Ranking the Starting Lineup For Every 2025 MLB Playoff Team

Playoff baseball gets underway on Tuesday, and while a strong pitching staff remains one of the biggest keys to hoisting the World Series trophy, a lack of offensive fire power can also bring a team's playoff run to an early end.

The Cleveland Guardians (28th) and San Diego Padres (18th) are the only teams in this year's playoff field that did not rank in the upper half of the league in runs scored, and that stat doesn't tell the whole story for a red-hot Guardians team or a Padres lineup that has a number of stars swinging hot bats right now.

Ahead, we've taken a closer look at the projected lineup for each of the 12 playoff clubs and ranked them based on top-tier talent, overall depth and recent performance.

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. CF TJ Friedl
2. RF Noelvi Marte
3. LF Gavin Lux
4. DH Miguel Andújar
5. SS Elly De La Cruz
6. 1B Spencer Steer
7. C Tyler Stephenson
8. 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes
9. 2B Matt McLain

Bench: C Jose Trevino, IF Sal Stewart, IF Santiago Espinal, OF Austin Hays

Notes

-The health of Austin Hays is a major question for the Reds in October after he dealt with back spasms down the stretch. He hit .319/.400/.549 in 105 plate appearances against lefties this year, and the Dodgers will have southpaw Blake Snell on the mound for one of the Wild Card Round games.

-Rookie Sal Stewart made his MLB debut on Sept. 1 after a strong season in the upper levels of the minors. And after hitting .255 with an .838 OPS and five home runs in September, he has a chance to be an X-factor if manager Terry Francona gives him a shot.

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. LF Steven Kwan
2. CF Angel Martínez
3. 3B José Ramírez
4. 1B Kyle Manzardo
5. C Bo Naylor
6. SS Gabriel Arias
7. DH George Valera
8. RF C.J. Kayfus
9. 2B Brayan Rocchio

Bench: C Austin Hedges, 1B/OF Jhonkensy Noel, IF/OF Daniel Schneemann, OF Johnathan Rodríguez

Notes

-After being designated for assignment and non-tendered last offseason, George Valera rejoined the Guardians on a minor league deal. The former Top 100 prospect made his MLB debut on Sept. 1, and he had a 107 OPS+ with two doubles, two home runs and five RBI in 48 plate appearances in September.

-Outfielder Johnathan Rodríguez went 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBI over the final two games of the season. He could get a start in October as the Guardians look to ride the hot hand and find someone who can make an impact outside of José Ramírez and Kyle Manzardo.

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. CF Parker Meadows
2. 2B Gleyber Torres
3. DH Kerry Carpenter
4. 1B Spencer Torkelson
5. LF Riley Greene
6. RF Wenceel Pérez
7. 3B Zach McKinstry
8. C Dillon Dingler
9. SS Javier Báez

Bench: C Jake Rogers, IF Jake Sweeney, IF/OF Andy Ibáñez, OF Jahmai Jones

Notes

-The Tigers scored just 40 runs over their final 16 games, going 3-13 during that stretch while tumbling out of the AL Central lead. They don't have a true offensive star, but A.J. Hinch knows how to maximize his roster as well as any manager in baseball.

-Outfielder Jahmai Jones went 14-for-33 with three doubles and three home runs in September playing almost exclusively against left-handed pitching, and he will likely be in the starting lineup against a left-handed pitcher.

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. DH Christian Yelich
2. CF Jackson Chourio
3. 2B Brice Turang
4. C William Contreras
5. RF Sal Frelick
6. 1B Andrew Vaughn
7. LF Isaac Collins
8. 3B Caleb Durbin
9. SS Joey Ortiz

Bench: C Danny Jansen, 1B/OF Jake Bauers, IF Andruw Monasterio, OF Blake Perkins

Notes

-The Brewers offense enters the postseason off a less-than-stellar September when it ranked 17th in OPS (.707), 28th in home runs (17) and 22nd in runs scored (103). Can they regain the magic they showed during their 14-game winning streak back in August?

