Explaining the AL, NL playoff bracket format
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
October baseball is special because just about anything can happen.
Some bats get cold, while others get hot, and teams captivate their fanbases by making a run to win MLB's ultimate prize. Long before the World Series begins, though, a group of eight contenders take the field for the wild-card round. And while the name may suggest those teams qualified for the postseason by chance, there's nothing lucky about some runs that have been made by wild-card teams.
MLB's wild card is unique in that it isn't just a one-off - teams square off more than once to ensure the squad that is best suited to advance will move on. The league adopted a new wild-card format in 2022, and it has produced entertaining results.
Here is what to know about MLB's wild-card series, including the bracket and format in the American and National Leagues.
Are MLB wild card games best of 3?
Yes, MLB wild card series are best-of-three.
The current format, which was instituted in 2022, has the No. 4 seed host the No. 5 seed, while the No. 3 seed hosts the No 6 seed. The first team to two wins advances to the divisional round.
MLB playoff bracket
Here is the 2025 MLB playoff bracket.
In 2025, the American League has a pair of wild-card matchups between divisional foes as the No. 3 Cleveland Guardians host the No. 6 Detroit Tigers , while the No. 5 Boston Red Sox visit the No. 4 New York Yankees .
In the National League, the No. 6 Cincinnati Reds will visit the No. 3 Los Angeles Dodgers while the No. 4 Chicago Cubs host the No. 5 San Diego Padres .
MLB playoff format
The MLB playoffs consists of four rounds: wild card, divisional series, championship series and World Series.
The wild-card round contains two best-of-three series in each conference. The No. 3 seed hosts the No. 6 seed and the No. 4 seed hosts the No. 5 seed. All three games are played at the home stadium of the higher seed.
In the divisional series, the winner of the 3-6 series advances to face the No. 2 seed, while the winner of the 4-5 series advances to face the No. 1 seed. The divisional series is a best-of-five series where the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2 and a possible Game 5. The lower seed hosts Games 3 and 4, if necessary.
The championship series is a seven-game series between the two divisional-series winners. The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2, 6, and 7, if necessary, while the lower seed hosts Games 3 through 5.
The World Series is also a best-of-seven series played between the pennant winners in each conference. This seven-game series also follows a 2-3-2 format, with the team that holds a higher regular-season record hosting Games 1, 2, 6, and 7, if necessary.
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Well it's once again time for the boys of October to go into actioon
Personally I am hoping for the Blue Jays (no surprise there) and am certain they will get through the first round unscathed
Anyone else watching and who are you hoping for
As you know, I've been a lifelong Blue Jays fan, so of course you know who I'm hoping for. I've noted that they've started showing baseball games here, Chinese players meeting other Chinese teams and also meeting teams from other Asian nations like South Korea. Here's hoping to be able to see the Jays back in action after 2 decades of just reading about them. Here's Buzz in China...
Lol kinda knew you are a Jays fan, hopefully you get to watch some games. Boston took the first game in their series against the Yankees yesterday but the Yanks are currently winning 2-0 early in game 2
I think it going to be Seattle -Dodgers for the world series.
The Dodgers are a definate possibility but although the Mariners came on strong towards the end, making the show seems like a bit of a long shot. But who knows
I don't understand what's happening with the sports news. I see repotts posted only hours ago and all they report is the the Jays won the first game 10 - 1. But I also see that the series should have been completed on Oct 10. Who won the division series?
Today was the first day of all four second round series. They are best of five, so the Blue Jays have to beat the Yankees twice more to advance.
Well, the web sites are screwy. At least the Jays got a good head start.
Jays are currently winning game two 3 -0. Trey Yesavage is mowing the Yanks down
edit: oops it's 4 - 0
edit2:
5-0
Fantastic!!!
And they WON it. Bravo!!! Now they need to win only one of the next three games to reach the pennant race.
That is SUCH a perfect picture I just had to enlarge it to make it even better.
