Two of those clubs — the Brewers and Padres — have already begun a big series at Petco Park, with Milwaukee having clinched the National League Central but looking to wrap up the NL’s top seed and San Diego still clinging to hopes of a division crown of its own after clinching a playoff spot on Monday.
With October in sight, here’s a look at other important series to watch this week, games that will have major seeding implications for some clubs, and major implications for others who are trying to squeak into the playoffs.
The stakes are as high as they can get in this three-game set between the two teams atop the American League Central. The Tigers have had a tight grip on the division lead for most of the season, but Detroit has lost nine of 10 while the Guardians have surged with 15 wins in their last 17 games. It all adds up to a showdown with the AL Central crown on the line — Cleveland enters the series just one game back.
The Jays have clinched a postseason berth, but now they hope to hold off the Yankees to claim Toronto’s first division title in a decade. Toronto is also looking to clinch the AL’s top seed. The Red Sox, meanwhile, are still trying to scratch their way into the postseason, currently just a game ahead of the Guardians and Astros for the second AL Wild Card spot. One of those three — or perhaps even the Tigers if Cleveland overtakes them this week — will likely be the odd team out when it’s all said and done.
The Dodgers are in. Now their goal is to clinch their 12th NL West title in the past 13 seasons. They’re in a good spot, 2 1/2 games ahead of the Padres with the tiebreaker on their side. The D-backs, meanwhile, are just a game back of the Reds and Mets for the third NL Wild Card spot. Despite selling at the Trade Deadline and being streaky in the second half, Arizona is still within striking distance. But the D-backs will have to contend with Shohei Ohtani, Blake Snell and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who are lined up to pitch in the series.
The Mets need a swift turnaround in this final week of the season after being caught by the Reds for the third NL Wild Card position (Cincinnati owns the tiebreaker between the clubs). New York — which has lost 11 of its past 15 games — faces a Cubs team that has clinched a spot in the postseason with a comfortable lead over San Diego for the top NL Wild Card spot. The Mets need to win and will need a little help from the Pirates and Brewers, who play the Reds to finish out the regular season.
The Astros have been overtaken in the AL West after being swept by the Mariners at home over the weekend, and being three games behind Seattle with just six to play, it appears Houston will have to fight to get into the playoffs at all as it battles to beat out the Red Sox, Guardians or Tigers for an AL Wild Card berth. The Astros will face the A’s in Sacramento without closer Josh Hader and slugger Yordan Alvarez, though they hope they’ll get an injured Jeremy Peña back during the series.
The Reds have been hot, having won five straight following a four-game sweep of the Cubs over the weekend at Great American Ball Park. But Cincinnati will have to deal with NL Cy Young Award candidate Paul Skenes, who is slated to take the mound for the Pirates on Wednesday. Cincinnati does have the benefit of holding the tiebreaker against the Mets, with whom it is presently tied for the third NL Wild Card spot.
The Yankees still have a chance to catch the Blue Jays and win the division, but it’ll be a tall order, particularly because Toronto owns the tiebreaker between the clubs. Still, with a homestand against the White Sox and Orioles to conclude the regular season schedule, it isn’t out of the question if New York takes care of business in the Bronx this week.
The Mariners are in great shape coming off their huge sweep of the Astros at Daikin Park over the weekend. Seattle enjoys a three-game lead over Houston, as well as ownership of the tiebreaker should things get wild this week. On top of that, the M’s will host the club with baseball’s worst record this season, the Rockies, for three at T-Mobile Park. It would behoove Seattle to take care of business against Colorado before concluding the regular season with three against the Dodgers.