The Minor League Baseball (MiLB) playoff system is designed to crown champions at each level while providing a competitive environment for top prospects. Unlike the single, season-long race in MLB, the MiLB playoff format for most leagues is a split-season structure, rewarding teams for their performance in both the first and second halves of the season.
The exact format varies by league and level, but a general overview for the full-season leagues (Triple-A, Double-A, High-A, and Single-A) is as follows:
- Split-Season Format: The regular season is divided into two halves. The winners of each division from the first half and the second half qualify for the postseason. This keeps the competition fresh and relevant throughout the entire season, as teams that struggled early on have a new opportunity to make the playoffs in the second half.
- Playoff Participants: At the Double-A, High-A, and Single-A levels, four teams per league typically make the playoffs. These spots are filled by the winners of each division’s first half and second half. In the event a team wins both halves, the next-best team in the second-half standings qualifies.
- Postseason Rounds: The playoffs generally consist of a best-of-three division series, followed by a best-of-three championship series to determine the league champion. The High-A Northwest League is an exception, playing a single best-of-five championship series.
- Triple-A Playoff Structure: The two Triple-A leagues, the International League and the Pacific Coast League, also use a split-season format. The first-half and second-half division winners compete in a best-of-three League Championship Series. The champions of the PCL and IL then face off in a single-game Triple-A National Championship Game to crown the overall winner.
Which Dodgers Minor League Affiliate Has the Best Chance of Making the 2025 Playoffs?
The Quakes, who play in the California League’s South Division, won the first-half title in their division with a strong record of 41-25. By winning the first half, they have already clinched a spot in the California League playoffs. This secures them a postseason berth regardless of their performance in the second half of the season. The team was powered by a high-octane offense that thrived in a hitter-friendly environment, and they are considered a strong candidate to win their league championship.
Other Dodgers affiliates had mixed results in the first half:
- Oklahoma City Comets (Triple-A): The Comets had a solid first half in the Pacific Coast League, with a 46-29 record. Their strong performance, driven by a balanced roster of near-MLB-ready prospects and veterans, put them in a good position for a postseason berth if they maintained their play in the second half.
- Great Lakes Loons (High-A): The Loons finished with a 34-31 record in the Midwest League’s East Division. While they were in the playoff hunt, they were not a first-half division winner and needed a strong second half to clinch a spot.
- Tulsa Drillers (Double-A): The Drillers had a more challenging first half, finishing with a record of 26-43 in the Texas League. They would need a significant turnaround in the second half to have a shot at the playoffs.
While the performance of all Dodgers affiliates is closely watched, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are the only team to have already locked in a playoff spot based on their first-half performance. This makes them the clear frontrunner among the Dodgers’ farm teams for a 2025 postseason run.
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