Dodgers Clinch NL West, Mariners Pursue Top AL Seed in Final Series

The Los Angeles Dodgers have clinched the NL West and will enter the playoffs hosting the number six seed in the Wild Card round, using their final regular-season series against the Seattle Mariners as an opportunity to rest key players and bullpen arms. The Seattle Mariners, having secured the AL West title and a top-two seed in the American League, will have a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the AL Division Series, with their postseason beginning next weekend. Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh is having an MVP-caliber season with 60 home runs, close to breaking the American League record, and the team has also benefited from the power hitting of Eugenio Suarez, who has 49 homers this season. The Mariners enter the playoffs as one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball, riding a strong winning streak and bolstered by strategic rest of key pitchers like Bryan Woo to prepare for the postseason. Despite the Dodgers' long-standing division dominance, their 2025 season has been marked by pitching struggles and an underperforming bullpen, leading to a comparatively lower win total and use of starters in relief roles. Both teams are playoff-bound, but with the Mariners focused on maintaining momentum and the Dodgers aiming to reset and conserve strength, the final series between these two clubs holds little impact on their seeding but serves as crucial preparation for the playoff battles ahead.