# 2025 American League Division Series
The 2025 American League Division Series consisted of two best-of-five playoff series in [Major League Baseball](https://www.edgepedia.org/major-league-baseball), played October 4 to 10, 2025, in which the [Toronto Blue Jays](https://www.edgepedia.org/toronto-blue-jays) eliminated the [New York Yankees](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-yankees) 3-1 while the Seattle Mariners outlasted the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Jorge Polanco's walk-off single in a record 15-inning Game 5.[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS2.shtml) • [2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS1.shtml) • [3](https://apnews.com/article/tigers-mariners-score-alds-skubal-483df1fa26a6bb4fa01c4c2ba8742340) The two winners then met in the American League Championship Series.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Matchups | No. 1 seed Toronto vs. No. 4 New York; No. 2 Seattle vs. No. 6 Detroit[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups) |
| Results | Toronto over New York 3-1; Seattle over Detroit 3-2[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS2.shtml) • [2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS1.shtml) |
| Format | Best-of-five, 2-2-1, higher seed hosting Games 1, 2 and 5; no reseeding[5](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/mlb/mlb-playoffs-2025-division-series-bracket-schedule-how-to-watch/3785965/) |
| Defining game | Game 5 in Seattle: 3-2 in 15 innings, 4 hours 58 minutes, the longest winner-take-all postseason game by innings and elapsed time[3](https://apnews.com/article/tigers-mariners-score-alds-skubal-483df1fa26a6bb4fa01c4c2ba8742340) • [6](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/why-there-was-no-way-the-mariners-were-losing-historic-15-inning-alds-game-5/) |
| Pitching record | Detroit's Tarik Skubal struck out 13, a postseason record in a winner-take-all game[7](https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-win-alds-2025-vs-tigers) |
| Broadcast | FOX/FS1, with Game 1 in Seattle at 8:38 p.m. ET on October 4[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups) |
## Background and qualification
Toronto and New York finished the regular season with identical 94-68 records, but Toronto won the AL East via its 8-5 head-to-head tiebreaker against New York, taking the league's top seed, a first-round bye, and home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs. Toronto clinched its first AL East title since 2015 on September 28, and went 6-1 against New York at [Rogers Centre](https://www.edgepedia.org/rogers-centre) during the season.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups) Seattle won the AL West for the first time since 2001, ending the second-longest division-title drought in the majors, and earned the No. 2 seed and the AL's other bye.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups) • [5](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/mlb/mlb-playoffs-2025-division-series-bracket-schedule-how-to-watch/3785965/)The two wild-card entrants advanced through the best-of-three Wild Card Series. New York took the AL's fourth seed despite not winning its division; Detroit earned the [No. 6](https://www.edgepedia.org/no-6) seed after blowing a 12.5-game lead for first in the AL Central to [Cleveland](https://www.edgepedia.org/cleveland) but winning its Wild Card Series. The Mariners-Tigers matchup was their first postseason meeting.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups) Because the Yankees did not win the AL East, Toronto and Seattle received the byes even though New York tied Toronto for the best record in the league.[8](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/mlb/news/mlb-division-series-format-rules-games-alds-nlds/bd3641520f6611fd515a7165)
## Format and schedule
The MLB postseason follows a bracket format with no reseeding. After the best-of-three Wild Card Series, the Division Series is best-of-five in a 2-2-1 arrangement: the higher seed hosts Games 1 and 2, the lower seed hosts Games 3 and 4, and the higher seed hosts a decisive Game 5 if necessary.[5](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/mlb/mlb-playoffs-2025-division-series-bracket-schedule-how-to-watch/3785965/) All four Division Series in both leagues began Saturday, October 4, 2025; the ALDS ran through a potential Game 5 on October 10.[9](https://apnews.com/article/mlb-postseason-guide-division-series-fff88f568c1b13ba5c3f249ec765bef3) • [4](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups) Toronto hosted New York, and Seattle hosted Detroit, in Games 1, 2 and 5.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups)
## Blue Jays vs. Yankees
Toronto took the series 3-1 with two lopsided home wins and one road loss:[2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS1.shtml)
- **Game 1, October 4 (Toronto):** Blue Jays 10, Yankees 1. Win: [Kevin Gausman](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-gausman); loss: Luis Gil.
