2025 Postseason Primer | Baseball Prospectus

October 4, 1582 was the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. October 5, 1582 did not exist. Neither did the sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, 10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th days of the tenth (eighth) month, with the fifth being succeeded directly by October 15. This was in order to rectify the flaws of a calendar that was off by 11 minutes and 14 seconds, a minor divergence that was allowed to build for a millenium.

Today is the day that doesn’t exist. Baseball, at least, in its major-league, North American incarnation. There would have been three tiebreaker games under the playoff system that was cast off heading into 2022, but we’re on a different calendar now. Thankfully, we’re free from the flaws of…more high-stakes baseball. Tomorrow’s a new day, though. As is October 4, a Saturday, and one we’re fairly certain is to be succeeded by the fifth. There’s baseball to play, and, as ever, BP’s got it covered.

First, the matchups for the Wild Card Series, which will commence tomorrow, and the Division Series, which will begin Saturday. You can read our AL Wild Card Series preview here and our NL Wild Card Series preview will be available later today. For each series, we’ll have a broader preview that runs the day before, and we’ll also preview each specific postseason game, providing insights, predicted lineups/pitchers, game (and updated series) odds, and more!

AL Wild Card 1: Detroit at Cleveland, 1:08 PM ET Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday*AL Wild Card 2: Boston at New York, 6:08 PM ET Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday*NL Wild Card 1: San Diego at Chicago, 3:08 PM ET Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday*NL Wild Card 2: Cincinnati at Los Angeles, 9:08 PM ET Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday*

*if necessary

We’ve helpfully calculated the odds of each Wild Card Series, and we’ve got good news…if you’re a fan of the Dodgers or Yankees, which, statistically…

AL Wild Card 1: Detroit 49.7%, Cleveland 50.3%AL Wild Card 2: Boston 27.5%, New York 72.5%NL Wild Card 1: Cincinnati 19.2%, Los Angeles 80.8%NL Wild Card 2: San Diego 50.4%, Chicago 49.6%

While October 4 and 5 exist, featuring the first games of each of the division series, October 3 does not, as it’s another down day between series. Each Division Series in both leagues begins on Sunday, with the staggering of series starting thereafter and ensuring at least the possibility of a game each day between then and the start of the World Series. Times for all the games to follow are TBD.

ALDS 1: [Winner of Detroit/Cleveland] vs. Seattle, Saturday/Sunday/Tuesday/Wednesday*/Friday*

ALDS 2:  [Winner of Boston/New York] vs. Toronto, Saturday/Sunday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday

NLDS 1: [Winner of San Diego/Chicago] vs. Milwaukee, Saturday/Monday/Wednesday/Thursday*/Friday*

NLDS 2: [Winner of Cincinnati/Los Angeles] vs. Philadelphia, Saturday/Monday/Wednesday/Thursday*/Friday*

There are, as you might be aware, two further series, though we as of yet do not know the participants. The ALCS is scheduled from October 12 to 20, the NLCS from October 13 to 21, and the World Series from October 24 to November 1.

Now, let’s run through where you can actually watch these games. Enjoy the following, unwieldy chart:

ALWC 1 
NLWC 1
ALWC 2
NLWC 2

DET @ CLE, 1:08 ET
SD @ CHC, 3:08 ET
BOS @ NYY, 6:08 ET
CIN @ LAD, 9:08 ET

Game 1
9/30, ESPN
9/30, ABC
9/30, ESPN
9/30, ESPN

Game 2
10/1, ESPN
10/1, ABC
10/1, ESPN
10/1, ESPN

Game 3
10/2, ESPN
10/2, ABC
10/2, ESPN
10/2, ESPN

Okay, that wasn’t so bad. Don’t worry, though, it gets worse.

ALDS 1 
NLDS 1
NLDS 1
NLDS 2

[DET/CLE] vs. SEA, times TBA
[SD/CHC] vs. PHI, times TBA
[BOS/NYY] vs. TOR, times TBA
[CIN/LAD] vs. MIL, times TBA

Game 1
10/4, FOX/FS1
10/4, TBS
10/4, FOX/FS1
10/4, TBS

Game 2
10/5, FOX/FS1
10/6, TBS
10/5, FOX/FS1
10/6, TBS

Game 3
10/7, FOX/FS1
10/8, TBS
10/7, FOX/FS1
10/8, TBS

Game 4
10/8, FOX/FS1
10/9, TBS
10/8, FOX/FS1
10/9, TBS

Game 5
10/10, FOX/FS1
10/11, TBS
10/10, FOX/FS1
10/11, TBS

I just want to note that all of these games have start times listed as TBD, but they definitely do have start times scheduled due to the constraints of travel, television networks, etc., and it seems an odd choice not to put that information out as early as is possible.

The ALCS will be broadcast in its entirety on FOX/FS1; The NLCS will be exclusively on TBS, and the World Series will be on FOX (and apparently not FS1).

So, to recap: each Wild Card Series will start all three of their games at the same, seemingly market share-driven time; all of the series but one will be on ESPN. All of the subsequent AL-side postseason games will be on FOX/FS1, and the NLDS and NLCS will be on TBS. The World Series will be on FOX. And if you have FS1, well that just sucks.

Enjoy the postseason, and make sure to stick with BP for all your preview needs.