In this death march of a Major League Baseball season, the term “meaningful series” can mean just about anything you want.
And as another week of quasi-important games get underway, two distinct categories – tightly bunched playoff teams collide vs. two actually good squads measure up against each other – are well in play.
A fun and relevant crosstown rivalry and a handful of key intra-divisional squabbles mark a week that probably won’t bring any clarity to a playoff quagmire that’s still six weeks from getting settled. But here’s five series worth watching this coming week:
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Miami Marlins at Philadelphia Phillies
When: Monday-Wednesday, Citizens Bank Park
Key matchup: Wednesday – Marlins RH Sandy Alcantara vs. Phillies RH Aaron Nola
Outlook: Just when you think the Phillies are in real trouble, they patch together enough sentient baseball to assure rational onlookers that they’ll be OK. For now, anyway. A sweep of the Twins contested between Iowa and Minnesota did the lads some good, but now here’s the Marlins, who have split 10 games with Philly this year. You know what that means: The winner of this series wins the season series – and the tiebreaker should the teams finish with the same record. And with the Marlins just three games behind the Phillies, that’s a distinct possibility. Who’da thunk that back in April?
Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs
When: Monday-Wednesday, Wrigley Field
Key matchup: TBD vs. Cubs RH Clay Holmes
Outlook: They call this the Crosstown Something-Or-Other, but there’s not much you need to know: North Side vs. South Side, bleacher bros vs. hard-bitten ChiSox fans. Fairly self-explanatory. A little crazy to think this could be a World Series preview, but it’s not totally far-fetched. The White Sox’s sweep of Detroit last weekend gave them a 5½-game edge in the AL Central and should they hold on to win it, a first-round bye would almost certainly come with it. The White Sox, a first-round bye. Wild times. Meanwhile, the Cubs fortified themselves nicely at the trade deadline, and no pickup might’ve been bigger than Holmes, who pitched 6⅓ innings of one-hit ball in his first start at Wrigley.
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Arizona Diamondbacks at Boston Red Sox
When: Monday-Wednesday, Fenway Park
Key matchup: Wednesday – Diamondbacks RH Brandon Pfaadt vs. Red Sox LH Payton Tolle
Outlook: Probably the last team the Red Sox needed to see. Arizona comes in winners of 11 of its last 18 games, just took two of three from NL power Atlanta and is in an NL wild-card dogfight. Meanwhile, Boston seems a bit hung over from its wild 31-4 run to climb out of the cellar and into the No. 2 wild card spot. Not saying the Red Sox won’t get well. Just saying it will be difficult to do against the always pesky D-backs.
New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles
When: Tuesday-Thursday, Camden Yards
Key matchup: Thursday – Yankees RH Gerrit Cole vs. Orioles RH Kyle Bradish
Outlook: The Orioles have been in the left-for-dead file for a few weeks now, but taking three over the weekend at Tampa Bay (they finish the four-game wraparound Monday) revived their hopes significantly. And, you guessed it, they’re now one game out of playoff position (Isn’t everybody?). Outfielder Tyler O’Neill has an .861 OPS since the All-Star break, while the rest of the lineup seemed invigorated with the move of Gunnar Henderson from leadoff to fifth. The Yankees have been wobbling but upright as they await returns of Cody Bellinger (off on a rehab assignment Thursday) and Aaron Judge (hey, at least he’s playing catch).
Atlanta Braves at Milwaukee Brewers
When: Friday-Sunday, Miller Park/Williamsport, Pa.
Key matchup: Saturday – Braves LH Martín Pérez vs. Brewers RH Jacob Misiorowski
Outlook: Take these regular season “showdowns” with a grain of salt, as we’re sure the Brewers do. They just took three of four from the Dodgers, yet realize they went 6-0 against L.A. last year only to go 0-4 against them in the NLCS. Still, it’ll be a fun matchup and always appointment viewing when The Miz makes his weekly appointment on the mound. Just a bummer the Brewers will miss Chris Sale, though they probably aren’t fretting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Five series that could impact MLB playoff race, including a Chicago showdown