After a thrilling Division Series, the 2025 MLB Playoffs are down to their final four: the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays battling for the American League pennant, and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Brewers clashing for National League supremacy. Prepare for high-stakes drama, unexpected heroes, and intense rivalries as these teams vie for a spot in the World Series.
The 2025 MLB postseason has delivered on its promise of thrilling baseball, with two pivotal Game 5s and an epic 15-inning walk-off victory shaping the League Championship Series matchups. The stage is now set for intense battles as the final four teams emerge to contend for the American League and National League pennants.
On the American League side, the top-seeded Toronto Blue Jays will host the battle-tested Seattle Mariners. In the National League, the dominant Milwaukee Brewers are set to face the defending champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers. ALCS Game 1 is scheduled for Sunday, with NLCS Game 1 following on Monday, promising a weekend filled with playoff action.
ALCS: No. 2 Seattle Mariners vs. No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays
The Road to the ALCS
The Seattle Mariners secured their first AL West title since 2001, earning a first-round bye. Their journey through the ALDS was a grueling five-game brawl against the Detroit Tigers, culminating in a dramatic 15-inning walk-off victory in Game 5, as detailed by Yahoo Sports. This monumental accomplishment tested the franchise’s resolve as they aim for their first World Series appearance, facing a quick turnaround before Game 1 in Toronto.
The Toronto Blue Jays, the AL’s top seed, enjoyed a more rested path to the ALCS. They swiftly dispatched a New York Yankees team that had just navigated three wild-card games against Boston. Toronto’s superiority over New York was resoundingly demonstrated in the ALDS, confirming their status as a formidable force in the American League, as documented by Yahoo Sports. The Blue Jays won their regular season series against Seattle 4-2, though those games occurred early in the season.
Key X-Factors
- Mariners: Cal Raleigh – The Mariners’ star catcher is an undeniable force. He not only had one of the greatest individual regular seasons but also led his team with eight hits in the ALDS. Raleigh historically performs exceptionally well against Toronto, boasting a .274/.361/.655 slash line with 10 home runs in 97 regular-season plate appearances. His past performance, including a 4-for-8 showing with a homer in the 2022 AL wild-card round against the Blue Jays, makes him a critical threat.
- Blue Jays: Shane Bieber – While Kevin Gausman and rookie Trey Yesavage impressed against New York, Bieber had his shortest outing as a Blue Jay in their lone ALDS loss. Acquired at the deadline for high-pressure situations, Bieber needs to deliver longer, more effective starts to prevent overtaxing the bullpen, which faced considerable strain in the previous round. His ability to rebound will be crucial against Seattle’s stout lineup.
How the Mariners Can Win
Seattle’s path to victory involves robust defense of their home field at T-Mobile Park in the middle games of the series, demonstrating elite run prevention. Once properly rested from their Game 5 marathon against Detroit, their pitching staff could regain a collective edge. If they can capitalize on this advantage and snatch a crucial road win in Toronto, either early or in a decisive Game 6 or 7, the Mariners possess the talent to slow down the high-flying Blue Jays. The Mariners’ power game, ranking third in MLB with 238 homers, will also be vital against a Blue Jays pitching staff that allowed the seventh-highest HR/FB %.
How the Blue Jays Can Win
Toronto can win by replicating their success from the ALDS, which saw them jump to a commanding lead thanks to a massive pitching advantage in Game 1. With Kevin Gausman facing Seattle’s Bryce Miller in Game 1, and the Mariners’ bullpen potentially fatigued from their 15-inning epic, Toronto has an early series advantage. The Blue Jays excel at putting the ball in play, getting slugging production from stars like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and George Springer, playing stellar defense, and effectively mixing and matching on the mound. Their league-leading offense against right-handed pitching will also be a major factor against Seattle’s righty-heavy rotation.
How the Mariners Can Lose
Despite their ALDS victory, Seattle’s offense was not fully firing, with key players like Julio Rodriguez, Randy Arozarena, and Eugenio Suarez combining for 26 strikeouts against Detroit. If these whiff-heavy tendencies persist against the Blue Jays’ more balanced attack, the Mariners may struggle to keep pace offensively. Furthermore, playing immediately after a physically draining 15-inning game puts them at a disadvantage in Game 1, potentially creating an uphill battle.
How the Blue Jays Can Lose
A Blue Jays downfall could occur if Seattle’s offense heats up significantly against a Toronto pitching staff that entered October with the highest team ERA among playoff contenders and a susceptibility to giving up the long ball. If Toronto’s powerful right-handed hitters are neutralized by Seattle’s tough right-handers, the Blue Jays might lack the slugging necessary to match the Mariners’ game-changing power. Ultimately, a breakdown on the mound, a weakness that surfaced multiple times during the regular season, remains a significant concern for Toronto.
