The dust has settled. Going in the final series of games for the regular season, six teams were still competing for three playoff spots, and two division champions had yet to be crowned. Entering the final game of the season, we still didn't know who were going to be the AL East and AL Central champions, as well as the final NL Wild Card. We now know who got invited to this year's postseason dance. Who will I be rooting for? The first and last place teams are obvious, but what about the other teams? As I've mentioned before, there are a lot of
factors that influence my ranking, but I usually start with a list of teams
who have suffered the longest Championship droughts and adjust accordingly.
Once again, I present my personal 2025 Playoff rankings!
1. Boston Red Sox - AL Wild Card (6 year drought)
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2019 Topps Heritage #1 World Series Champions (Boston Red Sox) |
Yeah, obviously as long as Boston is playing, they're my team! The Red Sox
have been downright mediocre these past 3 season, and their last playoff
appearance in 2021 feels like it was much longer ago. This year felt different
from the very beginning. The next wave of Red Sox regulars have arrived, and
confidence is high these guys will be leading the team to the postseason for
years to come. I'm excited for the future. As for this year, it's going to be tough. I'm going to
enjoy the ride while it lasts!
Prediction: Lose to Mariners in the AL Championship Series
2. Cleveland Guardians - AL Central Champions (76 year drought)
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| 1967 Laughlin World Series #45 1948 Braves vs Indians |
Wow. Just wow. At the beginning of this month, the Guardians were a sub-.500 team and 11 games behind the Tigers in the AL Central. Now they're playoff bound. What an incredible comeback. Do they have what it takes to bring home their first World Series since 1948? My heart says no, but my brain says..well, it also says no, but come on! How can you not root for this Cinderella team?
Prediction: Lose to the Mariners in the AL Divisional Series
3. Seattle Mariners - AL West Champions (48 year drought - Never won a World Series)
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| 2025 Topps #96 Seattle Mariners (TC) |
The next three on the list all hold the distinction of never experiencing the joy of winning a World Series. That something every fandom should have at least once. From that trio, I give the rooting preference to the one that hasn't even been to the World Series. This team has few real weaknesses, and could very well be the first Seattle team to go all the way.
Prediction: Win their 1st ever World Series!
4. Milwaukee Brewers - NL Central Champions (56 year drought - Never won a World Series)
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| 2025 Topps #396 Milwaukee Brewers (TC) |
Raise your hand if you honestly thought the Brewers would be the best team in
baseball and be the first to clinch a playoff spot. Not me, especially after
losing Corbin Burnes and Devin Williams in back to back off-seasons. Now the
big question - can they go deep into October? I wouldn't count them out!
Prediction: Lose to the Dodgers in the NL Championship Series
5. San Diego Padres - NL Wild Card (56 year drought - Never won a World Series)
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| 2025 Topps #39 San Diego Padres (TC) |
It's often said that pitching is what carries teams in the playoffs, and the Padres have arguably the best bullpen in the Majors. Starting pitching is solid too, but their offense behind Tatis and Machado doesn't exactly scare anyone.
Prediction: Lose to the Cubs in the NL Wild Card Series
6. Toronto Blue Jays - AL East Champions (31 year drought)
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| 1993 Score #521 Dave Winfield (WS) |
Despite being division rivals, I have nothing against Canada's team. I actually low key like them. They haven't won it all since the year I graduated high school, so they are overdue. I can see Vlad Guerrero Jr. making postseason history somewhere along the way.
Prediction: Lose to the Red Sox in the AL Divisional Series
7. Detroit Tigers - AL Wild Card (40 year drought)
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| 1985 Topps Stickers #21 |
If you had asked me in June which team was going to win it all, the Tigers would have been right up there. They have done a complete face plant, blowing a huge lead over the entire AL Central. They're limping into the postseason, and I don't think even the amazing pitching of Tarik Skubal will save them.
Prediction: Lose to the Guardians in the AL Wild Card Series
8. Philadelphia Phillies - NL East Champions (16 year drought)
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| 2009 Topps Heritage #391 The Champs Celebrate (WS) |
Man, Kyle Schwarber has been a lot of fun to watch this year, hasn't he? He's
the main reason why I have the Phillies ranked above some of the teams with
longer droughts. Here's hoping for more Schwar-bombs in the playoffs!
Prediction: Lose to the Dodgers in the NL Divisional Series
9. Cincinnati Reds - NL Wild Card (34 year drought)
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| 1991 Score #795 Barry Larkin/Chris Sabo (WS) |
The Mets spent $765 million on Juan Soto last off season. The Reds' biggest free agent signing? A 1-year $5 million contract to Austin Hayes. Cincinati made a late push and snagged the last playoff spot from under the Mets' collective noses. Could an all-Ohio World Series be in our future?
Prediction: Lose to the Dodgers in the NL Wild Card Series
10. Chicago Cubs - NL Wild Card (8 year drought)
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| 2017 Topps #206 Chicago Cubs (WS) |
It surprised me when I found out this is the Cubs' first playoff appearance since the COVID-shortened season of 2020. Kyle Tucker is already poised to be this off-season's biggest free agent. A deep October run could make him a lot more money...
Prediction: Lose to the Brewers in the NL Divisional Series
11. Los Angeles Dodgers - NL West Champions (won last year)
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| 2025 Topps Heritage #462 2024 World Series (WSC) |
No offense to the Dodgers. They're a good team, lots of superstar names. It'd be a great story to see future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw end his career with a ring, but the Dodges have already won twice this decade. I'd like to see someone else have a turn.
Prediction: Lose to the Mariners in the World Series
12. New York Yankees - AL Wild Card (Not a long enough drought)
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2010 Topps - History of the World Series #HWS25 Yankees |
They gave me a scare last year, but the streak lives on! Right now, there are
Yankees fans getting their driver's permit who have never seen a World Series
Championship. It's a beautiful thing! As for this year, I feel all opposing
teams need to do is limit the home runs and the Yankees season will be over!
Prediction: Lose to the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card Series
To summarize my predictions:
AL Wild Card
Red Sox over YankeesGuardians over Tigers
NL Wild Card
Dodgers over RedsCubs over Padres
ALDS
Mariners over GuardiansRed Sox over Blue Jays
NLDS
Brewers over Cubs Dodgers over Phillies
ALCS
Mariners over Red Sox
NLCS
Dodgers over Brewers
World Series
Mariners over Dodgers
Approaching this week with great trepidation. Might be a bad time at Yankee Stadium for the home team.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's because my team won the Series last year, but I'm not going into the playoffs all concerned like I usually do. It helps that there are only 2 gross teams involved (Padres, Yankees). But I'd be cool with any of the others winning.
ReplyDeleteMy Reds made the playoffs and that alone makes me happy. Cincy has (historically) performed very poorly on the west coast, but if there's a way to beat the Dodgers it is probably in a short series with great pitching (which the Reds have). Here's hoping.
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