MLB Tiebreaker Rules: The Criteria for Deciding Postseason Matchups

As the 2025 MLB regular season draws to a close, several teams are locked in tight tiebreaker battles to secure division titles, seeding, and Wild Card spots. Here's a breakdown of the current tiebreaker scenarios for some of the key contenders.

In the National League (NL), the New York Mets find themselves in a three-way tie for the NL East division with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, and San Diego Padres. The Mets have won their tiebreaker against all three teams, but their division tiebreaker is yet to be determined, as they face the Chicago Cubs (2-1, three games left). The Dodgers, meanwhile, have won their tiebreaker against the Padres but lost it against the Brewers, Cubs, and Mets. Their division tiebreaker is TBD, as they face the Phillies (1-2, three games left).

The NL Wild Card race is just as intense, with the Mets, San Diego, Chicago, and Cincinnati Reds all vying for the final spot. The Mets have won their tiebreaker against none, but have lost it against no one, while the Reds have not won or lost any tiebreakers so far. The Reds' Wild Card tiebreaker is TBD, with games against the Cubs (4-5, four games left), Giants (3-3), Mets (2-1, three games left), and Padres (2-1, three games left). The Giants, who have lost their tiebreaker against the Mets but none against others, will face the Reds in their Wild Card tiebreaker.

The National League West also presents an intriguing tiebreaker scenario, with the Dodgers, Padres, and Philadelphia Phillies all in contention. The Dodgers have won their tiebreaker against the Padres but lost it against the Brewers, Cubs, and Mets. Their division tiebreaker is TBD, as they face the Phillies (3-3). The Padres, who have lost their tiebreaker against the Dodgers but none against others, will also have to play the Phillies in their division tiebreaker.

In the American League (AL), the Kansas City Royals and Houston Astros are tied for the AL Wild Card, with the Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers also in the mix. The Royals and Astros' tiebreaker is TBD, with games against the Guardians (4-5, four games left), Mariners (2-2, three games left), and Rays (3-3), and the Astros against the Guardians (3-3), Mariners (3-3), and Rangers (3-3). The Guardians, who have lost their tiebreaker against none but have lost it against the Mariners and Red Sox, will face the Rangers in their Wild Card tiebreaker.

The AL Wild Card race is not the only tight contest in the AL. The Rays, who have won their tiebreaker against no one but have lost it against no one, will face the Guardians (1-2, four games left), Mariners (3-3), Rangers (3-3), and Royals (3-3) in their Wild Card tiebreaker.

The tiebreaker rules for the 2025 MLB playoffs have been set. For division titles, seeding, and Wild Card spots, tiebreakers will be determined mathematically without additional games. The criteria, in order, are head-to-head records, intradivision records, interdivision records, record in the last 81 intraleague games, and if still tied, the record in the last 82 intraleague games continuing backward until a difference is found.

With just a few games left in the season, these tiebreaker scenarios are sure to add an extra layer of excitement to the final stretch of the 2025 MLB regular season. Stay tuned for updates as the races heat up!