Brewers clinch a postseason spot as September narrows, with Phillies close and Dodgers atop the NL. Padres, Cubs and Mets chase wild cards while Giants and Reds surge. In the AL, Mariners and Astros duel for the West as the wild-card field tightens behind Red Sox and Yankees. The 12-team format awards byes to the top two division winners; October begins Sept. 30.

SportsLine projects the byes for Brewers, Dodgers and the Jays and Tigers, with a crowded wild-card scramble testing bullpen usage and daily lineups in the final weeks.

Week 25 fantasy baseball pivots sharpen the edge: avoid knee-jerk drops and weigh schedules, park factors, and playing time. Alcantara’s two starts, including Coors Field, and Castellanos’s platoon-like role push risk; Cease and Abbott offer holding upside despite late-season noise.

Machado’s surge, Wood’s late-season reawakening, and Merrill’s injury-plagued year shape Week 25 expectations; Yelich’s back adds risk but the slate remains favorable. Reader input remains central for next week’s Cut List.

New York’s Mets face a decisive late-season sprint as a seven-game skid threatens their playoff hopes, even with Soto delivering MVP-like numbers. The AL Wild Card picture tightens with Seattle closing in on Houston, while the NL race features Mets, Giants, Reds and D-backs all within striking distance. Byes go to the Blue Jays and Tigers in the AL and Brewers and Phillies in the NL, but a final regular-season series tiebreaker will determine some crucial spots.

The stretch run promises volatility: a couple of wins can vault teams into clinching scenarios, while losses can flip a wildcard order overnight. Fantasy managers must monitor lineup shifts, bullpen usage, and park factors as teams jockey for a postseason berth in the two weeks ahead.