5 series to keep an eye on this week

Halfway by the month of August, it’s exhausting to discover a collection on the schedule that doesn’t carry postseason implications. This week’s slate is not any completely different.

The week forward will convey a pair of intriguing interleague matchups, a head-to-head between first-place golf equipment, a high-stakes rivalry collection and a important matchup between surging AL West rivals.

Here are 5 collection to have your eye on this week:

Orioles (73-45) at Padres (56-62)
3 video games (Monday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: The golf equipment final bumped into one another in 2019, when the Padres took three of 4 video games in opposition to a really completely different Orioles staff.

Storyline: The Orioles, three video games up on the Rays within the AL East, will look to maintain rolling in opposition to a struggling staff. On the opposite facet, whereas the D-backs proceed to flounder, the Padres have achieved little to capitalize on what could possibly be their final alternative to redeem themselves — of Arizona’s two wins within the month of August, each got here in opposition to San Diego over the weekend.

Watch out for: The month of August has belonged to Ryan Mountcastle. The Orioles’ first baseman is hitting .452/.529/.643 in 12 video games this month, boosting what’s already one in all baseball’s most potent lineups.

Phillies (65-54) at Blue Jays (66-54)
2 video games (Tuesday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: Rematches of the 1993 World Series have typically had comparable outcomes, with the Blue Jays holding a .583 (42-30) regular-season successful share in opposition to the Phillies. That stated, the Phillies took the primary two video games of the season collection again in May.

Storyline: The Phillies, though coming off a pair of losses in opposition to the Twins, have remodeled into baseball’s foremost comeback children on their climb to the NL’s first Wild Card spot. Since June 1, they’ve 21 comeback wins, probably the most in MLB. The Blue Jays, in the meantime, salvaged what had been a tough weekend in Chicago with a enormous 11-4 win over the Cubs on Sunday, however they continue to be in a precarious place, hanging onto the AL’s third Wild Card spot with the streaking Mariners only a sport and a half behind.

Watch out for: Don’t look now, however Trea Turner may be figuring issues out. A strong week of standing ovations from the Philly devoted has coincided with a turnaround for the Phillies’ shortstop, who’s hitting .436 with six doubles, two house runs and 10 RBIs because the membership returned from its most up-to-date street journey on Aug. 4.

Brewers (65-54) at Dodgers (71-46)
3 video games (Tuesday-Thursday)

Head-to-head: The Dodgers have received every of their final 4 season collection in opposition to the Brewers by slim 4-3 margins, and took their first matchup of 2023 in May, two video games to at least one.

Storyline: Despite the adversity — and there’s been loads of it — the Dodgers are dominating the NL West once more and are available into the collection using an eight-game successful streak. The Brewers, for his or her half, are in a a lot much less sure state of affairs, nonetheless intently trailed by the Cubs (61-57) and Reds (62-58), each 3 1/2 video games again within the NL Central, and would little question like to get happening a run of their very own.

Watch out for: After three powerful seasons, Christian Yelich is quietly righting his ship. Since June 1, Yelich has hit a formidable .319/.399/.516. Look for that to line up properly along with his profession numbers in opposition to the Dodgers — in 56 video games, he’s hit .305 with a .535 slugging share, 11 HR and 28 RBIs.

Red Sox (62-56) at Yankees (60-58)
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)

Head-to-head: After posting a 6-13 report in opposition to the Yankees in 2022, the 2023 season collection, so far, has belonged to the Red Sox, who’ve gone 5-1 whereas holding Yankees hitters to a collective .190/.240/.308 line.

Storyline: Though hovering across the .500 mark, these rivals do nonetheless have one thing to play for, and both may use this collection to reignite their playoff hopes. The Red Sox particularly have a possibility to capitalize, as they’ll play the Nationals forward of their weekend collection in New York whereas the Blue Jays see the Phillies and Reds. The Yankees’ season, in the meantime, has reached new lows after a brutal walk-off loss on Sunday in opposition to the Marlins, however they continue to be inside placing distance, one thing they may emphasize with a giant collection in opposition to Boston. 

Watch out for: Trevor Story missed the primary 4 months of the season after present process offseason elbow surgical procedure, however since his return on Aug. 8, he’s seemed remarkably comfy on the plate. In Sunday’s sport in opposition to the Tigers, Story grew to become simply the third participant in Red Sox historical past to report not less than 3 extra-base hits and a couple of stolen bases in a sport.

Mariners (63-54) at Astros (68-51)
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)

Head-to-head: Seattle has taken the golf equipment’ first two head-to-head collection in 2023, most just lately successful three of 4 in Houston from July 6-9.

Storyline: Both golf equipment are available scorching — the Astros are 8-4 in August and the Mariners, 8-3. Another robust collection in opposition to the Astros could be enormous for the Mariners, who enter the week 4 video games behind their division rivals and a sport and a half out of a Wild Card spot, and issues could possibly be even tighter by the weekend, because the Astros shall be in Miami whereas the Mariners have a four-game collection in opposition to the Royals this week. 

Watch out for: Kyle Tucker, at all times a risk on the plate, has discovered one other gear of late. Since July 1, he’s hitting .326/.417/.645 with 11 house runs and 39 RBIs, taking part in no small half within the Astros’ pursuit of the first-place Rangers.