What we know about the ALDS and NLDS: Bracket, schedule, more

The 2025 MLB playoffs are almost ready to move to the Division Series.

The American League’s No. 6-seeded Detroit Tigers along with the National League’s No. 3 Los Angeles Dodgers and No. 4 Chicago Cubs have survived the Wild Card Series and advanced to the second round of the postseason. The last Wild Card Series will be decided on Thursday.

The defending World Series champion Dodgers were the only team to record a Wild Card Series sweep, outscoring the No. 6 Cincinnati Reds 18-9 over two games. The Dodgers have reached the NLDS for a staggering 13th straight season, as they try to become the first back-to-back champion since the New York Yankees pulled off a three-peat from 1998-2000.

The Cubs were among two teams to emerge victorious in winner-take-all Game 3s. Chicago, after dropping Game 2 to the No. 5 San Diego Padres, booked its first trip to the NLDS since 2017 with a 3-1 Game 3 victory.

Meanwhile, the Tigers took quite the route to their second straight ALDS appearance. Detroit blew a 12.5-game lead for first in the AL Central over the final month-plus of the regular season, as the Cleveland Guardians snatched the division crown. But the Tigers got the last laugh over their division rivals, eliminating the No. 3 Guardians with a 6-3 Game 3 win.

The Division Series will see the introduction of the top two seeds in each league to the postseason. The AL’s No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays and No. 2 Seattle Mariners, and the NL’s No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers and No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies earned byes past the Wild Card Series and into the Division Series.

So, what are the ALDS and NLDS matchups? And when does the Division Series begin? Here’s what we know:

Are teams reseeded in the MLB playoffs?

There isn’t any reseeding in the MLB postseason, which follows a bracket format.

What are the 2025 ALDS, NLDS matchups?

The Dodgers will next put their title defense on the line against the NL East champion Phillies, while the Cubs will take on the MLB-best Brewers in an NL Central battle.

Over in the American League, the Tigers will square off against the AL West champion Mariners. The other ALDS matchup will be a divisional showdown, as the AL-best Blue Jays meet either the No. 4 Yankees or No. 5 Boston Red Sox.

American League

  • No. 2 Seattle Mariners vs. No. 6 Detroit Tigers
  • No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays vs. No. 4 New York Yankees/No. 5 Boston Red Sox

National League

  • No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Dodgers
  • No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 4 Chicago Cubs

When do the 2025 ALDS, NLDS start?

All four Division Series begin Saturday, Oct. 4.

How many games are in the ALDS, NLDS?

Following best-of-three Wild Card Series, the postseason moves to a best-of-five format for the Division Series. The higher seed hosts Games 1, 2 and, if necessary, 5.

What is the 2025 ALDS, NLDS schedule?

Here’s a series-by-series look at the Division Series schedule (this section will be updated as details are finalized):

American League

No. 1 Toronto Blue Jays vs. No. 4 New York Yankees/No. 5 Boston Red Sox

  • Game 1: Yankees/Red Sox at Blue Jays — Saturday, Oct. 4, time TBD, Fox/FS1
  • Game 2: Yankees/Red Sox at Blue Jays — Sunday, Oct. 5, 4:08 p.m. ET, FS1
  • Game 3: Blue Jays at Yankees/Red Sox — Tuesday, Oct. 7, time TBD, Fox/FS1
  • Game 4 (if necessary): Blue Jays at Yankees/Red Sox — Wednesday, Oct. 8, time TBD, Fox/FS1
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Yankees/Red Sox at Blue Jays — Friday, Oct. 10, time TBD, Fox/FS1

No. 2 Seattle Mariners vs. No. 6 Detroit Tigers

  • Game 1: Tigers at Mariners — Saturday, Oct. 4, time TBD, Fox/FS1
  • Game 2: Tigers at Mariners — Sunday, Oct. 5, 8:03 p.m. ET, FS1
  • Game 3: Mariners at Tigers — Tuesday, Oct. 7, time TBD, Fox/FS1
  • Game 4 (if necessary): Mariners at Tigers — Wednesday, Oct. 8, time TBD, Fox/FS1
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Tigers at Mariners — Friday, Oct. 10, time TBD, Fox/FS1

National League

No. 1 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 4 Chicago Cubs

  • Game 1: Cubs at Brewers — Saturday, Oct. 4, time TBD, TBS
  • Game 2: Cubs at Brewers — Monday, Oct. 6, time TBD, TBS
  • Game 3: Brewers at Cubs — Wednesday, Oct. 8, time TBD, TBS
  • Game 4 (if necessary): Brewers at Cubs — Thursday, Oct. 9, time TBD, TBS
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Cubs at Brewers — Saturday, Oct. 11, time TBD, TBS

No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies vs. No. 3 Los Angeles Dodgers

  • Game 1: Dodgers at Phillies — Saturday, Oct. 4, time TBD, TBS
  • Game 2: Dodgers at Phillies — Monday, Oct. 6, time TBD, TBS
  • Game 3: Phillies at Dodgers — Wednesday, Oct. 8, time TBD, TBS
  • Game 4 (if necessary): Phillies at Dodgers — Thursday, Oct. 9, time TBD, TBS
  • Game 5 (if necessary): Dodgers at Phillies — Saturday, Oct. 11, time TBD, TBS

What TV channels are the ALDS, NLDS on?

ALDS games will air across Fox and FS1.

TBS will broadcast the NLDS games.

How to stream the ALDS, NLDS live online

The ALDS action can be streamed on FoxSports.com and the Fox Sports app.

NLDS games can be streamed on TBS.com, the TBS app and HBO Max.

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