Wild Card Rematch Among 5 Series to Watch This Week

Now that the Trade Deadline has passed, the MLB pennant race is fully underway. Playoff positions are at stake, and the tension is intense. In the National League, each of the three division races might be decided at the last moment, while the American League Wild Card race is fiercely competitive, with no team managing to take a clear lead.

It's appropriate that these regular-season games have a postseason atmosphere, and that's exactly what will happen this week. Here are five series to keep an eye on as the race to October intensifies.

Astros at Marlins: 3 games (Monday-Wednesday)

• Head-to-head: These two Interleague teams are meeting for the first time this season. The Astros have won five straight games against the Marlins dating back to 2023, including a three-game sweep in Houston last July.

• Storyline: The Marlins are the hottest team in baseball since mid-June, sporting an MLB-best 30-14 record. Led by emerging stars like Kyle Stowers and Agustín Ramírez, who is mashing home runs at will, this is a fun team that deserves your attention. The Marlins have won six consecutive series, a feat they haven't accomplished since 1997, the year they won their first World Series.

• Watch out for: Carlos Correa. In a true Deadline shocker, the Twins shipped the three-time All-Star back to Houston. While his offensive numbers aren't what they once were, his presence in the lineup and his leadership should provide a significant boost to an Astros team that has been ravaged by injuries.

Yankees at Rangers: 3 games (Monday-Wednesday)

• Head-to-head: The Yankees swept a three-game series from the Rangers in the Bronx in May, but all three games were close. The Yankees' dominant pitching staff allowed just five runs in the entire series.

• Storyline: The Rangers have been on a surge since the All-Star break, going 10-5 and vaulting themselves back into the Wild Card race. This series could be a major factor in dictating their postseason fate. For the Yankees, this is a chance to gain ground on a team they're directly competing with.

• Watch out for: Aaron Judge. The defending AL MVP is targeting a return to the Yankees lineup on either Tuesday or Wednesday. Battling a flexor strain in his right elbow, Judge will serve as the team's primary DH. His return is a much-needed shot in the arm for a new-look lineup that has struggled to find its rhythm without him.

Reds at Cubs: 3 games (Monday-Wednesday)

• Head-to-head: The NL Central rivals have met only six times this year, with seven more meetings to come, including a crucial four-game set in late September. The Cubs currently hold the upper hand, winning four of the first six games.

• Storyline: The Reds are still very much alive in the NL Wild Card race after many teams faded away. They received a boost at the Deadline by acquiring Ke'Bryan Hayes and Miguel Andujar for their lineup, and Zack Littell for the rotation. This series is a chance for them to make up ground on the division-leading Brewers.

• Watch out for: Pete Crow-Armstrong. The All-Star center fielder has been a nightmare for Reds pitching this season, slashing .391/.423/.739 against them. He’ll be tested by a strong Reds pitching staff that could feature left-handers Nick Lodolo and All-Star Andrew Abbott.

Blue Jays at Dodgers: 3 games (Friday-Sunday)

• Head-to-head: These two teams are meeting for the first time this season. The Dodgers took a series in Toronto last April, but a lot has changed since then. With both teams leading their divisions, this could be a potential World Series preview.

• Storyline: Both teams are looking to maintain their division leads. The Dodgers are being pursued by the hot-running Padres, and have a 7-8 record since the All-Star break. Meanwhile, the Blue Jays have cooled off, losing five of their last eight, though they haven’t lost ground in the AL East race.

• Watch out for: Blake Snell. The left-hander made his long-awaited return from a shoulder injury on Saturday and showed flashes of his dominant self, notching eight strikeouts. Any significant contribution from Snell down the stretch would be a massive boost for a Dodgers rotation that suddenly looks complete again.

Mets at Brewers: 3 games (Friday-Sunday)

• Head-to-head: This series is a Wild Card rematch, as the Mets return to Milwaukee for the first time since last year’s thrilling postseason series. Pete Alonso, whose three-run homer sealed a Game 3 victory, is sure to receive a smattering of boos. The Mets also won two of three games from the Brewers at Citi Field in July.

• Storyline: Can the Brewers' rotation keep up its stellar performance? Despite the injury to Jacob Misiorowski, the unit has been a dominant force. Brandon Woodruff has been sensational since re-joining the rotation with a 2.01 ERA, and Quinn Priester has been a revelation with a 10-2 record and a 3.27 ERA. Both are slated to start this weekend, and their performance will be key to fending off the Cubs atop the division.

• Watch out for: Andrew Vaughn. Since coming over from the White Sox, Vaughn has been on a tear, batting .386 with a 1.220 OPS across his first 17 games with the Brewers. He's a vital right-handed bat in the middle of a lineup that is currently missing some key players.