5 Intriguing Series to Watch as the MLB Pennant Race Heats Up

The dust has settled from the 2025 Trade Deadline, and the playoff races are in full swing. In the National League, all three division races look like they may go down to the wire, while a contentious Wild Card race has a new sense of urgency. This week’s MLB schedule is packed with crucial matchups that will have major postseason implications.

Here are five series to watch this week.

Pirates at Brewers: 3 games (Monday-Wednesday)

• Head-to-head: The Brewers have had the edge so far this season, winning four of seven matchups. The games have been tightly contested, including a four-game series in May where three of the games were decided by a single run.

• Storyline: The Brewers, riding a nine-game winning streak and boasting the best record in the Majors, are red-hot. The Pirates, however, are playing well themselves with a 12-7 record in their past 19 games. Can Pittsburgh be the team to finally cool off Milwaukee's momentum?

• Watch out for: Paul Skenes. The NL Cy Young Award favorite and Pirates' phenom is lined up to pitch on Tuesday. With a league-leading 1.94 ERA, it will be fascinating to see if he can shut down a potent Brewers lineup that has found a new gear.

Red Sox at Astros: 3 games (Monday-Wednesday)

• Head-to-head: These two teams just met last week, with the Red Sox sweeping a three-game series at Fenway Park. This is their second and final series of the season, and with both teams vying for an AL Wild Card spot, the stakes are high.

• Storyline: The series marks the homecoming of Alex Bregman, who is returning to Houston for the first time since signing with the Red Sox in free agency. Bregman, a part of two World Series-winning teams with the Astros, will face his former club as the two teams are separated by just 1 1/2 games in the standings.

• Watch out for: Trevor Story. The Red Sox shortstop has rebounded from a slump earlier in the season and is on a hot streak in August, batting .333 with a .906 OPS. He's a key bat in the middle of Boston's dangerous lineup.

Cubs at Blue Jays: 3 games (Tuesday-Thursday)

• Head-to-head: This is the only time these two teams will face off this season. Last year's matchup was a memorable one, with the Cubs winning two of three games in a series that featured walk-off hits and a one-run thriller.

• Storyline: If you love offense, this series is for you. The Blue Jays and Cubs are two of the best hitting clubs in the Majors. The Blue Jays are averaging a whopping 6.52 runs per game since the All-Star break, and with star players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, they are a force to be reckoned with. The Cubs' lineup is equally dangerous, featuring the likes of Kyle Tucker and Pete Crow-Armstrong.

• Watch out for: Cade Horton. The Cubs' right-hander enters the series opener with a 23 1/3-inning scoreless streak, a franchise record for a rookie. With a 3.18 ERA, Horton is pitching as well as any starter in the league, but he will face a tough assignment on the road against a high-powered Blue Jays offense.

Mariners at Mets: 3 games (Friday-Sunday)

• Head-to-head: These teams have a history of lopsided games, with the Mariners holding a 16-8 all-time series lead. However, the Mets won two of three the last time they hosted the Mariners in 2023.

• Storyline: This Interleague series will conclude with the 2025 MLB Little League Classic on Sunday in Williamsport, Pa. The game features a surging Mariners team that added slugger Eugenio Suárez at the Trade Deadline, and a powerful Mets offense led by Francisco Lindor, Juan Soto, and Pete Alonso.

• Watch out for: Josh Naylor. Since being acquired from the D-backs, Seattle’s new first baseman has been a surprising threat on the basepaths. He has stolen 10 bases on 10 attempts in just 14 games with the Mariners, giving him 21 on the year. Naylor is making pitchers and catchers pay with his sudden speed.

Padres at Dodgers: 3 games (Friday-Sunday)

• Head-to-head: The Dodgers have had the upper hand so far in 2025, winning both series against the Padres. The Padres, however, have outscored the Dodgers 37-35 in their head-to-head matchups. The Dodgers still hold the bragging rights after winning last year’s NLDS in five games.

• Storyline: Can the Padres catch the Dodgers in the NL West? The Padres went all-in at the Trade Deadline, acquiring reliever Mason Miller, lefty Nestor Cortes, and several key hitters in a bid to close the two-game gap. A chance to gain ground in a head-to-head series is huge, and this matchup between the two star-studded rivals promises to be a treat.

• Watch out for: Freddie Freeman. The veteran first baseman's power has returned after a mid-season slump. He has four home runs in his last 10 games and is batting .394 in August. A resurgence from Freeman, combined with the hot-hitting Shohei Ohtani and Mookie Betts, works out quite well for a potent Dodgers lineup.