5 collection to maintain your eye on this week

Through almost 1 / 4 of the season, we have seen some groups get off to traditionally good begins whereas others are off to uncharacteristically dangerous begins. Several of these groups will likely be front-and-center in a number of the most intriguing matchups of the week. Here are 5 collection to observe throughout the week of May 8:

Cardinals (11-24) at Cubs (17-17)
3 video games (Monday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: The Cardinals dominated the collection in 2022 by taking 13 of 19 video games in opposition to the Cubs. These will not be the identical groups in ’23, nonetheless. The Cardinals are off to their worst begin to a season since 1907 whereas the Cubs are enjoying aggressive baseball for the primary time for the reason that shortened ’20 season.

Storyline: What the heck is happening in St. Louis? Fans are pissed off. The gamers are much more pissed off. For a crew that expects annual excellence and has not completed beneath .500 since 2007, such a begin is jarring. While something is feasible, solely two groups have ever began 11-24 or worse and made the playoffs, with the 1981 Royals being the final crew to do it.

Watch out for: Cody Bellinger. After struggling offensively in his final two seasons with the Dodgers, Bellinger has thrived in his first yr on the North Side of Chicago. Thanks to shaving his strikeout charge roughly 8% from final yr and doing injury in opposition to breaking balls once more, Bellinger enters the collection with a .300/.368/.567 line. Against a Cardinals rotation that has struggled to forestall runs (5.33) and miss bats (20.1%), Bellinger might be in for an enormous collection.

Rays (28-7) at Orioles (22-10)
3 video games (Monday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: The Rays and Orioles performed aggressive video games in opposition to one another in 2022. The Rays narrowly took the season collection by profitable 10 of 19 video games and outscored the O’s by simply eight runs. Both golf equipment have considerably improved in ’23 so there is a good probability extra aggressive video games are on the way in which this week.

Storyline: No disrespect to the Orioles, who’re 22-12 and maintain the highest Wild Card spot, however now we have to speak concerning the Rays. They’re off to the very best begin to a season for the reason that ’84 Tigers. They’re main the league with 225 runs scored and a 3.01 ERA. Practically each participant placing on a Rays uniform is contributing in a significant method. It’s a show of complete crew excellence that we have not seen in many years.

Watch out for: The high of the Rays’ lineup. Yandy Díaz, Wander Franco, and Randy Arozarena have been a completely dominant trio. They every rank within the top-12 in WAR amongst place gamers and are hitting a mixed .316/.397/.577. O’s pitchers have their arms full making an attempt to comprise baseball’s most dominant high of the lineup.

Astros (17-17) at Angels (19-16)
3 video games (Monday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: The Astros went 13-6 in opposition to the Angels in each 2021 and ’22. That’s maybe not stunning given the Astros had been the AL champs and World Series champs in every of these seasons whereas the Angels averaged 75 wins in that point.

Storyline: Where will these groups go from right here? The Astros are the defending World Series champions however have scuffled to a sluggish begin principally as a consequence of a flurry of accidents. The Angels have began robust like they did final yr after they started the season 27-17 earlier than slumping their strategy to a 73-win season. With fewer than 5 video games separating the top-four groups within the AL West, the division is open for grabs proper now. 

Watch out for: Shohei Ohtani. Baseball’s most uniquely proficient participant comes into the collection with a 137 wRC+, a 181 ERA+, and 1.7 WAR that ranks within the high 10 amongst all gamers. After tying a profession excessive with 13 strikeouts on the mound in his final outing, including three hits on the plate and becoming a member of one more illustrious membership, he’ll take the mound on Tuesday in a highly-anticipated matchup in opposition to Framber Valdez.

Blue Jays (21-14) at Phillies (16-19)
2 video games (Tuesday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: The Jays took 5 of seven video games from the Phillies in 2021 and ’22. The groups will play two video games in Philly this week and the ultimate two video games in Toronto in August.

Storyline: Can the Phillies get on monitor? Despite welcoming Bryce Harper final week, it has been a sluggish begin for the Phils, who snapped a six-game dropping streak after they beat the Red Sox on Sunday. It’s been a collective wrestle on either side of the ball; Phillies hitters are center of the pack in runs scored whereas their pitchers have the fourth-worst ERA (5.03) within the Majors. This crew notoriously began slowly final yr earlier than making it to the World Series so there’s loads of time to get issues going.

Watch out for: Bo Bichette. Dating again to Sept. 1 of final yr, Bichette has been one of many finest hitters within the Majors. Only Aaron Judge and Mike Trout have topped Bichette’s 182 wRC+ in that point. Bichette is main the Majors with 49 hits in ’23 and is slugging .523.

Red Sox (21-15) at Braves (24-11)
2 video games (Tuesday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: The Red Sox took three of 4 video games from the Braves in 2021. The groups flip-flopped in ’22 when the Braves went 3-1 in opposition to Boston.

Storyline: How many runs will these two offenses rating? Both groups enter the collection within the high 5 in runs scored, dwelling runs, and wRC+. The Braves had been anticipated to attain a ton of runs however Boston’s offense performing this effectively has been one of many larger surprises of the ’23 season.

Watch out for: Sean Murphy. Acquired in a commerce with the A’s this previous offseason, Murphy leads all gamers with 2.3 WAR in ’23. He’s maintained his elite defensive abilities whereas taking a large step ahead on the offensive facet of issues. Entering Sunday’s sport, Murphy led all hitters with a .489 anticipated wOBA due to him chasing fewer pitches and greater than doubling his profession barrel charge.