2025 Division Series Preview
Previewing the 2025 American and National League Division Series
It was 30 years ago that the Division Series was officially introduced into Major League Baseball; originally, we were supposed to get this in 1994, but the strike killed the rest of the season and the postseason. 1995 was the first official season for the Division Series, which served as the postseason's opening round until the introduction the Wild Card Game in 2012. The Division Series currently serves as the second round and introduces the teams who received byes and avoided the Wild Card Series. In addition, it increases the margin of error, as the Division Series is played under a best-of-five format.
Each of the eight teams who are participating in this round are three wins away from playing for the pennant. So let's have a look at the four Division Series matchups.
ALDS: Blue Jays vs Yankees
Once upon a time, the Yankees actually had full control of the American League East... until we didn't. A terrible lull in the midseason led to the Blue Jays surpassing us, and at one point, the Yankees fell to 3rd place, but in September, the Yankees went on a roll and actually managed to tie the Jays entering Game 162. Unfortunately, that roll came a hair late. On that Sunday, the Blue Jays won their final game, as did the Yankees, but thanks to Toronto winning the season series, the East ended up crossing the northern border.
The Yankees' took our season ending eight-game winning streak to the Wild Card Series and took the set in three over the Boston Red Sox, setting up this matchup. Here's a shocking stat: these two teams have never met in the postseason. Entering this season, there were only two teams in the current American League that the Yankees had never faced in the postseason, and we will face one of the two this year. Oh, and the other team: the Chicago White Sox.
ALDS: Mariners vs Tigers
The Detroit Tigers looked to be on the receiving end of some huge embarrassment to end the season. They had the AL Central on lockdown, but they lost it in the end to the Cleveland Guardians. Even worse, they had to go to Cleveland in the Wild Card Series, but Detroit managed to get back on track, take the series 2-1 and make their way to the Division Series. Their opponents are the Seattle Mariners, who ended their regular season on a huge winning tear that saw them actually win the AL West for the first time since their 116-win season in 2001. This season also saw their catcher, Cal Raleigh, hit 60 home runs--the new record for switch hitters.
This is the first-ever postseason meeting between the Mariners and the Tigers. The Mariners won the season series, 4-2, over the Tigers.
NLDS: Brewers vs Cubs
The Milwaukee Brewers have been around since 1969 (counting their first year as the Seattle Pilots), but they have never won the World Series. In fact, they've only won one pennant in their entire franchise history. Though as long as their drought is, their hometown's is much longer. Milwaukee's only championship in MLB came when the old Milwaukee Braves won the World Series in 1957--nine years before the team relocated to Atlanta. The Brewers finished with the best record in baseball, meaning that they avoided the Wild Card Series and have home field through the entire postseason.
The Chicago Cubs actually started the season very strong, but fell off to the point where they were surpassed by the Brewers. However, the Cubs did make it to this point, and they defeated the Padres in their Wild Card Series. This is another first time ever postseason meeting, with the closest they came to a playoff battle was their 2018 NL Central tiebreaker. The Cubs actually won the season series, 7-6.
NLDS: Phillies vs Dodgers
It's always interesting when the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers get together. It's mainly because of the star power on both teams. Look at the Phillies. Bryce Harper, nuff said. Kyle Schwarber has been absolutely killing the ball this season, and there's also J.T. Realmuto, Alec Bohm, and Nick Castellanos. And then there's the Dodgers, the defending champions. Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman (last year's World Series MVP), and Teoscar Hernandez all showing out big time. Oh, and there's this one guy named Shohei Ohtani, he's pretty all right.
This is the only Division Series matchup featuring teams who have met before in the postseason. In 2008 and 2009, the Phillies and Dodgers ran into each other in the NLCS, with the Phillies winning both times. The Phillies won the season series, 4-2.
* * *
This is Year 19 of Fox and TBS working together during the MLB Postseason. Since 2007, the networks swap league coverage, and with this being an odd-numbered year, that means that the ALDS will air on FOX and FS1, while TBS will have the NLDS. I am absolutely ready for this year's division series, I sense some wild moments coming up!
About the Creator
Clyde E. Dawkins
I'm a big sports fan, especially hockey, and I've been a fan of villainesses since I was eight! My favorite shows are The Simpsons and Family Guy, etc.
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