- **Game 2, October 5 (Toronto):** Blue Jays 13, Yankees 7. Win: [Trey Yesavage](https://www.edgepedia.org/trey-yesavage); loss: [Max Fried](https://www.edgepedia.org/max-fried).
- **Game 3, October 7 (New York):** Yankees 9, Blue Jays 6. Win: Tim Hill; save: David Bednar.
- **Game 4, October 8 (New York):** Blue Jays 5, Yankees 2. Win: Seranthony Domínguez; loss: Cam Schlittler; save: Jeff Hoffman.[2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS1.shtml)
Toronto's two home wins came by a combined margin of 15 runs, a blowout profile that contrasted sharply with the other ALDS, in which Games 1 and 2 in Seattle were each decided by one run.[2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS1.shtml) • [1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS2.shtml)
## Mariners vs. Tigers
The Seattle-Detroit series was decided in the shortest and longest ways: three one-run games and a Game 5 that stretched to 15 innings.[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS2.shtml) • [3](https://apnews.com/article/tigers-mariners-score-alds-skubal-483df1fa26a6bb4fa01c4c2ba8742340)
- **Game 1, October 4 (Seattle):** Tigers 3, Mariners 2 (11 innings). Win: Will Vest; loss: Carlos Vargas.
- **Game 2, October 5 (Seattle):** Mariners 3, Tigers 2. Win: Matt Brash; save: Andrés Muñoz.
- **Game 3, October 7 (Detroit):** Mariners 8, Tigers 4, behind Logan Gilbert.
- **Game 4, October 8 (Detroit):** Tigers 9, Mariners 3. Win: Troy Melton; loss: [Gabe Speier](https://www.edgepedia.org/gabe-speier).
- **Game 5, October 10 (Seattle):** Mariners 3, Tigers 2 (15 innings). Win: Luis Castillo; loss: Tommy Kahnle.[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS2.shtml)
**Game 5.** Jorge Polanco hit a game-ending single through the right-side hole with one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 15th, giving Seattle a 3-2 win in the longest winner-take-all postseason game in baseball history.[3](https://apnews.com/article/tigers-mariners-score-alds-skubal-483df1fa26a6bb4fa01c4c2ba8742340) • [7](https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-win-alds-2025-vs-tigers) The rally began with a J.P. Crawford single, a [Randy Arozarena](https://www.edgepedia.org/randy-arozarena) hit-by-pitch, and an intentional walk to [Julio Rodríguez](https://www.edgepedia.org/julio-rodriguez) before Polanco's hit off Tommy Kahnle.[7](https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-win-alds-2025-vs-tigers) Castillo pitched 1 1/3 innings for the win in his first major league relief appearance, and Seattle stranded 12 runners on base before finally breaking through.[3](https://apnews.com/article/tigers-mariners-score-alds-skubal-483df1fa26a6bb4fa01c4c2ba8742340)
## Statistical leaders and records
Detroit starter [Tarik Skubal](https://www.edgepedia.org/tarik-skubal) struck out 13 batters in Game 5, a postseason record in a winner-take-all game, and allowed only one run, which [Josh Naylor](https://www.edgepedia.org/josh-naylor) manufactured in the second inning. Despite his work, Seattle's pitchers outdid the Detroit offense: the Mariners held Detroit to 8-for-51 (.157) with two extra-base hits, four walks and 17 strikeouts in Game 5.[7](https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-win-alds-2025-vs-tigers)
The series carried regular-season context on both sides. Seattle catcher [Cal Raleigh](https://www.edgepedia.org/cal-raleigh) had become the seventh player in MLB history with a 60-homer season, setting records for catchers and switch-hitters, led the American League with 125 RBIs, and won the 2025 Home Run Derby; Seattle had outhomered Detroit 238-198 in the regular season.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups) At the other extreme, Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena batted .174 with a .487 OPS in the series, down from .238 with a .760 OPS in the regular season.[1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS2.shtml)
Game 5 lasted four hours and 58 minutes, and after what the Seattle Times called a buffet of missed opportunities, the Mariners finally came through in the 15th.[6](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/why-there-was-no-way-the-mariners-were-losing-historic-15-inning-alds-game-5/)
## Strategy and defining moments
The most debated decision of the series concerned Skubal's exit.