Hopeffully it happens on Tue in New York leaving the Yanks wondering what the heck happened.
As long as the Jays win one more of this series is what is most important.
The Yankees were not disgraced at home, so the Jays need only take one of the two remaining games to proceed.
Today is a bullpen pitching day so I am less than confident the Jays can keep the Yanks bats in check, but hopefully the Jays offence and defence can make up for that.
Here's hoping.
BRAVO BLUE JAYS!!! Now one more series in order to reach the pinnacle challenge.
Was a great game, the amount of runners the Yankees left on base was nerve wracking but still a great game. Next will be either the Mariners or Tigers
Although I only get to see the score changing throughout the game, it was great to see that the Jays were on top all the way.
If you can get ESPN's or MLB's website or some others , they have a way for you to follow the game pitch by pitch. Its not as good as seeing it of course, but its better than nothing.
It would just be frustrating to sit at the computer just watching text descriptions. If the Jays reach the World Series I'll hope it might be broadcast here. Stanley Cup games were.
While I'm in a baseball mood, I just watched Field of Dreams again - it sure does rekindle the love of the game. What I noted that really amazed me had nothing to do with baseball, it was about banning the book The Diary of Anne Frank - so for the last 36 years, right up until now, the "Nazi" bookburners have been around for a long time.
Not a good start in the Pennant race.
Yes it was dissappointing, The pitching wasn't bad but it's tough to win when you only get 2 hits in the game
The hitting is supposed to be the Blue Jays strong suit.
There are four teams left, I'll be happy if any of them win the World Series other than the Dodgers. Unfortunately the Dodgers will be favored against any of the other three teams.
You are correct, but that's not been the case in the last two games. Gonna be hard for them to come back from 2 down.(given it's 10 - 3 in the 8th I'm guessing they're losing game 2)
I fear that at this point it would take a baseball miracle.
you never know Buzz. It will be tough but i dont think its miracle time yet.
Between the Jays and the Leafs I'm beginning to feel like the Cubs fans felt for a long time. At least I was there to watch the Jays win their second World Series.
The Diamondbacks came back from 2 down at home 2 years ago, so it can happen
Lol you just have to remember the mantra of every sports fan, "There's always next year"
Okay for the Jays, but I'm 88 so I'm not so sure.
Fair point but let's hope not
Much appreciated.
Blue Jays are winning game 3 , 12 - 2 right now. 7th inning
Final is 13 to 4. Now, if the Jays can just keep up that pace.....
That would be amazing, fingers and toes are crossed
Blue Jays lost tonight. They are going to have to win both of the last two back in Toronto.
Well anthems have been sung, players introduced, let's see how game 3 goes
OKAY BLUE JAYS!!! It's now a whole new series. Jays and Mariners, now at 2 games each.
Game 5 starts soon, fingers and toes are still crossed
Not looking good now.
Lol I was shocked by the ending to that game, It was 2-1 for the Jays in the top of the eighth when we had a power outage in my area. When it came back 3 hrs later the Jays had lost 6-2, it was very disappointing
These last 2 games give the Jays home advantage, but they've got to win both of them. So cross your fingers, your toes, and maybe this time your eyes as well.
WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!! I's a whole new series and the Jays have home field advantage.. If the Jays can win the last game of the ALCS they meet the Dodgers for THE WORLD SERIES. Please don't let me down, Jays.
Yep it's now down to a best of one series. Go Jays go.
BRAVO BLUE JAYS - MADE IT TO THE WORLD SERIES!!!
Congratulations, I'm glad you are happy about this. I would have been happy for either team, as Seattle has never made it to the World Series.
The Dodgers are going to be the heavy favorite though.
Haven't been so excited about sports for at least 20 years.
You're right about that
ALCS champs way to go Jays. Gotta admit it was closer than I would have liked. Seattle made it a great series.
Hope the Jays didn't party too hard as they have a really tough series starting soon
In the Shawshank Redemption Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins) says: "Remember Red, hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies."