The calendar has flipped to October and that only means one thing – playoff baseball is here. After a long regular season, 12 teams remain standing. Here are some reasons why each team could win it all.
American League 6th Seed – Detroit Tigers
Tarik Skubal returned to the mound this year looking to capture his second-straight Cy Young award, and should fare well in the wild card as a frontline ace. While the team hit a slump over the stretch, they held down the best American League record for a good portion of the season, so they could have the tools to make a surprise run.
National League 6th Seed – Cincinnati Reds
The Reds enter October with the 13th-ranked pitching staff in baseball. Their offense sits just 19th for team OPS (On base plus slugging), but shortstop Elly De La Cruz is heating up at the right time, which could be enough to give the team a spark.
American League 5th Seed – Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox entered the season as the favorite to win the American League pennant. They haven’t quite lived up to those expectations, but they remain a dangerous team in October. Ace pitcher Garrett Crochet will make his playoff debut and set the tone this postseason. Even after trading star third-baseman Rafael Devers in June, Boston continues to contend, proof of their resilience.
American League 3rd Seed – Cleveland Guardians
Back in August, nobody expected to see Cleveland sniff October. They erased a 15.5 game deficit – an MLB record – to win the division which is insane. Their offense isn’t flashy, but they are a scrappy team that picks up wins any way they can.
National League 3rd Seed – Los Angeles Dodgers
The 2024 World Series Champions are looking to be the first team to win back-to-back titles since the New York Yankees in 1999, but it’s not going to be easy. Their bullpen is an absolute mess, ranking 20th in the league. Despite this, reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani will try his best to bring his team another win.
American League 4th Seed – New York Yankees
Speaking of the Dodgers, they bested the Yankees last October and New York will have a chip on their shoulder this year. New York has an offensive power-house and they are the leader in runs and OPS this year. While American League MVP Aaron Judge has a bad track record in the postseason, Giancarlo Stanton is notoriously good in October, and it could be enough to be the difference maker as they run it back.
National League 5th Seed – San Diego Padres
The Padres strength lies in their bullpen going into October, stacked with power arms like Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon and Robert Suarez. With playoff veterans like Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. leading the lineup, their fate rests on their pitching rotation.
National League 1st Seed – Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers have been insane in the second half of the season. Rookies Isaac Collins, Caleb Durbin, and Jacob Misiorowski have reinvigorated the team to go for their third-straight division title. Postseason success has forever eluded them, with only one World Series appearance, but these rookies could be their X-Factor.
American League 1st Seed – Toronto Blue Jays
After finishing last in the AL East in 2024, Toronto stormed back with the AL’s best record. 36-year-old veteran George Springer is having his best season of his career and will no doubt make an impact. Pitching remains a question but as long as the lineup continues to perform they have a real chance to win it all.
National League 4th Seed – Chicago Cubs
With young stars like Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs have the dynamic core to make a run in the postseason. Their only limiting factor is the loss of Rookie of the Year favorite Cade Horton, who has had a sub-1 ERA in the second-half. Despite that the Cubs could be a sleeper pick coming into the postseason.
National League 2nd Seed – Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are currently the favorite in the NL, powered by their explosive offensive trio consisting of Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper and Trea Turner. On the mound, Christopher Sanchez and Ranger Suarez look to anchor their pitching, however their bullpen remains a questionable variable.
American League 2nd Seed – Seattle Mariners
Seattle enters as the World Series favorite, and it’s not hard to see why. Their elite pitching is anchored by Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo and closer Andres Munoz. Add in catcher Cal Raleigh, who smashed 60 homers to set a record for both switch-hitters and catchers. This is their window for a ring.
