2025 MLB Division Series Preview

After a thrilling Wild Card round, the field is set for the Division Series, and the matchups deliver a mix of historic rivalries, fresh encounters, and plenty of October intrigue. The American League features a first-time postseason showdown between two powerhouse East clubs and an underdog trying to ride momentum against a rested contender. The National League brings us a battle of Central Division rivals and another chapter in one of October’s most familiar heavyweight clashes.

Let's get into our 2025 MLB Divisional Series Preview.

American League Division Series

The Toronto Blue Jays and New York Yankees meet in the postseason for the first time, with Toronto earning home-field advantage after taking the season series despite both teams finishing 94–68. The Yankees arrive as the league’s home run kings, but Toronto’s deep rotation and bullpen depth give them a strong counterpunch.

Across the bracket, the Seattle Mariners, fresh off their first-round bye, will face the Detroit Tigers, who stunned the Guardians in the Wild Card round. Seattle owned the regular-season matchup, but Detroit’s momentum and youth make it a dangerous spoiler. 

Prediction: Yankees in 4; Mariners in 5.

National League Division Series

The Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs collide in an NL Central showdown, their first-ever postseason meeting despite a heated divisional rivalry. Milwaukee’s bullpen and speed on the bases are playoff weapons. At the same time, Chicago’s timely offense and slight head-to-head edge in the regular season suggest this could be the most evenly matched series of the round. On the other side, the Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers renew their October rivalry for the sixth time, but this marks their first clash in the Division Series. 

Despite Philadelphia's success in taking four of six games during the season and their ability to balance and power, the Dodgers' experience and depth make them a formidable opponent. 

Prediction: Brewers in 5; Phillies in 4.

No matter how the series unfolds, the Division round promises drama at every turn—whether it’s the Yankees and Blue Jays renewing their rivalry on a new stage, the Tigers’ bid to play spoiler, or the Cubs and Brewers battling for bragging rights. With the Phillies and Dodgers adding another chapter to their postseason history, October baseball is set to deliver the tension, heroics, and surprises that define the sport’s greatest stage.