Dodgers 2025 Playoff Outlook: Scenarios & Schedule Update

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Journey in the 2025 Season

The Los Angeles Dodgers are aiming to defend their World Series title, but the 2025 season has been a mix of highs and lows. Despite facing challenges such as injuries and inconsistent performances, the team has already secured a spot in the postseason. However, these hurdles may mean that they will have to start their playoff journey in the Wild Card round.

Despite the difficulties, the Dodgers still have a strong chance at winning the NL West division. They currently lead the division with a record of 88-68, holding a 3.0-game advantage over the San Diego Padres, who sit in second place with a 85-71 record. The competition between the two teams has been intense, with the Dodgers having won 11 of the last 12 NL West titles. This year’s race, however, has been one of the closest in recent memory.

Current Standings in the NL West

Here is a look at the current standings for the NL West:

| Rank | Team | Record | GB | |------|--------------------|--------|----| | 1 | Los Angeles Dodgers | 88-68 | -- | | 2 | San Diego Padres | 85-71 | 3.0 | | 3 | Arizona Diamondbacks | 79-77 | 9.0 | | 4 | San Francisco Giants | 77-79 | 11.0 | | 5 | Colorado Rockies | 43-113 | 45.0 |

Through September 21

The Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Francisco Giants have been mathematically eliminated from contention for the division title, while the Colorado Rockies have been out of the picture for much of the season.

The Dodgers’ Remaining Schedule

The Dodgers will close out their home schedule against the rival San Francisco Giants before embarking on their final road trip of the regular season. Here is the schedule:

• September 21: vs. Giants at 4:10 p.m. ET
• September 23–25: @ Diamondbacks (three games)
• September 26–28: @ Mariners (three games)

The team hopes to clinch the division earlier in the week, but the outcome of these games could be crucial in determining their path to the playoffs.

The Dodgers’ Magic Number

The Dodgers have already locked up a playoff spot, and their magic number to clinch the NL West is currently at three. This means that if the Dodgers win three more games or the Padres lose three games, the Dodgers will secure the division title.

Understanding MLB Playoff Tiebreakers

With the expanded postseason format introduced in 2022, tiebreaker games—once known as "Game 163"—have been eliminated. Instead, ties are resolved using a series of criteria. Here’s how the process works:

For a Two-Team Tie:

1. Head-to-head record
2. Record within the division
3. Record within the league (American or National)

If the head-to-head record is even, the next step is to compare each team’s performance within their division. If there's still a tie, the teams' records within their respective leagues are used to determine the winner.

For a Three-Team Tie:

1. If one team has a winning record against each of the other teams, that team wins the tiebreaker.
2. If two teams have an identical record against each other but both have a better record against the third team, the third team is eliminated.
3. The remaining two teams then use the head-to-head process to break the tie.

These rules ensure that the most competitive teams are rewarded with playoff spots, based on their performance throughout the season.