-Catcher Danny Jansen went 5-for-9 with two home runs in his final three games, and he had a 117 OPS+ in 78 plate appearances after coming over in a trade with the Rays at the deadline. A lineup with Jansen behind the plate, William Contreras at designated hitter and Christian Yelich in left field was used a handful of times this year, so it will be interesting to see if they try to ride the hot hand.

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. LF Jarren Duran
2. SS Trevor Story
3. 3B Alex Bregman
4. DH Masataka Yoshida
5. 2B Romy González
6. CF Ceddanne Rafaela
7. 1B Nathaniel Lowe
8. RF Wilyer Abreu
9. C Carlos Narváez

Bench: C Connor Wong, IF David Hamilton, IF/OF Nate Eaton, OF Rob Refsnyder

Notes

-Rookie phenom Roman Anthony will start the postseason on the sidelines as he continues to recover from a strained oblique, though there is some hope he could return for the ALCS if the Red Sox advance to that point.

-First baseman Nathaniel Lowe hit .280/.370/.420 with six doubles, two home runs and 16 RBI in 34 games after he was plucked from the scrapheap following his release by the Nationals, shoring up a revolving door at first base.

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. DH George Springer
2. RF Nathan Lukes
3. 1B Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
4. 3B Addison Barger
5. C Alejandro Kirk
6. CF Daulton Varsho
7. LF Anthony Santander
8. 2B Ernie Clement
9. SS Andrés Giménez

Bench: C Tyler Heineman, IF Isiah Kiner-Falefa, IF/OF Davis Schneider, OF Myles Straw

Notes

-Where would the Blue Jays offense be without breakout seasons from Addison Barger (502 PA, 105 OPS+, 54 XBH, 21 HR) and Nathan Lukes (438 PA, 100 OPS+, 33 XBH, 12 HR), who are now slotted into key spots in the lineup?

-Getting a bye to the ALDS gives Bo Bichette a few more days to rehab the knee sprain that has sidelined him since Sept. 6, but his status for the ALDS and the postseason as a whole is still very much up in the air. If he's healthy, pencil him in at shortstop, shift Andrés Giménez to second base, slot Ernie Clement on the bench and Isiah Kiner-Falefa is likely the odd-man out.

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. RF Fernando Tatis Jr.
2. 1B Luis Arraez
3. 3B Manny Machado
4. CF Jackson Merrill
5. SS Xander Bogaerts
6. LF Gavin Sheets
7. DH Ryan O'Hearn
8. 2B Jake Cronenworth
9. C Freddy Fermin

Bench: C Elias Diaz, IF Jose Iglesias, OF Bryce Johnson

Notes

-Fernando Tatis Jr. (.946 OPS, 7 HR), Jackson Merrill (.901 OPS, 7 HR) and Luis Arraez (.352 BA, .828 OPS) all swung a hot bat in September, and despite finishing 18th in the majors in runs scored, the pieces are there for the Padres offense to do plenty of damage.

-The Padres were dealt a blow when trade deadline pickup Ramon Laureano suffered a fractured finger on Sept. 24, and he is expected to miss the entire postseason after posting a 122 OPS+ with 20 extra-base hits in 198 plate appearances after coming over from the Orioles.

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. 1B Michael Busch
2. 2B Nico Hoerner
3. LF Ian Happ
4. DH Kyle Tucker
5. RF Seiya Suzuki
6. C Carson Kelly
7. CF Pete Crow-Armstrong
8. SS Dansby Swanson
9. 3B Matt Shaw

Bench: C Reese McGuire, C Moises Ballesteros, IF Justin Turner, IF/OF Willi Castro,

Notes

-Seiya Suzuki (7-for-22, 5 HR, 12 RBI), Michael Busch (8-for-20, 4 HR, 8 RBI) and Pete Crow-Armstrong (6-for-20, 2 HR, 5 RBI) all swung it well over the final week of the season, building some welcome momentum for the offense heading into October.

