MLB Playoffs

The 2025 MLB regular season has come and gone, and now the playoffs are coming to a close with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays facing off in the World Series. Meanwhile, fans are also anticipating award winners, including the tight race for AL MVP. 

The Milwaukee Brewers finished the season with the best record going into the playoffs, at 97-63. Their season was fueled by an all around effort, including elite batting from outfielder Christian Yelich, leading the team with 29 home runs, second baseman Brice Turang, who had highest on-base percentage and most hits for the team, and pitcher Freddy Peralta leading the squad in strikeouts. They were swept in the NDCS by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Before that, the Brewers beat the Chicago Cubs in the NLDS. This was the Cubs’ first playoff appearance since the 2020 season, as they were led by center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. Crow-Armstrong had 35 stolen bases across the regular season, along with 31 home runs.

The Philadelphia Phillies were not far behind the Brewers, finishing the season with 96 wins. The Phillies, who lost in the World Series to the Houston Astros in 2022, have looked like a perennial contender since then. A large part of their offensive success can be attributed to designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, who had 56 home runs and 132 RBIs over the course of the season. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Phillies in the NLDS, led by pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani, considered by many as an NL MVP favorite. Ohtani won the NL MVP unanimously last year, his third unanimous MVP and fourth MVP in total. He also led his Dodgers to win the World Series last year, and has led them to another World Series appearance this year.

"With what he's done with the bat and now what he's done on the mound, it's a landslide. It's a no-brainer. The only thing is, I hope some of those voters don't get voter fatigue just because it's the easiest option,” Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

The Dodgers were considered by many to be strong contenders going into these playoffs, with even non-Dodger fans admitting they might win it all.

“Sadly [I think] the Dodgers [will win the World Series], I think they are too powerful in their lineup and bullpen,” NHS sophomore Bobby DeNicola said.

The Toronto Blue Jays have been selected by many going into these playoffs as a team that could make a deep run as they have made the World Series. Winning the AL East for the first time since 2015, they gained a bye for the wild card round. Led by first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr, the Blue Jays played consistently throughout the season, but had to adjust for the pressure of the playoffs.

"When you're feeling a country, it kind of gets a little dicey at times. Like the 6th inning, bases loaded, nobody out and Aaron Judge hitting, you feel like people in Nova Scotia might want to come murder you,” Blue Jays manager John Schneider said.

The Blue Jays defeated the New York Yankees in the NLDS. The Yankees, who lost in the World Series last year to the Dodgers, defeated rival Boston Red Sox in the Wild Card round this year.

Meanwhile, the Seattle Mariners won the AL West this year, their first time winning their division since 2001. While catcher Cal Raleigh dominated the offensive side of things, pitcher Bryan Woo played well on defense, posting a 2.94 ERA and 198 strikeouts over the season, leading the team in both categories. Near the beginning of the playoffs, expectations for the Seattle Mariners were set high by baseball fans. 

“I think the Mariners will win [the World Series] because of Cal Raleigh’s crazy season and their elite pitching staff,” NHS sophomore Mindenhall said.

The Mariners recently defeated the Detroit Tigers in the ALDS, which saw the deciding game 5 of the series go 15 innings before Mariners infielder Jorge Polanco had a walkoff single. They went on to lose to the Blue Jays in game 7 of the ALCS.

The Tigers were led by pitcher Tarik Skubal. Skubal during the regular season had a record of 13–6, along with 241 strikeouts and an AL-leading 2.21 ERA.

While the playoffs have commenced, many fans are debating who is most deserving of the AL MVP: Aaron Judge or Cal Raleigh. Judge had the highest batting average this season of .331, which is higher than Raleigh’s batting average of .247. On the other hand, Raleigh led the league in home runs with 60, tying Babe Ruth’s 1927 season as ninth-most home runs in a single season. Raleigh became the seventh player to ever hit at least 60 home runs in a season. 

“I think Judge will win it but Cal Raleigh should. Cal’s glove is way better than people give him credit for with a near record-breaking home run season. It is close though,” Mindenhall said.

The final result of this season promises to excite baseball fans as the 2025 World Series champions will be crowned soon, along with award winners. With multiple elite teams, along with a plethora of talented stars entering their prime, baseball fans will also have a lot to look forward to in the coming years.