MLB Wild Card Series 2025: How Many Games Are Played and Full Wild Card Schedule Breakdown

The MLB postseason has officially arrived, and with it comes the high-stakes drama of the Wild Card round. Every year, fans search for clarity on how many games in Wild Card Series are played and what the exact Wild Card schedule looks like. With the 2025 bracket underway, baseball followers are treated to four intense series where every pitch, hit, and managerial move can swing the outcome. Unlike the lengthy Division Series or the best-of-seven League Championship Series, the Wild Card round has its own unique structure that amps up the pressure from the first pitch.

How Many Games in Wild Card Series?

The answer is straightforward: the Wild Card Series is a best-of-three contest. This means the first team to win two games advances, while the other is eliminated. A Game 3 is played only if necessary, making the opening game especially decisive.

This format replaced the old one-game elimination style, giving teams a slightly larger margin for error but still keeping the drama intact. The structure creates a mix of strategy and urgency, as managers must decide how to balance pitching rotations and bullpen arms without the luxury of a long series.

Wild Card Series Format & Structure

Here’s how the postseason structure works:

• American League:

  • Seed 3 (lowest-seeded division winner) hosts Seed 6

  • Seed 4 hosts Seed 5

• National League:

  • Seed 3 hosts Seed 6

  • Seed 4 hosts Seed 5

All games are played at the higher-seeded team’s ballpark, giving them a major advantage in front of their home crowd.

Key Features of the Format

• No travel days — the series is played on three consecutive days.

• Game 3 is only played if both teams split the first two games.

• Winners advance to the Division Series against the top-seeded clubs.

This condensed schedule not only tests team depth but also rewards those with consistent pitching and strong bullpen arms.

2025 Wild Card Schedule

The official 2025 Wild Card schedule runs from Tuesday, September 30 through Thursday, October 2. Here is the breakdown:

The compact nature ensures fans get wall-to-wall action without long breaks, making this one of the most exciting stretches of the baseball calendar.

2025 Wild Card Matchups

American League

• Cleveland Guardians (3) vs. Detroit Tigers (6): Detroit struck first, taking Game 1 on the road.

• New York Yankees (4) vs. Boston Red Sox (5): A historic rivalry reignites, with New York holding home-field advantage throughout the series.

National League

• Los Angeles Dodgers (3) vs. Cincinnati Reds (6): The Dodgers, perennial contenders, are heavily favored but face an energized Reds squad.

• Chicago Cubs (4) vs. San Diego Padres (5): Chicago thrilled fans with back-to-back homers to claim Game 1.

How Many Games in MLB Playoffs Beyond the Wild Card?

While the Wild Card Series is best-of-three, the rest of the postseason expands:

• Division Series: Best-of-five

• League Championship Series: Best-of-seven

• World Series: Best-of-seven

This tiered system ensures a balance between the intensity of the opening round and the endurance test of the later stages.

Wild Card Series Best of 3 or 5: Why It Matters

One of the most debated questions is whether the Wild Card Series should be best of 3 or 5. Currently, the best-of-three format favors drama and unpredictability. Winning Game 1 carries enormous weight — historically, most teams that win the opener advance. However, critics argue a best-of-five would better reward the stronger teams and reduce the chance of fluke upsets.

For fans, the best-of-three format delivers rapid-fire excitement, giving underdogs a real shot while keeping every inning meaningful.

Wild Card Round Dates and Broadcasts

Every game is played on consecutive days with no off-days in between. ESPN’s networks hold the rights, with ABC covering select National League matchups. The tight scheduling ensures the postseason momentum rolls quickly into the Division Series.

This design avoids drawn-out waiting periods and creates a sense of urgency rarely seen in baseball, which is normally played over long series and extended calendars.