The dog days are never really over, regardless of what the song says. Yet, as Major League Baseball’s season staggers into the final three weeks, at least this battle of attrition will soon integrate magic numbers, tragic numbers and do-or-die games into the mix.
Alas, this week’s slate of crucial matchups is light on teams fighting for the same prize. Still, once again, more series than not are relevant.
Five of them stand out from the pack, for various reasons. With that, here’s five crucial series to keep an eye on this week:
Chicago Cubs at Milwaukee Brewers
When: Monday-Wednesday, American Family Field
Key matchup: Wednesday – Cubs
RH Kevin Gausman vs. Brewers RH Logan Henderson
Outlook: These guys again, huh? Well, this really, truly is the final series between the two, and the Cubs need a sweep to win the season series. Milwaukee managed a split at Wrigley Field last week, its Central lead still a healthy seven games. Yet, with the playoff field still aligned to match these two up in the NLDS for a second consecutive year, it’s worth a peek to see which arms look most viable as late September approaches. Gausman beat Henderson in a 2-1 duel last week and struck out nine. How will Brewers hitters adjust to his splitter, which accounted for most of his punchouts last week?
Houston Astros at Philadelphia Phillies
When: Tuesday-Thursday, Citizens Bank Park
Key matchup: Wednesday – Astros RH Hunter Brown vs. Phillies LH Cristopher Sánchez
Outlook: This is just a stopover for the Phillies in their crucial stretch of seven games against Atlanta, the final three coming next weekend at Truist Field. This rematch of the 2022 World Series has fairly wide-ranging ramifications for a September interleague clash, with the 73-71 Astros aiming to fend off the Texas Rangers in the AL West. The Brown- Sánchez clash is great eye candy, but the Phillies also hope rookie Andrew Painter can build on a three-start showing in which he’s given up just four earned runs in 20 innings (1.80 ERA). Philly fans might remember Yordan Alvarez for his mammoth home run in Game 6 of the 2022 Series. Now, he's bidding for the AL Triple Crown, leading in average and RBIs and tied with Tampa Bay's Junior Caminero for the home run lead.
Tampa Bay Rays at Atlanta Braves
When: Tuesday-Thursday, Truist Field
Key matchup: Thursday – Braves LH Chris Sale vs. Rays RH Nick Martinez
Outlook: An I-75 World Series, anybody? OK, so that won’t sell too many travel packages, unless you’ve got grandparents to visit in The Villages on the way. Still, this is a ball aficionado’s kind of matchup, spiced up by Ronald Acuña Jr. getting his swagger back. We’re not sure when Sale will throw this series, but the Braves’ practice of giving him an extra day or two of rest figures to push him against Martinez, whose 3.04 ERA ranks sixth in the AL, just behind teammate Drew Rasmussen. While we’re on that subject, Martinez and Rasmussen are a combined 28-9. Wins? Yep, wins. Once again, a ball aficionado’s series.
Baltimore Orioles at Toronto Blue Jays
When: Friday-Sunday, Rogers Centre
Key matchup: Sunday – Orioles LH Trevor Rogers vs. Blue Jays RH Dylan Cease
Outlook: We’re pretty much done including the Orioles in these little exercises, given the four Ls they just took at home courtesy of the Red Sox. Yet, Baltimore still has six games left with Toronto and three earlier this week against Cleveland and those guys are 1-2 for the final wild card, so yeah, you never know. The Blue Jays briefly ducked over .500 – 72-71! – for the first time since they were, uh, 4-3 back in April. Naturally, the Royals dropped them back to even. The Blue Jays are 17-9 when Cease starts. Baltimore remains winless in September.
Texas Rangers at Arizona Diamondbacks
When: Friday-Sunday, Chase Field
Key matchup: Friday – Rangers RH Jacob deGrom vs. Diamondbacks RH Brandon Pfaadt
Outlook: Guess this is the week for fairly recent and mildly forgettable World Series rematches involving teams from Texas, eh? Since July 31, the Rangers have spent all but two days within one-half to three games of the first-place Astros. Be nice to take matters into their own hands, eh? Sorry! The season series is done. And the remainder of the season is just like this series – all pretty good, but not great, but also not terrible teams like the Mariners, Twins, Blue Jays and Mets. Arizona, at least, will get one more crack at its wild card rivals, the Padres. Of course, that must wait until the final series of the season. So let’s party like it’s 2023 this weekend.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Five MLB series to watch this week as September picks up urgency
