2025 A.L. DIVISION SERIES #2
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| SERIES PREVIEW – The A.L. #2 seed Fremont Cannons take on the #3 seed Coconut Creek Crushers. After a long rebuild, Coconut Creek has made it to the playoffs two years in a row. Despite only winning one more game than last season, they moved from 3rd place to tops in the A.L. West. The Cannons have made it for the fifth year in a row, and made it further than the last year when they were upset in the first round. Fremont had the narrow edge in the regular season matchup, going 7-5 against the Crushers.
Batting: Fremont was the 2nd highest scoring team in the A.L., while Coconut Creek was just behind at #3, though more than 100 runs behind. The Crushers finished 8th in home runs compared to the Cannons second-place in the category, using a balanced lineup to get things done rather than a bunch of superstars. Coconut Creek finished 3rd in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging average but behind Fremont in all three categories. Baserunning: Fremont was middle-of-the-pack in steals, while Coconut Creek was 9th. The Crushers were significantly more successful when running, at 86.5% compared to the Cannons 77.3% success rate. Coconut Creek looks to use their legs to help manufacture runs in this series. Fielding: Only a slight edge in fielding for CCC: .982 to .981 Pitching: Coconut Creek edges Fremont in team ERA at 2.88 to 2.89, 2nd and 3rd in the league. The Crushers had a bigger edge in relief ERA (2.49 to 2.71), though Fremont brings some low innings/high grade relievers to the postseason. The teams were fairly close in both strikeouts and walks, with the Cannons having a slight advantage in both. |
2025 A.L. DIVISION SERIES #1
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| SERIES PREVIEW – October Showdown: Mobsters and Crime Ready to Rumble
The air in the Midwest is getting colder, and the stakes are heating up. In a highly anticipated American League Division Series, the Chicago Mobsters will host the Detroit Crime in a seven-game playoff battle. The winner earns the right to face Fremont in the American League Championship Series. This matchup is a clash of titans from the AL Central, with the Mobsters finishing with a phenomenal 114-48 record and the Crime not far behind at 101-61. For the Mobsters, this series is about proving their regular-season dominance wasn’t a fluke. They won the season series against Detroit a staggering 11-2, outscoring them by over 200 runs and proving their offensive firepower (.263 team average, 863 runs) is elite. Key players to watch will be slugger Yordan Alvarez, who terrorized Detroit pitching during their last series, and dynamic outfielder Julio Rodriguez, who can change a game with his bat and speed. On the mound, the Mobsters’ deep rotation, led by Logan Gilbert, will look to contain Detroit’s bats. However, Detroit comes in with a major advantage: the best pitching staff in the AL, with a collective 2.76 ERA. This series will be a true test of whether the Crime’s pitching can finally shut down Chicago’s powerful lineup. Their star player is undoubtedly ace Paul Skenes, who dominated the Mobsters in his last outing. Watch for Tommy Pham and Bryce Harper to lead the offense, as they’ve shown flashes of brilliance against Chicago’s relievers. While the regular season record heavily favors Chicago, the playoffs are a different beast entirely. Detroit’s pitching is a real threat, and their ability to keep games close could be the equalizer. The Mobsters’ deep offense, however, is simply too much to contain for seven games. Expect a few close, nail-biting games, but ultimately, Chicago’s balanced attack will prevail. |
2025 N.L. DIVISION SERIES #1
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| SERIES PREVIEW – The National League Division Series matchup pits Sacramento’s overpowering offense against Columbus’s scrappy, situational approach. The Capitals led the league in nearly every offensive category, slashing .268/.336/.466 with 266 home runs and averaging 5.6 runs per game, while the Explorers relied on contact hitting, speed, and small ball, hitting .234/.294/.353 with 122 home runs and 115 stolen bases at an 83% success rate. Defensively, Columbus holds a slight edge, posting a .987 fielding percentage and allowing just 45 unearned runs, compared with Sacramento’s .986 fielding and 59 unearned runs, showing that while the Capitals can hit and run, the Explorers rarely give away free outs. On the mound, Sacramento’s rotation has already demonstrated its bite in the Wild Card, supporting the team’s high-scoring style, whereas Columbus’s pitching excels at keeping games close and letting their defense and opportunistic offense do the work. On paper, this is a classic clash of styles: Sacramento’s sheer firepower versus Columbus’s disciplined, grind-it-out approach, with the outcome likely determined by which team can impose its strengths most consistently. |
CONTRACTION DRAFT LOTTERY RESULTS
The 2025 Mid-West Baseball League (MWBL) Contraction Draft Lottery took place on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at 9:00 PM ET.
The Long Beach Dirt Bags were the big winners as they jumped from three all the way to #1.
Motor City made a run for the top pick, but fell to #2.
The Yucaipa Road Runners fell one spot to #3.
The draft will take place from October 13th to October 16th, with picks being made in 45-minute increments.
There’s no trading of picks, and every team has the freedom to pass on a selection.
Any player taken in the 2025 Contraction Draft must be counted as a keeper on your 27/30/33 Man Off-Season Protected List.
For the full Draft Order, go here: DRAFT ORDER
For the Video of the Lottery, go here: DRAFT LOTTERY VIDEO
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? |
