The playoff field is all set! Major League Baseball isn’t waiting until October for October baseball. Instead, we’re getting the postseason action on the last day of September. The MLB playoffs begin Tuesday, September 30, and that’s when all four of the Wild Card Series will be tipping off. The division rivals are set to battle it out. In the American League, while the Yankees will go against their longtime archrivals, the Red Sox, the Cleveland Guardians take on the Detroit Tigers.

On the other hand, the Los Angeles Dodgers will take on the Cincinnati Reds, and the Chicago Cubs will clash with the San Diego Padres in the National League. Out of all these eight teams, four Wild Card series winners will advance to their Divisional Playoffs. But for now, here’s what you need to know for tuning in to Major League Baseball’s 2025 Wild Card games.

Where to watch the Cleveland Guardians vs. the Detroit Tigers? Know the full schedule, date, timings, and weather update

After closing in the regular season at 88-74, the Cleveland Guardians will go against the Detroit Tigers, who wrapped up the season at 87-75.

For Tuesday’s game, the Tigers could send starter Tarik Skubal, holding a 13-6 record with a 2.21 ERA. On the other hand, the Guardians are likely to send Gavin Williams with a 12-5 record and a 3.06 ERA.

Let’s take a look at the schedule:

• Game 1: Tuesday, September 30, 1:08 p.m. at Progressive Field
• Game 2: Wednesday, October 1, 1:08 p.m. at Progressive Field
• Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, October 2, 1:08 p.m. at Progressive Field

Where and how to watch?

• Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
• Time: 1:08 PM EST
• Site: Progressive Field
• City: Cleveland, OH
• Network/Streaming: ESPN
• International Viewers: Check out the local listings or streaming platforms that carry ESPN content
• Weather Forecast: 0% chance of rain, a temperature of around 76°F

Where to watch the Chicago Cubs vs. the San Diego Padres? Know the full schedule, date, timings, and weather update

As the Chicago Cubs host the San Diego Padres for the Wild Card series in 2025, it will mark their first time since 2020 to make it to the playoffs. They will be hosting San Diego on Tuesday afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Wrapping up their season at 92-70, the Cubs handed a three-game sweep to the St. Louis Cardinals to close out the regular season. On the other hand, the Padres, with a 90-72 record, finished their regular season strong, securing seven of their last eight games.

For the first game of the Wild Card Series 2025, the Padres are expected to send Nick Pivetta (13-5, 2.87 ERA) as their starter. Meanwhile, the Cubs have not shared their probable starting pitcher yet.

Let’s take a look at the schedule:

• Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30 – Padres at Cubs, 12:08 p.m. PT / 3:08 p.m. ET
• Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1 – Padres at Cubs, 12:08 p.m. PT / 3:08 p.m. ET
• Game 3 (if needed): Thursday, Oct. 2 – Padres at Cubs, time same as above, at Wrigley Field

Where and how to watch?

• Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
• Time: 3:08 PM EST
• Site: Wrigley Field
• City: Chicago, IL
• Network/Streaming: ABC
• Weather forecast: 0% chance of rain with moderate temperature.

Where to watch the New York Yankees vs. the Boston Red Sox? Know the full schedule, date, timings, and weather update

The two biggest blood rivals will commence their best-of-three American League Wild Card Series on Tuesday. Throughout the series, the Yankees, with a 94-68 record, will have the home-field edge as they finished ahead of the Red Sox in the AL standings.

The Wild Card series winner out of these two will advance straight to the Divisional Round. Then, they’ll play the Blue Jays—the No. 1 seed in the American League. From the Red Sox, Garrett Crochet, with an 18-5 record and 2.59 ERA, gets the nod for the starter in Game 1. He will be opposed by Yankees’ starter Max Fried, holding a 19-5 record and 2.86 ERA.

Here’s the schedule:

• Game 1: Tuesday, Sept. 30 – 6:08 p.m. ET
• Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 1 – 6:08 p.m. ET
• Game 3 (if necessary): Thursday, Oct. 2 – 6:08 p.m. ET  (Time subject to change)

Where and how to watch?

• Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
• Time: 6:08 PM EST
• Site: Yankee Stadium
• City: Bronx, NY
• Network/Streaming: ESPN
• Weather update: mostly clear with a temperature of around 78 degrees F and 0% precipitation.

Where to watch the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. the Cincinnati Reds? Know the full schedule, date, timings, and weather update

In the pursuit of their consecutive World Series title, the Dodgers will host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday as they open their Wild Card series. For much of the regular season, the Dodgers, with 93-69, didn’t resemble the same 2024 World Series dominance.

They still rose to the occasion and wrapped the season with five straight wins and outscoring opponents 27–10 to roll straight into October baseball. On the other hand, the Reds with 83–79 also finished strong. They secured seven of their last 10 games and also edged out the Mets to grab the last Wild Card spot in the National League.

The Dodgers are expected to send Blake Snell (5-4, 2.35 ERA) as their starting pitcher, while the Reds could send Hunter Greene (7-4, 2.76 ERA).

Here’s the schedule:

• Game 1: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers Stadium, September 30
• Game 2: Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers Stadium, October 1st
• Game 3 (if necessary): Cincinnati Reds at Los Angeles Dodgers Stadium, October 2nd

Where and how to watch?

• Date: Tuesday, September 30, 2025
• Time: 9:08 PM EST
• Site: Dodger Stadium
• City: Los Angeles, CA
• Network/Streaming: ESPN
• Weather Forecast: 0% chance of precipitation with temperatures around 75 degrees F.

In a month or so, we will have our 2025 World Series champion. But we have a whole bunch of action in the Wild Card Series to follow before that. So, how excited are you?