Series Prediction: Mariners in 7
While Toronto may seize an early advantage due to rest, the Mariners’ deep pitching staff is projected to emerge supreme over a grueling seven-game series. Seattle’s run prevention capabilities will likely hold up, while the Blue Jays’ pitching may regress just enough to allow the Mariners to snatch key wins, including potentially one or two at home. This series promises to be a thrilling, back-and-forth contest between two of the AL’s best.
NLCS: No. 3 L.A. Dodgers vs. No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers
The Road to the NLCS
The Los Angeles Dodgers, initially billed as a generational juggernaut, spent much of the regular season on cruise control. However, they ‘flipped the switch’ when the playoffs arrived, thoroughly battering the Cincinnati Reds in the wild-card round. They then topped the Philadelphia Phillies in a hard-fought four-game NLDS. The Dodgers’ starting rotation, featuring Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell, and Tyler Glasnow, has been a standout, boasting a 2.02 ERA across 35 2/3 innings in October.
The Milwaukee Brewers proved their mettle by defeating their division rivals, the Chicago Cubs, in a decisive Game 5 of the NLDS. This victory marked their first postseason series win since 2018, showcasing a valuable lesson learned from their wild-card exit the previous year. The Brewers will now host the Dodgers in an NLCS rematch of 2018, where Los Angeles emerged victorious in seven games, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Key X-Factors
- Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani (the Hitter) – While Ohtani’s first playoff pitching start was a massive success, his performance at the plate has been less stellar. He finished the NLDS just 1-for-18 with no extra-base hits, following two homers in the wild-card round. Historically, Ohtani has been a definitively worse hitter when he pitches, with a .207/.313/.517 slash line and an .831 OPS in 67 plate appearances during his 14 starts this season, as highlighted by Yahoo Sports. His ability to find his offensive rhythm will be vital.
- Brewers: Jackson Chourio – The 21-year-old star left fielder has quickly become comfortable in big moments and is a game-changer at the top of the Brewers’ lineup. With his hamstring injury seemingly behind him, Chourio’s blend of speed and power is exactly what Milwaukee’s offense needs to challenge the Dodgers.
How the Dodgers Can Win
The Dodgers will lean heavily on their superior starting rotation. The quartet of Ohtani, Yamamoto, Snell, and Glasnow is simply deeper and more talented than anything the Brewers can counter with. For success in this longer series, these starters must provide extended outings to protect Los Angeles’ relatively shallow bullpen. Even with the emergence of starter-turned-reliever Roki Sasaki, who tossed three perfect innings in Game 4 against the Phillies, the Dodgers still face questions in their relief corps. However, if their starters can consistently shut down the Brew Crew through six innings, those bullpen concerns will be mitigated.
How the Brewers Can Win
Milwaukee thrives on ‘chaos baseball’ – drawing walks, stealing bases, and taking extra bases, complemented by the occasional home run. They ranked third in MLB in runs during the regular season, demonstrating an offense that doesn’t solely rely on the long ball. In a postseason environment where power outages can be fatal, the Brewers’ ability to manufacture runs will be key. They will need to put up ‘crooked numbers’ on the scoreboard, even if not exclusively via home runs, to keep pace with the high-octane Dodgers lineup.
How the Dodgers Can Lose
Despite their star-studded lineup, the Dodgers showed alarming offensive futility in the NLDS against the Phillies, posting a collective .557 OPS, the lowest of any team in the division series. The core trio of Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman went a combined 8-for-50 with no extra-base hits in that series. This level of offensive struggle cannot be repeated if the Dodgers intend to secure a return ticket to the World Series. Their exhausted, undermanned bullpen also remains a potential weak point if starters cannot consistently provide length.
How the Brewers Can Lose
The biggest talent disparity between these two clubs lies in the starting rotation. While the Brewers could manage their pitching deficiencies in a shorter series against the Cubs, relying on ace Freddy Peralta for two starts and a bullpen game, a best-of-seven series against the Dodgers presents a much greater challenge. Milwaukee simply lacks the rotational depth to consistently stack up against Los Angeles’ formidable pitching staff. This lack of depth could prove to be their undoing, especially if their ‘chaos’ offense struggles to generate consistent scoring opportunities against elite pitching.
Series Prediction: Dodgers in 5
The Los Angeles Dodgers appear to be the more rested and superior team on paper, particularly with their deep starting pitching. They also seem to be finding their collective rhythm at precisely the right moment. Provided their MVP-caliber hitters—Ohtani, Betts, and Freeman—can rebound from their NLDS offensive struggles and get back to mashing baseballs, the defending champions are well-positioned to find themselves back in the World Series with relative ease.
