
How they got here
Padres: San Diego’s path to the postseason was different this year. The pitching, rather than the offense led by Manny Machado, drove the Padres. San Diego finished the season top-three in baseball in team ERA and first in bullpen ERA. The trade deadline, when they acquired Mason Miller from the A’s, was a turning point. President of baseball operations AJ Preller cashed in his chips on a lights-out bullpen built to thrive in October.
Cubs: For the first time since 2018, the Cubs reached the playoffs in a full season, recording their most wins since that year. With a first-half offense that was the best in baseball and breakout years from Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch, the Cubs surged early. But after an impressive first half, the second half saw Chicago have to grind to get into the postseason. The offense sputtered, and the Cubs had to lean on their pitching to secure a wild-card spot. But they made it with room to spare, and the Cubs will have an opportunity to face their division rivals in the NLDS if they can get through San Diego.
X-factors
Padres: Jackson Merrill
After a phenomenal rookie season, Merrill had a challenging sophomore season. He signed a massive extension to begin the year but then landed on the injured list due to a hamstring strain. But now in September, the 22-year-old looks healthy and locked in, with a .938 OPS and seven homers this month. Merrill hitting cleanup behind Fernando Tatis Jr. and Machado makes the Padres dangerous when the trio is firing on all cylinders.
Cubs: Michael Busch
Busch may be the most underrated offensive player in baseball this season. His 34 home runs are the most by a Cub since Kyle Schwarber hit 38 in 2019 and something that even Anthony Rizzo didn’t do in his time in Chicago. Busch has been the most consistent offensive player in the Cubs’ lineup, and Chicago’s offense usually follows suit. Busch having a big series vs. San Diego would be huge for Chicago’s hopes to advance.
How they win
Padres: San Diego will advance to the NLDS for the second straight year if its stars come through. Preller built his lineup and roster around star power, and with Machado, Tatis, and Merrill leading the way, San Diego has plenty of offensive firepower. Plus, beyond the Padres’ starting pitchers, the power arms in their bullpen become the equalizer. If the Padres can get to the fifth inning with a lead, it’ll be difficult for the Cubs to record hits, let alone score, against Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejón, Mason Miller, and Robert Suarez.
Cubs: If the Cubs rediscover the offense from the first half that made them one of baseball’s best teams, they can and will get to the NLDS. Chicago has shown glimpses of that with its surge over the last week of the regular season, especially from Seiya Suzuki, who seems to have rediscovered his power stroke. If the Cubs can come through with some clutch hits, they’ll get past San Diego and face Milwaukee in the NLDS.
Series prediction: Padres in two
The biggest blow for Chicago is that it will be without NL Rookie of the Year candidate Cade Horton, who was placed on the injured list due to a rib fracture on Saturday. Horton would’ve been the Cubs’ likely Game 1 starter. Instead they’ll turn to a combination of Imanaga, Boyd, and Taillon.
Postseason experience matters, and the Padres have been in the playoffs every year since 2022. After being eliminated in the NLDS last year, the Padres should be primed to advance this year. San Diego‘s ability to shorten games with its bullpen gives it the edge in a short series.
— Dorsey
