MLB Playoff Viewership Surges, Hitting Multi-Year Highs

Major League Baseball (MLB) is riding a wave of robust television viewership that has carried through the 2025 postseason, from the wild-card round to the division series and into the early games of the League Championship Series (LCS). 

The league’s strong performance follows a regular season that saw across-the-board audience growth, signaling a resurgence in fan engagement with the sport on television.

⚾Division Series Viewership Highlights

The 2025 Division Series round averaged 4.17 million viewers per game, a 17% increase from the 2024 postseason and the highest figure for this round since 2011, according to Nielsen data. 

Key standout moments include:

• Tigers vs. Mariners Game 5 (October 10, 2025): This dramatic 15-inning contest, won by Seattle, drew 8.72 million viewers on Fox, marking the most-watched American League Division Series (ALDS) game in 14 years. The game’s intensity and extended play captivated audiences, showcasing the postseason’s ability to deliver high-stakes drama.
• Yankees vs. Blue Jays ALDS: Toronto’s series victory averaged 7.65 million viewers across the U.S. and Canada. In Canada alone, viewership averaged 3.65 million per game, a 10% increase from 2016, the last time the Blue Jays appeared in the ALDS. (Note: Canadian viewership is excluded from U.S.-based Nielsen figures.)

Through the first two rounds of the 2025 postseason (wild-card and division series), MLB games have averaged 4.33 million viewers per game, a remarkable 30% jump from 2024. This marks the highest postseason viewership average since 2010, driven partly by record-setting numbers in the wild-card round. The wild-card games, which kicked off the postseason, set a strong foundation with significant audience gains, reflecting heightened interest in early playoff matchups.

Several factors likely contribute to MLB’s viewership boom: Compelling Matchups: High-profile teams like the Yankees, Blue Jays, Tigers, and Mariners, combined with nail-biting games like the 15-inning Tigers-Mariners clash, have drawn casual and dedicated fans alike.

Regular-Season Momentum: The 2025 regular season saw increased viewership across MLB’s broadcast partners (e.g., Fox, ESPN, TBS), setting the stage for a strong postseason. This growth contrasts with broader declines in traditional TV audiences, highlighting baseball’s enduring appeal.
Accessibility and Promotion: Expanded streaming options on platforms like ESPN+ and MLB.TV, alongside aggressive marketing by MLB and its broadcast partners, have made games more accessible to younger and digital-first audiences.

Cultural Moments: The Blue Jays’ ALDS run, for instance, resonated strongly in Canada, boosting viewership in a market hungry for postseason success since their last deep playoff run nearly a decade ago.

As the 2025 postseason progresses into the LCS, early indications suggest the viewership trend may continue. The combination of star-driven teams, competitive series, and high-profile broadcast slots on networks like Fox and TBS positions MLB to potentially sustain or even exceed these numbers. 

For context, the 2024 LCS averaged 5.2 million viewers per game, and with 2025’s upward trajectory, MLB could challenge or surpass that benchmark.