2025 NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES “A”
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| SERIES PREVIEW – The top-seeded Sacramento Capitals (119-43) opened their Wild Card against last seed Baltimore Comets (74-88). Sacramento enters the series with the overall advantage in defense and offense. The Capitals led the Comets in pitching during the regular season, with the Capitals and Comets holding team ERAs of 2.94 and 3.96, respectively. Sacramento’s defense boasted a .986 fielding percentage while giving up only 59 unearned during the regular season, while the Comets struggled with a .978 fielding percentage and 87 unearned runs. The Capitals true strength is its offense, however. The Capitals slightly edged batted .268/.336/.466 with 226 Home Runs and a 5.6 R/G versus the Comets’ .230/.287/.375 line with 166 Home Runs and 3.8 R/G. Sacramento looks to be the dominant team on paper, but will Baltimore surprise? |
2025 NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES “C”
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SERIES PREVIEW – N.L. Central Selkirk Steelers (96-66) and N.L. East Triple Creek Patriots (103-59) battle it out in the WC Round.
Head-to-Head Outlook
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2025 AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES “B”
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| SERIES PREVIEW – The AL #2 seed Fremont Cannons take on the #7 seed Cincinnati Skyliners. Cincinnati makes their second postseason ever but second in three years, while the Cannons make it for the fifth year in a row. Fremont has the 1-0 lead from the ghost won before the series starts. Fremont dominated the regular season series with Cincinnati, going 10-3 against the Skyliners.
Batting: Fremont was the 2nd highest scoring team in the AL, while Cincinnati was down at #11. The Skyliners finished 3rd in home runs compared to the Cannons second-place in the category, but batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging average were all strongly on Fremont’s side. Baserunning: Fremont was middle-of-the-pack in steals, while Cincinnati was dead last. Cincinnati was slightly more successful when they did run, at 79.7% compared to the Cannons 77.3% success rate. Fielding: Only a slight edge in fielding for Cincinnati: .982 to .981 Pitching: Fremont’s 2.89 team ERA ranked 3rd, while Cincinnati comes in almost a run higher at 3.78. This edge was about the same for both starting pitching and relieving. Fremont has a big edge in strikeouts, but both teams are stingy on the free passes, finishing 3rd and 4th in that category. |
2025 NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES “B”
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| SERIES PREVIEW – #7 Alamo Defenders 94-68 vs. #2 Tempe Tempers 115-47
Alamo has a powerful 1-9 lineup, an outstanding bullpen, and a collection of gold glove catchers to shut down the run game. With 94 wins, the Defenders would normally be a much higher playoff seed and would have avoided the dreaded ghost win disadvantage. Unfortunately for them, this is the first a year team has won over 90 wins and been seeded below a #6. They’ll need a lot of luck to beat Tempe who has the NL’s #1 pitching, #1 defense, and #3 offense. Plus a 1-0 series lead before the first pitch. |
2025 AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD CARD SERIES “D”
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| SERIES PREVIEW – The MWBL American League Wild Card Round is set for a thrilling showdown as the Tijuana Bottle Rockets (89-73) face off against the Detroit Crime (101-61). Despite Detroit’s superior record and second-place finish in the AL Central, Tijuana holds a psychological edge, having taken the regular season series 7 games to 6.
Detroit Crime: Powerhouse with Star Power Detroit enters the series with a formidable lineup and a pitching staff that’s among the league’s best. Shortstop Bobby Witt Jr. has been the engine of the offense, slashing .319/.371/.591 with 203 hits, 33 home runs, 118 runs scored, and 30 stolen bases. He’s joined by sluggers Kyle Schwarber (41 HR, 109 RBI) and Bryce Harper (.270 AVG, 28 HR, 81 R), while Manny Machado (25 HR, 73 RBI) adds depth. On the mound, Detroit boasts ace Zack Wheeler, who posted a dazzling 21-4 record with a 1.76 ERA and 241 strikeouts over 215 innings, holding opponents to a .129 average. Supporting Wheeler are Sean Manaea (13-8, 3.19 ERA), Ronel Blanco (11-11, 2.79 ERA), and Paul Skenes (12-4, 152 IP, 189 K), giving Detroit a rotation built for October. Tijuana Bottle Rockets: Speed, Grit, and Timely Hitting Tijuana may be the underdog, but they’re riding a five-game winning streak and have proven they can beat Detroit. The offense is led by Ian Happ (.258 AVG, 21 HR, 92.6 runs created), Corbin Carroll (102 R, 33 SB, 19 HR), and Isiah Kiner-Falefa (.255 AVG, 49.8 runs created). Isaac Paredes (85 RBI, 20 HR) and Cedric Mullins (69 R, 29 SB) provide additional spark, while the team’s speed—led by Carroll, Mullins, and Pete Crow-Armstrong—could be a difference-maker. On the hill, Cristian Sanchez (13-7, 2.49 ERA, 195 IP) and Framber Valdez (11-12, 3.16 ERA, 185 IP) anchor the rotation, both holding opponents under a .200 batting average. Gabriel Rodriguez (14-3, .824 win pct.) and reliever AJ Puk (80 IP, .175 OBA) give the Bottle Rockets a fighting chance in close games. Series Outlook Detroit’s star power and pitching depth make them favorites, but Tijuana’s speed and knack for timely hitting—plus their regular season success against the Crime—set the stage for a potential upset. Expect a hard-fought series where every run, and every stolen base, could tip the balance. Let the Wild Card fireworks begin! |
