We’re previous the All-Star break and properly into the canine days of summer time for the 2023 season.
Over the course of the following two months, playoff races will warmth up and take all kinds of twists and turns, such because the Orioles not too long ago overtaking the Rays for first place within the AL East. That sort of fluctuation of groups and gamers altering spots can be rampant, particularly in mild of the upcoming Trade Deadline.
As the common season nears August, each new collection will tackle much more significance. That’s no totally different this week with a number of collection that would have big playoff implications, particularly with the Aug. 1 Deadline being nearly per week away.
Here are the 5 collection to look at in the course of the week of July 24.
Orioles (61-38) at Phillies (53-46)
3 video games (Monday-Wednesday)
Head to move: This is the primary time these two golf equipment have performed one another since 2021, when the Phillies took two of three video games in Philadelphia. What’s most notable about this matchup is that within the earlier 62 Interleague video games between one another since 1997, they’ve each by no means been above .500 on the identical time … till now.
Storyline: How can it not be the Orioles? The group has already gained extra video games (61) this season than it did in all of 2021 (52). The Orioles’ remarkably constant play — they’ve performed not less than two video games above .500 in each particular person month this yr — helped them not too long ago leapfrog the Rays for first place within the AL East. Production from younger stars in Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson and an elite bullpen (have you ever seen what Félix Bautista has achieved?) have expedited Baltimore’s projected aggressive window.
Watch out for: Baltimore’s lineup. This offense can actually, actually hit. Of the dozen hitters who’ve had not less than 100 plate appearances, seven of them have a wRC+ north of 120, all of whom are slotted in as on a regular basis guys proper now. The O’s offense is much less about having just a few elite hitters — Ryan O’Hearn leads the group with a 141 wRC+ — and extra in regards to the sum of their components. As of proper now, there isn’t any letup going through the Orioles lineup.
Rangers (59-41) at Astros (56-44)
3 video games (Monday-Wednesday)
Head to move: It’s been a detailed battle for the AL West rivals of their earlier seven video games in ’23. The Astros have taken 4 of these video games however have been outscored 39-35 by the Rangers within the course of.
Storyline: Can the Astros slim their divisional deficit? For in addition to the Rangers have performed and all the uncharacteristic points (efficiency and damage) the Astros have had, a three-game sweep by Houston might fully flip the script. Conversely, if the Rangers can pull off a sweep, their possibilities of successful the division will improve much more. With just one extra three-game collection remaining between the 2 groups after this collection, it looks like this matchup holds much more significance.
Watch out for: Chas McCormick. A typical theme of nice groups sustaining their greatness — such because the latest Astros, Braves and Dodgers groups — is the flexibility to repeatedly discover new productive gamers. Even with the efficiency or damage points surrounding Astros hitters comparable to Yordan Alvarez and Alex Bregman, Houston has been in a position to make up for it with guys like McCormick. The 28-year-old has made the transition from a strong common in 2021-22 to among the best hitters within the Majors this yr. His 144 wRC+ trails solely 16 hitters who’ve had not less than 200 plate appearances.
Reds (55-46) at Brewers (55-45)
3 video games (Monday-Wednesday)
Head to move: The Brewers have completely dominated the season collection, taking eight of 10 video games from the Reds with a 41-29 run differential. That has been an apparent distinction maker within the Brewers’ half-game lead over the Reds within the division.
Storyline: Which group will benefit from this ultimate 2023 matchup? Only a half-game separates the 2 NL Central division hopefuls in what’s their final collection in opposition to each other, not less than within the common season. A sweep from both group would not essentially dictate the ultimate standings however it’d go a great distance for both group pulling forward.
Watch out for: Christian Yelich. While not fairly on the ranges of his 2018-19 window, Yelich has returned to greatness after three years of combined outcomes. Yelich is a top-15 place participant by WAR (3.5) with a 131 wRC+ that ranks within the top-25. The most important driver for Yelich’s success? His high quality of contact is the perfect it has been since 2019 — Yelich has a .380 anticipated wOBA that trails solely 16 hitters.
Mets (46-52) at Yankees (53-47)
2 video games (Tuesday-Wednesday)
Head to move: The final six video games between the 2 New York groups courting again to 2022 have been about as evenly matched as attainable. They break up their two-game set earlier this yr at Citi Field, scoring 10 runs apiece. In 2022, the 2 golf equipment break up their 4 video games whereas every scoring 13 runs.
Storyline: What does every group do from right here? It’s no secret that each groups are performing properly beneath their expectations and are every on the skin wanting in at a playoff spot. In the case of the Yankees, they may see the return of Aaron Judge quickly and are not less than in reachable distance of a Wild Card spot. The identical can’t be stated for the Mets, who’ve the fifth-worst file within the NL. Shocking as it might’ve sounded earlier than the season, each groups might be sellers on the upcoming Deadline.
Watch out for: Francisco Alvarez. Were it not for Corbin Carroll‘s excellence in Arizona, we is likely to be speaking about Alvarez successful NL Rookie of the Year. The 21-year-old slugging catcher has been one of many handful of vivid spots for the Mets, crushing 19 residence runs in 73 video games. With a 31-home run tempo, Alvarez is seeking to turn into simply the fifth rookie catcher in AL/NL historical past with a 30-HR season and the primary since Mike Piazza did it for the Dodgers in 1993.
Angels (51-49) at Blue Jays (55-45)
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)
Head to move: The two golf equipment confronted off in a busy three-game collection in Anaheim in April that noticed the Blue Jays win two of these video games. In the collection finale, Toronto gained a 12-11 extra-innings thriller that determined the collection.
Storyline: Shohei Ohtani. Who else would it not presumably be? He’s the discuss of the baseball world for extra causes than one. He’s the perfect participant on this planet, with two-way dominance that is led to a commanding lead in WAR; his 6.6 WAR is 1.5 wins higher than the next-closest participant (Ronald Acuña Jr. at 5.1 WAR). Adding intrigue to Ohtani’s excellence is the dialogue on whether or not or not the Angels will truly transfer the approaching free agent on the Deadline.
Watch out for: Ohtani. Once once more, the reply to this one is fairly apparent. Ohtani leads all certified hitters in residence runs (36), triples (7), OPS (1.072), SLG (.674) and wRC+ (184). In 111 2/3 innings on the mound, he has a 120 ERA+ and the third-highest strikeout price (32.2%) amongst certified starters. It’s the third straight yr of two-way superstardom that the game hasn’t seen in over a century, if ever. Ohtani is scheduled to start out within the collection opener on Friday.
Content Source: www.mlb.com