As we enter the final week of the 2025 regular season, baseball fans are gearing up for an exhilarating finish. Here are three key aspects to keep an eye on as teams make their last pushes for the postseason.
Today, no teams in the American League have games scheduled, providing a much-needed breather for all franchises. As the playoffs loom, only the Toronto Blue Jays have secured a spot in the postseason, yet they have yet to clinch a division title. The New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners appear to be on solid ground for playoff berths, but teams like the Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers are still in a precarious position, facing realistic chances of missing the postseason.
The Houston Astros and the Guardians, who are the hottest team in MLB right now, are battling for that final playoff spot. This week features critical matchups, including series between Cleveland and Detroit, Boston and Toronto, and Detroit and Boston. These games will significantly impact the AL playoff picture as the regular season draws to a close.
In the National League, a pivotal series kicks off today as the Milwaukee Brewers visit the San Diego Padres. Milwaukee has already clinched the NL Central but must fend off the Philadelphia Phillies to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Meanwhile, the Padres are on the verge of clinching a playoff berth but are also just three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
San Diego is looking for a late-season surge to challenge the Dodgers for the division title. However, they will face a tough opponent in Brewers ace Freddy Peralta, who boasts an impressive 2.65 ERA. The Padres will counter with Nick Pivetta, who has a 2.81 ERA. The second game of the series will feature Randy Vasquez (3.94 ERA) against an unannounced Brewers starter, and the series finale will see Quinn Priester (3.25 ERA) on the mound for Milwaukee, with the Padres’ starter still to be determined. The series is set to begin at 6:40 PM local time in San Diego.
While neither the Braves nor the Nationals are in the postseason race, their upcoming game features intriguing matchups. MacKenzie Gore, one of the most promising left-handed pitchers in the league, will take the mound against the reigning Cy Young winner Chris Sale in Atlanta. The first pitch is scheduled for 7:15 PM local time.
It has been a rollercoaster season for Gore, who started strong as a Cy Young contender but faced challenges during the summer months, even landing on the injured list. He has rebounded with a 1.74 ERA in two starts since returning, aiming to finish the season on a high note. Sale, on the other hand, was looking to defend his Cy Young title until a ribcage injury sidelined him. Despite the setbacks, he has excelled when healthy, posting a 2.35 ERA and a remarkable 32.3% strikeout rate in 115 innings and 19 starts this season.
As we head into this final week of the 2025 MLB regular season, the excitement is palpable. Each game could reshape the playoff landscape, making every pitch and play crucial for teams vying for a shot at the championship.
