It is finally here. Today, the quest to become the 2025 World Series champion begins with the first games of the Wild Card Series. By the end of tomorrow, that dream will be over for as many as four of the 12 teams who qualified for the postseason. Careers can be made or ruined during the playoffs. You think that is bold? I have 10 more bold statements to make (if any one of these come true, I will be amazed).
10. No-Hitters Make A Comeback
After becoming the first regular season since 2005 to not have a no-hitter, there will be two no-hitters pitched this postseason. That would be quite the feat considering there have only been three no-hit games in MLB postseason history, including one perfect game. For the longest time, Don Larsen of the New York Yankees was the lone entry in the record books, having authored a perfect game in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series vs. the Brooklyn Dodgers. That stood alone until Roy Halladay of the Philadelphia Phillies no-hit the Cincinnati Reds in Game 1 of the 2010 NL Division Series. Then, Cristian Javier and three relievers — Bryan Abreu, Rafael Montero and Ryan Pressly — combined on a no-hitter for the Houston Astros in Game 4 of the 2022 World Series vs. the Phillies.
9. Elly Leaves His Mark
The Cincinnati Reds might not stick around very long in this year’s postseason, but that doesn’t mean shortstop Elly De La Cruz won’t leave an impression. De La Cruz didn’t have spectacular numbers this season, hitting 22 homers and stealing 37 bases a year after clobbering 25 round-trippers and swiping 67 bases. But he showed signs of being a better hitter, cutting down his strikeouts while having a slightly improve average. But with the postseason spotlight, De La Cruz shines in the NL Wild Card Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. A switch-hitter with better power hitting left-handed, will become the first player to hit two homers out of Dodger Stadium in the same game. And he will hit one from each side of the plate. He will also steal five bases in the series and reap the rewards with a big contract in the offseason.
8. One Reliever Will Set A Record
The record for most appearances by one pitcher in a single postseason is 14. That mark was set by Cleveland left-hander Paul Assenmacher in 1997, then tied by Dodgers right-hander Brandon Morrow in 2017. Assenmacher was a 36-year-old lefty specialist and only pitched 9⅓ innings, including five AL Championship Series appearances for just two innings in which he faced 12 batters. Morrow was a little more conventional as he threw 13⅔ innings in his lone career postseason as a 32-year-old. Morrow was a workhorse in the World Series against the Astros, pitching in all seven games, but accruing just 5⅓ innings. Who will break that record this year? If I told you now, it would be a spoiler to another bold prediction, so you will have to read on further.
7. Power Outage For HR Leaders
Cal Raleigh of the Seattle Mariners and Kyle Schwarber of the Philadelphia Phillies have made their own marks on the history books this season. Raleigh in particular, not only leading MLB with 60 homers, but breaking the record for homers by a switch-hitter as well as the mark for a catcher. Schwarber, meanwhile, had a record-tying four-homer game, one of three in MLB this season, as part of his 56-homer season. Of those, Schwarber hit 22 off left-handed pitching, tying the single-season high by a left-handed slugger in MLB history (matching Atlanta’s Matt Olson in 2021), and 14 against lefty relievers, the most by a lefty hitter.
But neither will hit a homer in the postseason. That doesn’t mean they won’t have individual or team success, it just means Raleigh and Schwarber won’t be trotting around the bases after demolishing a ball like they did in the regular season. Will their power be needed? Will someone else on their team fill that power void? As the Magic 8 Ball might say, “Ask again later.”
6. Yankees Go For Playoff Beards
Marking the first season in which Yankees players are able to have facial hair, AL batting champion Aaron Judge rallies the troops to grow NHL-style playoff beards. The Yankees’ updated policy announced before this season included “well-groomed beards,” meaning that no one is going to end up with something like what former NHL star Joe Thornton had during his playing days (I swear I saw a squirrel once). The move is met with a lot of backlash from Yankees fans, mostly because they don’t think outfielder Jasson Domínguez can grow facial hair. You know, a Martian thing. The plan ultimately backfires as the Yankees lose their first series with only minimal facial hair showing on the majority of players.
5. Scott Saves The Day — Again And Again
To put it mildly, the back end of the Dodgers’ bullpen had a horrible end of the season. Left-hander Tanner Scott, who signed a four-year, $78 million contract to be the closer for the defending World Series champions, finished seven games in September and had as many blown saves as saves (2). Scott also led MLB in blown saves this season with 10 and has a rather scary 4.74 ERA for the season. It gets worse with Blake Treinen (5.40 ERA), but we are just going to focus on the closer.
With the postseason a chance to right the wrongs of the regular season, Scott is going to be a dominant figure and retire every batter he faces from the beginning of the NL Wild Card Series until the Dodgers are eliminated or repeat as champions (Will they? More on that below). LOCK. IT. DOWN.
