MLB Wild Card Series 2025: Staff Picks and Predictions

The MLB regular season just wrapped, and now the best-of-three wild-card round looms. October baseball? Always wild, always unpredictable. The Athletic polled over 20 of its veteran staff writers to see who they think survives and advances.

Their predictions show some real divides across four compelling series. Some folks love a surging underdog; others stick with proven, playoff-tested talent. Every matchup looks primed for drama under the postseason lights, and nobody seems entirely sure what’s coming next.

Guardians vs. Tigers – Momentum vs. the Ace Factor

The Cleveland Guardians roll into the wild-card round with plenty of momentum. Their pitching depth and recent hot streaks have caught a lot of attention.

Even though Cleveland’s on-base percentage sits near the bottom, some believe their knack for late-season quality could swing things.

Tarik Skubal: Detroit’s Game-Changer

Detroit Tigers fans pin their hopes on Tarik Skubal, who’s been pretty much lights-out lately. His knack for shutting down lineups makes him a real postseason X-factor.

But Detroit’s late-season collapse lingers in everyone’s minds, casting doubt on how long they can hang in a short series.

• Guardians’ Strengths: Momentum, deep starting rotation
• Tigers’ Strengths: Skubal’s dominance, potential for big-game pitching
• Concerns: Cleveland’s low OBP, Detroit’s shaky finish

Yankees vs. Red Sox – Rivalry Renewed

Few postseason matchups hit as hard as Yankees vs. Red Sox. This chapter brings two very different approaches—Boston leans on pitching, while New York counts on its big bats.

Pitching Edge vs. Offensive Firepower

Boston’s best shot hinges on ace Garrett Crochet setting the tone and a bullpen that’s ready to smother even the strongest lineups. New York, meanwhile, has the home run power of Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton, plus a late-season surge that’s hard to ignore.

• Red Sox’s Keys: Crochet’s dominance, deep bullpen
• Yankees’ Keys: Judge and Stanton’s slugging, late-season surge
• Experts’ Split: Pitching neutralizing offense vs. offense overpowering pitching

Reds vs. Dodgers – Youth vs. Star Power

Cincinnati’s young rotation steps into the spotlight against one of the game’s most loaded lineups. The Reds’ scrappy style gives them a shot, but most folks are leaning hard toward Los Angeles.

Dodgers’ Loaded Lineup

The Dodgers have some bullpen questions, sure. But with Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman, they’re stacked.

Big bats like those tend to flip close games in October. Los Angeles feels like a heavy favorite, and it’s tough to argue against that.

• Reds’ Strengths: Young, fearless pitching staff
• Dodgers’ Strengths: All-Star hitters, postseason experience
• Concerns: Dodgers’ bullpen consistency, Reds’ lack of playoff seasoning

Cubs vs. Padres – A True Toss-Up

This Cubs-Padres series? Nobody can quite call it. Losing ace Cade Horton to injury really stings for Chicago, and a lot of people see that as a big edge for San Diego.

Home-Field vs. Bullpen Depth

Chicago still has Wrigley Field’s energy and a bunch of lefties in the rotation. San Diego, though, brings one of the league’s best bullpens and a lineup that can do real damage in close games.

• Cubs’ Strengths: Home-field advantage, left-handed pitching depth
• Padres’ Strengths: Bullpen dominance, star power
• Concerns: Loss of Horton’s arm, Padres’ streaky offense

The Unpredictable Nature of the Wild-Card Round

With just three games to decide who moves on, little mistakes suddenly matter a lot more. One wild swing or a botched play can change everything.

Maybe Skubal overpowers Cleveland, or Judge launches a game-changing homer. Ohtani could deliver in crunch time—honestly, who knows?

Fans should brace for high-stakes drama. Baseball’s shortest playoff stage has a knack for delivering its biggest thrills.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Wild Card Series predictions: The Athletic MLB staff picks the winners for each series