# MLB: 2025 Postseason

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Tags:** baseball-mlb\
**Created:** [September 29, 2025, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478 "2025-09-29T12:49:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/101 "2025-10-03T00:10:18Z")

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And the Cubs advance!

Sorry, Padres. I was pulling for you, but it wasn’t enough. Now let’s see if the Red Sox can pull it off.

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/102 "2025-10-03T00:14:31Z")

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Huh, looks like we may indeed still keep that streak of “No team that lost the 1st game of the wild card ever came back to win the series” alive.

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**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/103 "2025-10-03T00:14:34Z")

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Listening to Go,Cubs, Go at a Wrigley bar.

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/104 "2025-10-03T01:56:53Z")

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> [@Velocity](#):
>
> Huh, looks like we may indeed still keep that streak of “No team that lost the 1st game of the wild card ever came back to win the series” alive.

The Yankees are pretty close to stopping that.

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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/105 "2025-10-03T02:04:43Z")

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4-0, but it’s not over until it’s over.

Schlittler with a 7 inning 11 K effort, no runs and no walks, 5 scattered hits. Hell of a rookie first post season game.

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**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/106 "2025-10-03T11:59:23Z")

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Padres are wishing Robo umps were already here.

> **[Bogaerts laments 'terrible' call, pines for ABS](https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46473116/padres-bogaerts-says-strikeout-call-messed-whole-game)**
>
> Count Xander Bogaerts among those looking forward to Major League Baseball's new challenge system for balls and strikes next season. The San Diego Padres shortstop just wishes it were in place a little earlier.

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**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/107 "2025-10-03T12:18:55Z")

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> [@What\_Exit](#):
>
> Schlittler with a 7 inning 11 K effort, no runs and no walks, 5 scattered hits. Hell of a rookie first post season game.

Schlitter was in fact the first pitcher in MLB history to put up 8.0+ IP, 0 R, 12+ Ks and 0 BBs in _any_ postseason game. And he did it in his rookie year, in his postseason debut, in a winner-take-all game against the Yankees’ biggest rival, the Red Sox.

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**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/108 "2025-10-03T13:10:42Z")

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A question. Here are the matchups for the divisional series, emphasis mine.

_**Detroit Tigers (AL-6)**_ @ Seattle Mariners (AL-2)  
_**New York Yankees (AL-4)**_ @ Toronto Blue Jays (AL-1)

Los Angeles Dodgers (NL-3) @ Philadelphia Phillies (NL-2)  
Chicago Cubs (NL-4) @ Milwaukee Brewers (NL-1)

Why are these the AL matchups? If I were the Blue Jays I’d be upset: why aren’t I playing the lower seeded team? Why aren’tI playing the Tigers??

Because I should be!!

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**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/109 "2025-10-03T13:16:11Z")

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> [@Bullitt](#):
>
> Why are these the AL matchups? If I were the Blue Jays I’d be upset: why aren’t I playing the lower seeded team? Why aren’tI playing the Tigers??

Because MLB doesn’t reseed the playoff bracket after each round. The #1 seed plays the winner of the WC series between the #4 and #5 seeds, and the #2 seed plays the winner of the WC series between the #3 and #6 seeds.

The reason that the Blue Jays _aren’t_ playing the lower-seeded team is that the #6 Tigers upset the #3 Guardians.

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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/110 "2025-10-03T13:17:52Z")

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They’re on a bracket system and Detroit upset Cleveland who was seeded at #3.

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**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/111 "2025-10-03T13:18:59Z")

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Thanks guys.

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**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/112 "2025-10-03T13:22:54Z")

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Same deal with the NBA playoffs. It’s entirely possible for the #2 and #3 seeds to play each other in the second round, while #4 faces #8.

Same thing in college basketball, too.

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**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/113 "2025-10-03T14:31:07Z")

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Man, I’m wrung out from that series. Losing to the Red Sox is always extra ugh. If the Yankees lose to any of the remaining teams going forward, I won’t be happy but I might even root for that team.

Kudos to the Red Sox for not letting McMahon kill himself. That was a [crazy play.](https://packaged-media.redd.it/3javvrop4tsf1/pb/m2-res_480p.mp4?m=DASHPlaylist.mpd&v=1&e=1759518000&s=da499900efd27608b0b43dcfbde29198d1dc7922). In the old days they would have kicked the crap out of him for invading their dugout. (Exaggerating, of course.)

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**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/114 "2025-10-03T16:22:13Z")

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That strike call on Bogaerts was brutal. I used to be a purist, but after having attended numerous minor league games, I am ready for the robots.

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/115 "2025-10-03T16:26:03Z")

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I did not see it. Was it close or Angel Hernandez level of a bad call? I was taught it Little League that with 2 strikes not to leave it up to the umpire and swing if close even if you think it’s a ball.

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**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/116 "2025-10-03T16:26:37Z")

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It’s at the link provided above.

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**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/117 "2025-10-03T16:30:03Z")

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Below the knee the entire time but still close enough to swing at. If you don’t then you’re putting your faith in an MLB umpire. What was his accuracy all game? If he’s giving close ones or low ones to the pitcher then you can’t not swing in that position.

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**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/118 "2025-10-03T16:30:30Z")

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> [@Saint\_Cad](#):
>
> I was taught it Little League that with 2 strikes not to leave it up to the umpire and swing if close even if you think it’s a ball.

I am frequently (too frequently) amazed by the number of times a batter sits with his bat on his shoulder and watches strike three go by. Unless it’s very clearly a ball, they should be swinging. [I know, easier said than done.]

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**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/119 "2025-10-03T16:38:47Z")

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I’m not that amazed. Hitting a baseball is very hard. Fans would be just as mad if he popped it up because it was borderline pitch.

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**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2025, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mlb-2025-postseason/1023478/120 "2025-10-03T17:42:04Z")

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> [@Zoobi](#):
>
> I’m not that amazed. Hitting a baseball is very hard.

Agreed. The ball is traveling so quickly you have to predict where it’s going long before it even comes close to you. If you aren’t swinging the bat extremely early, you are swinging too late.

You have to watch the pitcher as much as the ball, because once the ball is released it can reach you in half a second (not exaggerating; it usually arrives within 0.4-0.5 seconds). It amazes me that a human being can hit a baseball from an MLB pitcher with any kind of accuracy.

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