Mr. October 2025: Who’s leading the way in MLB Playoffs? Snell and Ohtani in sight

Who is the “Mr. October” of this year? Analysis of MLB Statistics

Although the 2025 MLB playoffs began in late September and could conclude in early November, the excitement of postseason baseball always feels like October. The key question is: Who will rise as the “Mr. October” of this year?

After the Division Series (LDS) round, the landscape has changed, and now only three teams remain competing for the World Series title. The previous leader, Roki Sasaki of the Los Angeles Dodgers, no longer tops the list, but the overall performance of the Dodgers continues to dominate the statistics. The analysis is based on the Win Probability Added (WPA) metric, which quantifies the impact of each player in key moments of the playoffs. This year, Shohei Ohtani’s performance with the Dodgers, including his outstanding victory in Game 4 against the Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Championship Series, and the consistency of the Dodgers’ rotation, led by Blake Snell, could have a historical impact.

WPA Methodology

The WPA evaluates the impact of each play on the game. Actions that increase the team’s chances of winning add positive points, while those that decrease them subtract. Although a single play can have a big impact in small samples, those that occur at critical moments are the ones that most influence the WPA. This analysis combines WPA versions for batting and pitching, inspired by the historical performance of Shohei Ohtani as a two-way player.

Top 5 Players with Highest WPA in the 2025 Playoffs

Here are the players with the highest WPA in the postseason, still competing for the championship:

• Blake Snell, Dodgers: 1.203
• Cal Raleigh, Seattle Mariners: .800
• Alex Vesia, Dodgers: .708
• Andres Munoz, Mariners: .704
• Roki Sasaki, Dodgers: .686

Blake Snell: His outstanding performance in Game 1 against Milwaukee, with a WPA of .622, is the best of the postseason. His brilliance, especially in a game with little margin for error, has been key for the Dodgers.Cal Raleigh: His home run in the eighth inning against Toronto changed the course of the game, boosting his WPA. If the Mariners keep advancing, Raleigh could become “Mr. October.”Alex Vesia: Has had six consecutive scoreless outings, playing a crucial role in the Dodgers’ victories.Andres Munoz: He has pitched 7.1 innings without allowing runs or hits in six appearances.Roki Sasaki: Although his performance in Game 1 against Milwaukee affected his WPA, he has had good performances since then and could climb in the rankings.

Shohei Ohtani’s Game Analysis

Shohei Ohtani’s performance in Game 4 against the Brewers was exceptional. Although his WPA of .349 doesn’t fully reflect his impact, his game included three home runs and ten strikeouts, something that had never been seen before in baseball history. Ohtani demonstrated a unique ability by combining dominant pitching with explosive hitting, marking a milestone in sports history.

Top 10 Players Eliminated with Highest WPA

These are the players from already eliminated teams with the highest WPA in the postseason:

• Will Vest, Detroit Tigers | .848
• Tarik Skubal, Tigers | .609
• Kerry Carpenter, Tigers | .591
• Aaron Judge, New York Yankees | .579
• Jose Ramirez, Cleveland Guardians | .482
• Keider Montero, Tigers | .441
• Jacob Misiorowski, Brewers | .362
• Cristopher Sanchez, Philadelphia Phillies | .349
• Garrett Crochet, Boston Red Sox | .348
• Cam Schlittler, Yankees | .314

Ohtani’s Tracking

Ohtani’s impact on WPA is notable. His overall WPA is .047, which puts him in 98th place out of 284 players this postseason. His performance in Game 4 significantly boosted him in the rankings. Fans are hoping to see more of Ohtani in the World Series.

The Best in WPA History in the Postseason

These are the historical leaders in WPA in a single postseason:

• David Freese, 2011 St. Louis Cardinals | 1.908
• David Ortiz, 2004 Red Sox | 1.892
• Curt Schilling, 2001 Arizona Diamondbacks | 1.748
• Alex Rodriguez, 2009 Yankees | 1.704
• Yordan Alvarez, 2022 Houston Astros | 1.646
• Carlos Beltran, 2013 Cardinals | 1.582
• Bernie Williams, 1996 Yankees | 1.545
• John Wetteland, 1996 Yankees | 1.522
• Eric Hosmer, 2014 Kansas City Royals | 1.443
• Mariano Rivera, 2003 Yankees | 1.420

Snell’s performance in the National League Championship Series puts him close to this select group. If Snell maintains this level in the World Series, he could aspire to the title of “Mr. October”. Regarding Ohtani, his historic performance places him on a limited list of players who have excelled in both batting and pitching in the same postseason.