We’re effectively into the canine days of summer season, with fewer than 40 video games remaining within the common season for every group.
As the season winds down, a plethora of groups are duking it out for a playoff race that’s on monitor for a spectacular end. While some groups (Braves, Dodgers) have all however assured profitable their divisions, loads of races are nonetheless open up for every division and particularly for the Wild Card spots.
Whether it is within the NL Wild Card race, the AL West or the NL Central, there are sufficient openings and video games left within the season to see huge adjustments within the coming weeks. With this in thoughts, listed here are the 5 sequence to look at this week.
Giants (65-59) at Phillies (67-57)
3 video games (Monday-Wednesday)
Head to go: Times have modified for the higher since these two groups met at Oracle Park in May. With each groups a number of video games beneath .500 on the time, the Giants swept the Phillies in three video games, outscoring them 17-to-10. Since May 17, the ultimate day of their first sequence, the Giants (46-36) and Phillies (47-35) have two of the top-10 data within the Majors.
Storyline: The NL Wild Card image. While each groups are virtually out of their divisional races, they maintain the highest two spots for the NL Wild Card. It’s not by a lot, although. Only 4 1/2 video games separate the Phillies and 5 different groups proper within the race — the Giants, Reds, Marlins, Cubs and D-backs. With so many NL groups within the thick of it, any lopsided consequence from this sequence may severely alter the playoff panorama. Given the context of the 2 groups and the Wild Card image, that is most likely an important sequence of the week.
Watch out for: Patrick Bailey. If you have not watched the Giants’ rookie, do your self a favor and take a look at a Giants sport or two. The rookie catcher is fueling the Giants’ playoff push due to world-class protection that already has him within the dialog for the most effective defender within the Majors. Despite debuting in the course of May, Statcast’s Fielding Run Value metrics have Bailey (+13) tied with the Rockies’ Brenton Doyle for the most effective fielder in baseball. With league-average offense, Bailey has performed like a star in 2023 and is an enormous cause why the Giants are of their present place.
Blue Jays (69-56) at Orioles (77-47)
3 video games (Tuesday-Thursday)
Head to go: Baltimore has totally dominated the season sequence, profitable eight of 10 video games in opposition to the Blue Jays, whereas outscoring them 60-to-31. It’s laborious to not take a look at the 8 1/2 video games that separate the 2 groups and assume how in a different way the division would look if the season sequence was extra balanced.
Storyline: The Orioles inching nearer to a division title. Baltimore has undeniably been one of the vital enjoyable storylines of your entire season. At 76-47, the O’s at the moment maintain a three-game lead within the AL East over the Rays and a five-game lead over the Rangers for the most effective file within the AL. The Orioles have been profitable in an entertaining vogue, backed by a motion of younger stars and a lights-out bullpen. If they’ll maintain onto this lead, Camden Yards can be a celebration come October.
Watch out for: Bo Bichette. The Jays’ finest hitter this season returned from the injured record on Saturday after lacking roughly three weeks with proper knee patellar tendinitis. The timing could not be higher for an offense that posted a measly .685 OPS in Bichette’s absence. With Toronto’s offense surprisingly being a couple of league-average unit in ’23, Bichette and his 136 wRC+ — tied for Twelfth-best amongst certified gamers — are key to kickstarting some runs for a playoff-hopeful Blue Jays group.
Twins (65-60) at Brewers (68-57)
2 video games (Tuesday-Wednesday)
Head to go: The Twins swept a two-game sequence in opposition to the Brewers in Minnesota in June. The first of these video games had a wild end that was capped by Carlos Correa‘s walk-off residence run in opposition to Devin Williams.
Storyline: Could the Twins and Brewers each win their division in the identical 12 months for the primary time? Since the Brewers/Seattle Pilots have been added as an enlargement group in 1969, Milwaukee and Minnesota have by no means gained their respective divisions in the identical 12 months. That may change this season, with the Brewers holding a three-game lead over the Cubs and the Twins holding a six-game lead over the Guardians. If it occurs, the 2 cities which might be solely separated by a five-hour drive may have loads of thrilling baseball coming in October.
Watch out for: Christian Yelich. The 31-year-old has had a resurgent season after struggling from 2020-22. Whereas Yelich produced simply 4.4 mixed WAR throughout the earlier three seasons, he has practically matched that with 3.8 WAR in ’23, tied for Nineteenth-best amongst certified place gamers. While not fairly on the MVP stage of his 2018-19 seasons, Yelich’s bounceback to a star-level participant has been one of many causes for Milwaukee’s standing within the division.
Dodgers (76-47) at Red Sox (66-58)
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)
Head to go: This is simply the second time the 2 groups have matched up because the Red Sox beat the Dodgers in 5 video games within the 2018 World Series. When Los Angeles visited Boston within the 2019 season, the Dodgers took two of three video games.
Storyline: Mookie Betts returns to Boston. Few gamers in MLB historical past have impacted two of baseball’s premier groups the way in which Betts has. From 2014-19 with the Red Sox, Betts was a four-time All-Star, gained AL MVP in 2018 and was a key cog in Boston’s title run that October. During that point, Betts’ 37 WAR was bested solely by Mike Trout (50.4) and Max Scherzer (38.1). Since his commerce to the Dodgers previous to the 2020 season, Betts has been a three-time All-Star and ranks fourth in WAR (19.7).
Watch out for: Betts and Freddie Freeman. It’s not hyperbolic to say that the duo has been one of the vital dominant pairs of teammates in MLB historical past. The two superstars have mixed for 12.3 WAR, probably the most by any pair of teammates within the Majors and approached solely by Shohei Ohtani and Mike Trout (11.6). The Betts-Freeman duo has collectively hit .316/.403/.585 throughout 1,098 plate appearances. It is, by each measure, one of the vital spectacular performances we have ever seen from two teammates in a single season.
Yankees (60-64) at Rays (75-41)
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)
Head to go: The Rays, who at the moment maintain the highest AL Wild Card spot, have a shocking 14-game lead over the Yankees. Their head-to-head matchups this season, nonetheless, have been a lot nearer affairs. Tampa Bay has taken six out of 10 video games in opposition to the Yankees, outscoring them by simply eight runs. In their final matchup, the Rays took two of three video games at Yankee Stadium.
Storyline: Making sense of the place the Rays stand. Tampa Bay began the season with a staggering 27-6 file and 13 straight wins to start the 12 months. Since that time, they’ve performed simply above .500 with a 48-45 file. With Shane McClanahan executed for the season after present process Tommy John surgical procedure, Wander Franco on the restricted record and different main accidents to their pitching workers, the group is in a really completely different place than it was initially of the season. The Rays are nonetheless a great group in a playoff place — their FanGraphs’ playoff odds are at 96.9% — however the shine has light fairly a bit in current months.
Watch out for: Yandy Díaz. The 32-year-old has become one in all baseball’s finest hitters and is within the midst of a career-best season. With an AL-leading .325 batting common, Díaz has a shot to win the primary batting title in Rays franchise historical past. With a .325/.402/.502 batting line, he is additionally seeking to change into simply the second Rays participant with a .300 BA, .400 OBP and .500 SLG in a single season (min. 500 plate appearances) and the primary since Fred McGriff in 1999.
Content Source: www.mlb.com