The 2025 Major League Baseball postseason is officially underway, and once again the Tri-State Area finds itself at the center of the October spotlight. Two of the region’s teams have punched their tickets to the playoffs, while one fell heartbreakingly short in the final hours of the regular season.
For New Jersey baseball fans, the postseason brings both excitement and drama. The New York Yankees have earned a Wild Card berth and will host the Boston Red Sox in what promises to be another chapter in one of the sport’s most iconic rivalries. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Phillies are in an enviable position, securing a first-round bye as the National League’s second seed after another dominant season. The New York Mets, despite one of the highest payrolls in the game, saw their campaign collapse on the final day, ending hopes of a three-team Tri-State playoff run.
Yankees face the Red Sox under the Bronx lights
The Yankees’ Wild Card matchup against Boston begins Tuesday, September 30, with a best-of-three series at Yankee Stadium. New York will send All-Star left-hander Max Fried to the mound in Game 1, countered by Boston’s Garrett Crochet, who will be making his first career postseason start. First pitch is set for 6:08 p.m. on ESPN.
The Yankees’ path to October has been anything but steady. After starting the season strong, New York endured a midseason slump before regaining form down the stretch. With Aaron Judge once again leading the lineup and providing MVP-caliber production, the Yankees are counting on timely hitting and a rested bullpen to carry them through. Should they advance, a date with the Toronto Blue Jays awaits in the Division Series.
Of course, when the Yankees and Red Sox meet in October, history is never far from the conversation. From Bucky Dent’s 1978 home run to Aaron Boone’s walk-off blast in 2003, to Boston’s historic comeback in 2004, this rivalry has delivered some of baseball’s most unforgettable moments. With the teams splitting postseason victories across the decades, this year’s clash adds yet another layer to a long-running saga.
Phillies rest and reset for the Division Series
South of the Hudson, the Philadelphia Phillies are entering October in a position of strength. By winning their division and locking in as the National League’s second seed, Philadelphia avoids the opening Wild Card round and will host the NLDS at Citizens Bank Park starting October 4.
The five-day break is a luxury for a team that battled through injuries late in the season. It gives stars like Trea Turner a chance to recover and allows manager Rob Thomson to align his pitching staff exactly as planned. Cristopher Sánchez is already penciled in for Game 1 of the NLDS, with Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola available to follow.
Philadelphia will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Cincinnati Reds, depending on who emerges from their Wild Card battle. With home-field advantage in the Division Series, the Phillies will once again look to lean on their famously raucous South Philly crowd, which has developed a reputation as one of the loudest playoff environments in baseball.
Phillies Stage Pre-Postseason Showcase at Citizens Bank Park
PHILADELPHIA — As the 2025 MLB playoffs loom, the Philadelphia Phillies are fine-tuning their roster and strategy with a special intrasquad game at Citizens Bank Park on Wednesday, October 1. The team is treating this matchup with the seriousness of a postseason contest, giving fans and players a glimpse of the intensity and preparation that comes with playoff baseball.
The intrasquad event will include all the trappings of a competitive game. Umpires will officiate, the scoreboard will be fully operational, and walk-up music will accompany batters as if fans were filling the stadium. To recreate the energy of a playoff environment, artificial crowd noise will be broadcast throughout the park, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of a full postseason crowd. The approach underscores the Phillies’ commitment to maintaining focus and momentum as they enter October baseball.
Adding another layer of realism, the Phillies will field a taxi squad of extra players who will participate in batting, pitching, and fielding drills alongside the main roster. Among those joining the workouts are pitchers Max Lazar and Spencer Turnbull, providing additional depth and options for the rotation, as well as hitters Rafael Marchán, Aramis Garcia, Buddy Kennedy, and Cal Stevenson. These players will see extended reps in simulated game situations, allowing the coaching staff to evaluate performance and readiness under conditions designed to mimic playoff intensity.
The intrasquad game offers the Phillies an opportunity to finalize lineup decisions, experiment with defensive alignments, and fine-tune pitching matchups before their National League Division Series begins. Manager Rob Thomson has emphasized that the goal is not only to sharpen skills but also to preserve the rhythm and confidence that the team has built over the regular season.
Citizens Bank Park, known for its passionate fan base and electric atmosphere, will serve as an ideal setting for the team’s rehearsal. While no fans will be in attendance, the combination of realistic sound effects, scoreboard activity, and player engagement will simulate the pressures of a playoff game. This type of preparation is designed to help pitchers, position players, and the bench adjust to game situations they are likely to encounter during October play.
The Phillies’ commitment to maximizing every practice opportunity reflects a broader trend in professional baseball, where teams are increasingly using simulated games and controlled scrimmages to enhance performance. By integrating extra players into the mix, the team not only keeps the roster fresh but also ensures that younger and less-experienced athletes receive critical exposure to high-pressure situations.
As the postseason approaches, every inning, pitch, and at-bat counts. This intrasquad showcase provides the Phillies with a structured environment to experiment, evaluate, and reinforce strategies without risking regular-season standings or postseason eligibility. For fans and observers of New Jersey and Pennsylvania baseball, it offers a unique look behind the scenes at how a playoff-ready team prepares for the intensity of October baseball.
For more updates on the Phillies and postseason baseball across the region, visit Explore New Jersey Baseball, where coverage includes team news, player highlights, and game analysis throughout the playoffs.
Last I heard is that more than 20,000 tickets have been sold for this intrasquad game so far.
Mets miss out on October
For the New York Mets, the story is one of frustration. Despite boasting a payroll near the top of the league, the team faltered late and was officially eliminated on the final day of the regular season. After flashes of promise earlier in the year, inconsistency and injuries proved too much to overcome, leaving the Mets looking ahead to the offseason.
What it means for the Tri-State
The Yankees’ return to October and the Phillies’ continued dominance give Tri-State fans plenty to cheer about, even as the Mets regroup. New Jersey baseball fans, caught between these passionate fanbases, will see both Yankee Stadium and Citizens Bank Park buzzing with playoff intensity in the weeks ahead.
With the World Series dream alive for two of the region’s clubs, the next month will determine whether 2025 adds another chapter of championship glory to Tri-State baseball history. For coverage of the postseason and more on America’s pastime in the Garden State, visit Explore New Jersey Baseball.