4. Guardians’ Hit Machine Produces
I kind of feel like Cleveland Guardians left fielder Steven Kwan had a rather blase season. In his fourth MLB year, I really thought he would take a big step up in production. Instead, he was right about where his career numbers have been, finishing with a .272/.330/.374 slash line with 11 homers and a career-high 56 RBIs. He also matched his career high with 21 steals.
Following the Guardians’ magical run to the postseason, in which they erased a 15½-game deficit from early July and won the AL Central, Kwan is about to go off. Kwan will channel his inner Luis Arraez (the version that one three straight batting titles with different teams) and hit like no one has ever seen before. From my research, the best I can tell is the record for most singles in one postseason is 20 by Marty Barrett of the Boston Red Sox in 1986. Kwan will single playoff foes to death, racking up two dozen hits — but all singles. Yes, 24 singles in one postseason without an extra-base hit. The record for hits in a single postseason is 29, by Randy Arozarena of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2020. (Yes, I understand the irony of using a Kwan homer below.)
3. Ohtani K’s 10, Hits 3 HRs In A Start
How about some real Tungsten Arm O’Doyle stuff? The one and only Shohei Ohtani has done pretty darn well since returning from his second surgery on his right elbow. In 14 starts covering 47 innings, he posted a 2.87 ERA. Of the 15 runs he allowed, nine came in back-to-back outings, only to come back strong in his final four starts of the regular season, surrendering just one run in 19⅔ innings. His last regular-season start was six shutout innings, his longest of the year.
That only means one thing. Ohtani is going to do something that no one has ever done in the postseason. Not only is the three-time MVP — and probable four-timer when awards season rolls around — going to have his first double-digit strikeout game of 2025, but he is going to wield his power and crush three homers in the same game. Just imagine that: 10 strikeouts and three homers by the same guy in a postseason game? Legendary stuff.
2. Manfred Creates Playoff Rule
In his address before the World Series, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred will unveil a new rule following teams with lower payrolls advancing to the Fall Classic and the New York Mets failing to make the playoffs. Manfred, citing his power as commissioner, will declare that if a team with a top-five payroll doesn’t make the playoffs and the team that beat them out for a spot is eliminated in the Wild Card Series, the high-payroll team will get a one-game playoff against the advancing team for a shot at the Division Series. For example, if the Reds lose to the Dodgers, the Mets would get one game to beat the Dodgers for spot in the NLDS. It will be known as the Steve Cohen Exception.
1. Mariners Out-Vibe The Brewers
We save the best for last. And by best, I mean best friends. What else can you say about two cities who share a baseball history meeting in the World Series? Wait, you don’t know about the history? Quickly, the Seattle Pilots were an expansion team in 1969, but it was obvious things wouldn’t work out. So a group led by Bud Selig — yes, the future MLB commissioner — purchased the Pilots and moved them to Milwaukee, a move that became official just days before Opening Day for the 1970 season. That is a big reason why the Mariners’ colors are blue and gold, just like what the the Brewers use.
But this season has been about the good vibes with each club. We heard a lot about the Brewers’ success and the Power of Friendship, which has more to do with Milwaukee posting MLB’s best record than pocket pancakes. The feeling has been pretty good most of the season with the Mariners, too, but really came to the forefront thanks to their stunning late-season run to the AL West championship.
That would make a Brewers-Mariners World Series a very fan-friendly matchup, even if TV and MLB executives would hate it, especially after last year’s coastal powers showdown between the Dodgers and Yankees. But what L.A. and New York didn’t provide last year was drama. The Dodgers won in five games. While all but one game was fairly close, the Dodgers easily proved themselves as the much better team.
The 2025 World Series will be full of drama thanks to the spirit of friendship. The Mariners will be led into the Fall Classic by first baseman Josh Naylor, who will win the AL Championship Series MVP, while the designated hitter Christian Yelich will be the clutch player for the Brewers as they advance. In the World Series, center fielder Julio Rodríguez will seize the moment and capture the MVP and taking his place in Mariners lore by bringing Seattle a championship in its first World Series appearance. For the Brewers, it will be another seven-game heartache. Outfielder Jackson Chourio will rise to the occasion as he did last year as a rookie and keep the Brewers’ hopes of their first World Series title alive. Despite pulling out Gorman Thomas — who was on the 1982 Brewers team that lost in seven games to the St. Louis Cardinals and also played for the Mariners in his career — to throw out the ceremonial first pitch, it will be Seattle spraying champagne at American Family Field. It will come with Brewers left-hander Aaron Ashby appearing in his postseason-record 16th game.