-Top prospect Moises Ballesteros went 13-for-39 with four extra-base hits, two home runs and five RBI in 43 plate appearances in September as he was promoted for the third time this season. Did he do enough to earn a spot on the roster, knowing he will likely be utilized solely as a DH or pinch hitter?

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. LF Randy Arozarena
2. C Cal Raleigh
3. CF Julio Rodríguez
4. 1B Josh Naylor
5. 2B Jorge Polanco
6. 3B Eugenio Suárez
7. DH Dominic Canzone
8. RF Victor Robles
9. SS J.P. Crawford

Bench: C Mitch Garver, 1B/OF Luke Raley, IF Cole Young, IF/OF Leo Rivas

Notes

-Cal Raleigh ended his historic season on a high note, hitting .278/.391/.639 with 10 home runs in September. Jorge Polanco was equally potent with a 1.014 OPS and 13 doubles while settling into the No. 5 spot in the batting order.

-Outfielder Dominic Canzone quietly hit .300/.358/.481 with 11 doubles, 11 home runs and 32 RBI in 269 plate appearances this season, and he had a 1.049 OPS in September, so expect him to be a major part of Seattle's offensive attack.

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. SS Trea Turner
2. DH Kyle Schwarber
3. 1B Bryce Harper
4. 3B Alec Bohm
5. LF Brandon Marsh
6. C J.T. Realmuto
7. CF Harrison Bader
8. RF Nick Castellanos
9. 2B Bryson Stott

Bench: C Rafael Marchán, IF Edmundo Sosa, IF Otto Kemp, OF Max Kepler

Notes

-Trea Turner returned to the lineup on Sunday for the first time since Sept. 7 when he suffered a strained hamstring, putting the finishing touches on his second career batting title with a .304 average in a 5.5-WAR campaign.

-Expect Nick Castellanos and Max Kepler to both start games in right field platoon, though a hot start from either veteran could earn them a larger chunk of playing time. Despite his ups and downs, Castellanos had an .898 OPS with six home runs in 17 playoff games in 2023 and 2024.

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. DH Shohei Ohtani
2. SS Mookie Betts
3. 1B Freddie Freeman
4. 3B Max Muncy
5. RF Teoscar Hernández
6. CF Tommy Edman
7. LF Andy Pages
8. 2B Miguel Rojas
9. C Ben Rortvedt

Bench: C Dalton Rushing, IF/OF Enrique Hernandez, OF Alex Call, OF Michael Conforto

Notes

-Catcher Will Smith has been sidelined with a hairline fracture in his right hand since Sept. 9, and his inclusion on the wild-card roster is unlikely, but he could still return at some point if the Dodgers advance. Ben Rortvedt and Dalton Rushing could split duties until he is ready to return.

-Manager Dave Roberts has rode with veteran Michael Conforto all season, despite a .199 average and 79 OPS+ in 486 plate appearances. Will he continue to give him playing time, or prioritize the defense Miguel Rojas can provide at second base with Tommy Edman in the outfield?

Go-To Starting Lineup

1. CF Trent Grisham
2. 1B Ben Rice
3. RF Aaron Judge
4. LF Cody Bellinger
5. DH Giancarlo Stanton
6. 2B Jazz Chisholm Jr.
7. C Austin Wells
8. SS Anthony Volpe
9. 3B Ryan McMahon

Bench: 1B Paul Goldschmidt, IF José Caballero, IF/OF Amed Rosario, OF Jasson Dominguez

Notes

-Aaron Judge hit .370/.527/.765 with 10 home runs in September, but can he carry that momentum over to the postseason after struggling mightily during the Yankees run to the World Series a year ago?

-Expect to see veteran Paul Goldschmidt at first base against left-handed pitching, as he hit .336/.411/.570 against southpaws over 168 plate appearances this season. Speedy José Caballero could also get a start at shortstop if Anthony Volpe struggles, and he'll be a weapon as a pinch runner after leading the AL with 49 steals.