5 series to keep your eye on this week

With the calendar having flipped to June, MLB’s playoff races will solely proceed to step by step ramp up. And what’s additionally ramping up are the AL East’s probabilities of changing into the primary division in MLB’s Divisional Era (since 1969) to complete a season with each group’s document above .500.

Several of these AL East groups will probably be put to the check in high-profile matchups this week, together with the historic Red Sox-Yankees rivalry being renewed and a battle between the Majors’ run differential leaders.

Those matchups, and extra, are included in our 5 collection to observe in the course of the week of June 5:

Astros (35-24) at Blue Jays (33-27)
4 video games (Monday-Thursday)

Head to go: The Astros took two of three video games towards the Blue Jays in Houston from April 17-19. Last yr, the Astros went 2-4 towards Toronto — tied for his or her worst document (by win proportion) towards any group of their World Series-winning season.

Storyline: Have the Astros turned it round for good? The reigning World Series champions had an underwhelming begin to 2023, getting into their prior collection towards Toronto with a 7-9 document. But ever since successful that collection, Houston has taken off, as its 28-15 document since April 17 is tied for second-best in MLB, one sport behind the Rangers.

Watch out for: George Springer. Springer reached three AL All-Star groups, received two Silver Slugger Awards and was a World Series champion with the Astros from 2014-20 earlier than signing with the Blue Jays in 2021. He was 0-for-11 in April’s collection in Houston, however final season, he had three residence runs in 5 video games towards the Astros.

Mets (30-30) at Braves (35-24)
3 video games (Tuesday-Thursday)

Head to go: The Mets misplaced two of three to the Braves in New York from April 28-May 1. Last season, the Mets went 9-10 towards Atlanta, together with a three-game sweep by the Braves late within the season that gave Atlanta the head-to-head tiebreaker that decided the division winner.

Storyline: Will the Mets put up a combat within the NL East race? These have been two of MLB’s 4 100-win groups final yr, with Atlanta’s head-to-head edge offering the one hole between the pair of 101-61 golf equipment. But the Mets have fallen far off of that tempo this yr, placing them in catch-up mode from right here on out.

Watch out for: Bryce Elder. Elder had a dominant month of May, permitting a mere 1.72 ERA throughout his six begins. Elder has by no means began a sport towards the Mets in his profession, however he’s projected to begin on Tuesday.

Orioles (37-22) at Brewers (32-27)
3 video games (Tuesday-Thursday)

Head to go: These groups final performed in April 2022, when the Brewers took two out of three video games in Baltimore.

Storyline: Are the Orioles this good? Baltimore had misplaced at the least 108 video games in every of the final three full 162-game seasons getting into 2022, however its 83-79 document final season represented a significant step ahead. For most of MLB historical past, groups to make a single-season leap like that have regressed the subsequent yr, however the Orioles have carried out something however.

Watch out for: Yennier Cano. When is a center reliever all of the sudden value writing headlines about? When that participant leads MLB (min. 30 innings pitched) in ERA (0.87), WHIP (0.61) and walks allowed per 9 innings (0.58).

Rangers (38-20) at Rays (42-19)
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)

Head to go: These groups haven’t confronted off but in 2023. The Rays went 4-3 towards the Rangers in 2022, together with successful two of three in St. Petersburg.

Storyline: The finest offenses within the sport go at it. These are MLB’s prime two groups in each runs scored per sport and run differential. In the latter metric, Texas (+152) and Tampa Bay (+122) are the one groups at +65 or higher. For the Rangers particularly, their 6.48 runs/sport are probably the most by any group for the reason that 1950 Red Sox (6.67).

Red Sox (30-29) at Yankees (36-25)
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)

Head to go: These groups haven’t confronted off but in 2023. The Yankees went 13-6 towards the Red Sox in 2022, representing their most wins towards any opponent final season.

Storyline: The rivalry that wants no introduction is again. And, partially because of the modified schedule this yr, which ends up in fewer divisional video games, it’s again later than ever. The first sport of this collection will happen on June 9. Excluding the shortened 2020 season, which didn’t start till July, that’s the newest right into a yr that the primary BOS-NYY matchup will probably be since July 1, 1996.

Watch out for: Aaron Judge. Even for his lofty requirements, the reigning AL MVP is on a tear currently. Since returning on May 9 from an IL stint on account of a hip harm, Judge leads MLB with 13 residence runs, an .855 slugging proportion and a 1.313 OPS (min. 50 PA for the speed stats).