The final day of the regular season has arrived and plenty is at stake.
While four teams have clinched their respective divisions, the AL East and Central divisions are still up for grabs, as is the final NL Wild Card spot. Meanwhile, a slugging catcher is vying to tie or break the American League record for the most home runs in a season.
With this in mind, here’s what’s at stake during the final day of the season.
1. Final playoff spot up for grabs (CIN-NYM)
Eleven of the 12 playoff teams have been determined, with the final NL Wild Card spot being up for grabs entering the final day. At 84-78, the Mets and Reds have the same record, but Cincinnati holds the pivotal tiebreaker advantage after winning the season series against New York. That means the Mets have to win on Sunday, or their season comes to an end. New York needs a win combined with a Reds loss on Sunday to send the Mets to the playoffs. The Reds’ path is way more straightforward: They are in with either a win or a Mets loss.
2. Guards look to complete historic run to division title
What a ride it's been. The Guardians used a walk-off hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth inning on Saturday to secure a playoff berth. Now, the Guardians will look to take the AL Central, with Cleveland and Detroit -- which also clinched a playoff berth on Saturday -- tied with an 87-74 record entering the final day.
The Guardians won the season series and secured the tiebreaker against the Tigers, meaning Detroit has to win on Sunday or it would lose out on the division and take the final AL Wild Card spot. The only path for the Tigers to win the division involves a Detroit win and a Cleveland loss on Sunday.
That the Guardians even found themselves in this position is nothing short of incredible. A whopping 15 1/2 games back of the Tigers in the AL Central as late as July 8 and 10 1/2 games back entering September, Cleveland finds itself in position to win a second straight AL Central title. Even if they don't, the Guardians still pulled off one of the greatest late-season comebacks in MLB history to reach the playoffs.
3. Who will win the AL East?
At 93-68, the Yankees and Blue Jays are locked in a tie heading into the final day of the regular season. With the Blue Jays winning the tiebreaker, however, they find themselves in an optimal spot. With a win or a Yankees loss on Sunday, the Blue Jays would win the AL East for the first time since 2015. For the Yankees to win the AL East, they need a win and a Blue Jays loss.
It's not just the division up for grabs, either. The winner of the AL East would also secure the No. 1 seed in the American League, a first-round bye and homefield advantage at least through the ALCS.
4. Could Cal tie or break the AL home run record?
It’s been a historic season for Cal Raleigh, who hit home runs No. 59 and 60 on Sept. 24 against the Rockies, becoming the seventh player in MLB history to hit 60 homers in a season, this coming on the night the Mariners won the AL West for the first time since 2001. Along the way, Raleigh set the record for the most homers by a switch-hitter in MLB history, the most in Mariners franchise history and the most by a primary catcher.
Next on the list is getting to 62 home runs and tying Aaron Judge (2022) for the most home runs in a season in AL history. Raleigh is already firmly in the AL MVP race with Judge, but reaching or exceeding 62 homers could be a deciding factor. Raleigh is still sitting on 60 home runs but if this season has been any indication, he could certainly create more theatrics on Sunday.
5. How many 50-homer seasons will there be?
Raleigh (60 home runs), Kyle Schwarber (56), Shohei Ohtani (54) and Judge (53) have all cleared 50 home runs in 2025, tying an MLB record for the most players with 50 homers in a season, which was also done in 2001 and 1998. One more player could join them, however, with Eugenio Suárez sitting at 49 home runs as we enter the final weekend. If the Mariners third baseman can get there, the ‘25 season would stand alone with five 50-homer players, the most in a single season in MLB history.
6. Soto's quest for a SB title and 40-40 season
As the Mets fight for their playoff lives on Sunday, Juan Soto will also look to make his own history. Soto, who had never stolen more than 12 bases in a season before this year, has swiped 38 bags in his first year with the Mets. That's tied with Pittsburgh's Oneil Cruz for the most in the National League.
The only Met who has led the NL in steals is José Reyes, who paced the National League in steals each year from 2005-07. Eric Young Jr. also led the league with 46 steals in 2013 while playing for the Mets, though he swiped eight with Colorado that season, and three other players stole more bases for one team than his 38 with New York.
With 43 home runs, Soto also has a shot to join the 40-40 club, which would be the seventh such season in MLB history. Ohtani did it last season, while Ronald Acuña Jr. did it in 2023.
7. Could Rafael Devers play in 163 games?
What a year it's been for Devers. The longtime Red Sox third baseman and franchise cornerstone was traded to the Giants in a blockbuster move in mid-June and has had another ho-hum Devers season, posting an .844 OPS with 34 home runs between the two teams. After playing in 73 games with the Red Sox, Devers has played in 89 games with the Giants, giving him 162 total games. If he plays in San Francisco's final game on Sunday, Devers will become the first player to play in more than 162 games in a season since Justin Morneau for the Twins in 2008.