The hot stove may traditionally refer to the MLB offseason, but the action is scorching with days left in the regular season.
The postseason picture continues to shift and shake as the leaves brown, particularly in the National League. The senior circuit has hosted a number of impressive showcases throughout the 2025 season, but few spectacles have proven as captivating as the wild card race.
The Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres have already punched their tickets to the Big Dance. They’ll be joined by one of two teams: the New York Mets or Cincinnati Reds.
So, which team will grab the golden ticket of playoff qualification? Here’s what you need to know about the NL wild card race.
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NL wild-card playoff picture
As of Friday, the Cubs and Padres have clinched postseason berths, also both locked into wild card spots as the runners-up in their respective divisions.Â
The Mets round out the list of wild card entrants, holding a slim one-game advantage over the Diamondbacks and Reds. Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker over both New York and Arizona, having won its season series against each team. The Cardinals and Marlins were the two most recent teams to be eliminated from NL playoff contention.
- WC3: Reds, 83-78 (.516)
- Mets, 83-78 (.516), 0.0 GB
Here are the magic numbers for each team entering Friday’s slate of games.
Mets magic number
The Mets no longer control their fate and do not have a magic number after slipping behind the Reds again on Friday. Their elimination number is one, given Cincinnati owns the tiebreaker. The Mets need a win and a Reds loss on Sunday to clinch.
MORE:Â Injury updates on Guardians first baseman David Fry
Reds magic number
The Reds enter Sunday needing just a win or a loss with a Mets loss to lock up their first full-season playoff berth since 2013.
MORE:Â Tracking the AL Central race between Tigers, Guardians
Diamondbacks magic number
The Diamondbacks were eliminated with a loss on Friday and will miss the postseason for the second consecutive year.
MORE: How do MLB tiebreakers work?
NL wild-card standings
Standings updated through games on Sept. 27.
- WC1: Cubs, 91-70Â (.565), +8.0
- WC2: Padres, 89-72 (.553) +6.0
- WC3: Reds, 83-78 (.516)
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- Mets, 83-78 (.516), 0.0 GB
MORE:Â Updated MLB playoff bracket, magic numbers
Are the Mets in the playoffs?
The Mets have not yet clinched a spot in the playoffs and need a win plus a Reds loss on Sunday to get there.
Are the Reds in the playoffs?
The Reds have also not clinched a postseason berth. They pulled ahead of New York on Friday and can clinch on Sunday with either a win or both a loss and a Mets loss.
Are the Diamondbacks in the playoffs?
The Diamondbacks were eliminated from the postseason race and will miss the playoffs for the second consecutive season.