Toronto's seeding carried its own consequences: the Blue Jays' 8-5 head-to-head tiebreaker edge over New York delivered the top seed, the bye, and home-field advantage throughout the AL playoffs, which put Games 1 and 2 of their ALDS, both wins, at Rogers Centre.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups) • [9](https://apnews.com/article/mlb-postseason-guide-division-series-fff88f568c1b13ba5c3f249ec765bef3)
## By the numbers, and the sibling division series
The two ALDS ran on opposite competitive profiles. Toronto's wins over New York included a 10-1 and a 13-7 rout, while Seattle-Detroit featured three one-run games, two of them in extra innings, and a decisive Game 5 decided by a single with the bases loaded.[2](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS1.shtml) • [1](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS2.shtml)
The concurrent National League Division Series opened the same day, October 4, with the Milwaukee Brewers beating the Chicago Cubs 9-3 and the Los Angeles Dodgers taking Game 1 in Philadelphia 5-3 behind Shohei Ohtani, who started on the mound after hitting a career-high 55 regular-season home runs with a 2.87 ERA in 14 starts since mid-June.[10](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-playoff-bracket-schedule-2025/) • [9](https://apnews.com/article/mlb-postseason-guide-division-series-fff88f568c1b13ba5c3f249ec765bef3)
## Aftermath and the ALCS
The victory sent Seattle to its fourth ALCS in franchise history and its first since 2001, against the AL East champion Blue Jays in Toronto.[7](https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-win-alds-2025-vs-tigers) • [3](https://apnews.com/article/tigers-mariners-score-alds-skubal-483df1fa26a6bb4fa01c4c2ba8742340) Seattle took Game 1 of the AL Championship Series 10-3 before a crowd of 44,814, and Toronto answered on October 13 with a 13-4 win in Game 2 before 46,471.[11](https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/playoff_year/2025/)
## Roster factors
Seattle entered the series with uncertainty over pitcher Bryan Woo's availability due to a pectoral issue, while Detroit arrived having watched Skubal strike out 14 over 7 2/3 innings in the Wild Card Series opener.[4](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups)
## References
1. [2025 AL Division Series - Seattle Mariners over Detroit Tigers (3-2), Baseball-Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS2.shtml)
2. [2025 AL Division Series - Toronto Blue Jays over New York Yankees (3-1), Baseball-Reference](https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2025_ALDS1.shtml)
3. [Polanco hits winning single as the Mariners beat the Tigers, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/tigers-mariners-score-alds-skubal-483df1fa26a6bb4fa01c4c2ba8742340)
4. [MLB 2025 Division Series matchups, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-2025-division-series-matchups)
5. [MLB playoffs 2025 ALDS, NLDS bracket, schedule, how to watch games, NBC Los Angeles](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/mlb/mlb-playoffs-2025-division-series-bracket-schedule-how-to-watch/3785965/)
6. [Why there was no way the Mariners were losing historic 15-inning ALDS Game 5, The Seattle Times](https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/why-there-was-no-way-the-mariners-were-losing-historic-15-inning-alds-game-5/)
7. [Mariners win ALDS 2025 vs. Tigers, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/news/mariners-win-alds-2025-vs-tigers)
8. [MLB Division Series format, explained, Sporting News](https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/mlb/news/mlb-division-series-format-rules-games-alds-nlds/bd3641520f6611fd515a7165)
9. [What to watch during MLB's best-of-5 Division Series, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/mlb-postseason-guide-division-series-fff88f568c1b13ba5c3f249ec765bef3)
10. [MLB playoffs 2025: Postseason bracket, schedule and results, CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-playoff-bracket-schedule-2025/)
11. [2025 MLB Playoffs, The Baseball Cube](https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/playoff_year/2025/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Other team and ball sports › Baseball and related bat sports › Professional baseball in the Americas › MLB seasons and year-in-baseball chronology › MLB seasons and team seasons*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license