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2025 MLB Playoffs: Expected start date, how to watch, format

With the 2024 MLB Playoffs officially behind us, let’s look ahead to the 2025 postseason.

While the MLB has not released an official schedule beyond the end of the 2025 regular season, we still know plenty about it, including when it might begin, how to watch and stream it, format, and more.

MLB Playoffs 2025 expected start date

A potential start date for the 2025 MLB playoffs is Monday, September 29, 2025.

The final day of the regular season is Sunday, September 28, and traditionally the postseason begins the following day.

This expected start date could be altered by division or Wild Card tiebreakers, or games that need to be made up, as we saw with the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves in 2024.

How to watch MLB Playoffs, TV channel and streaming

ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, FOX, FS1, TBS, truTV and MAX are the primary TV channels and streaming services that will show the MLB Playoffs in the United States.

Each station has the rights to broadcast the MLB Playoffs though at least 2025, with TBS and FOX holding rights until at least 2028.

Below are the broadcasters for each round in 2024, which is expected to be similar in 2025.

  • Wild Card Series: ABC, ESPN, ESPN2
  • Division Series: FOX, FOX Sports 1 (NL), TBS, truTV (AL)
  • Championship Series: FOX (NL), TBS (AL)
  • World Series: FOX

MLB Playoffs 2025 format

The first stage in the MLB Playoffs, the Wild Card Series, are all best-of-three series. The top two seeds in each of the AL and NL get a bye and do not participate in this round.

The second stage, the Division Series, are best-of-five series. The top two teams in each league enter the playoffs at this stage.

The League Championship Series and World Series are best-of-seven matchups.

Read the latest MLB news on site.

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