With the season winding down and playoff races reaching critical junctures, here are five things to keep an eye on in the baseball world this weekend…
1. Texas/Seattle showdown
The American League West is the tightest division race in the game. The Astros hold a half-game lead over the Mariners and Rangers, who are tied for second place. The Mariners head to Arlington’s Globe Life Field today to kick off a pivotal three-game set against the Rangers. It’s a series that could determine the very fate of the American League West and one that could make or break the postseason chances for either team. The Blue Jays hold a half-game lead over both the M’s and the Rangers for the second Wild Card spot, which only heightens the importance of this series.
Game one will pit Mariners rookie Bryce Miller (8-5, 3.88 ERA) against Rangers righty Dane Dunning (10-6, 3.78). Saturday will feature a matchup of two of the division’s best starters, with Seattle righty Logan Gilbert (13-6, 3.77) facing off against Texas lefty Jordan Montgomery (9-11, 3.38). Sunday’s series finale sees the Mariners trot out rookie right-hander Bryan Woo (4-4, 3.90) against Rangers veteran Nathan Eovaldi (11-4, 3.05). A sweep would remove some of the drama in the division, but the two teams are also set to close out their season with four games against each other in Seattle, so this could all go down to the wire. Elsewhere in the division, the Astros are hosting the Royals, who have baseball’s second-worst record.
2. NL Wild Card race heats up
Similar to the AL West, the NL Wild Card chase looks like a three-horse between the Marlins, Cubs and Reds. Miami and Chicago are tied for the third and final spot, both sitting a half-game up on Cincinnati. The Fish will have their work cut out for them this weekend, as they’ll host the Brewers and face a pitching gauntlet of former NL Cy Young winner Corbin Burnes (9-8, 3.56), Brandon Woodruff (5-1, 1.89) and Freddy Peralta (12-9, 3.71). Miami hasn’t announced a starter for tonight’s game, but will send lefty Jesus Luzardo (10-9, 3.68) and righty Edward Cabrera (6-7, 4.35) to the bump on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
The Cubs, meanwhile, play host to a last-place Rockies club for three games this weekend. They’re starting veteran Jameson Taillon (7-10, 5.27), rookie Jordan Wicks (3-1, 2.67) and rookie Javier Assad (4-3, 3.04) against the respective Colorado trio of Noah Davis (0-2, 9.58), Chris Flexen (1-8, 7.19) and Ty Blach (3-2, 5.32).
As for the Reds, they’ll send the rookie trio of Andrew Abbott (8-5, 3.68), Connor Phillips (1-0, 5.74) and Brandon Williamson (4-5, 4.56) to the mound against Luis Ortiz and a pair of yet-to-be-announced Pirates starters.
3. Twins all but certain to clinch
The American League Central race isn’t technically over yet, but that’s all but certain to change this weekend. The Twins could’ve clinched on yesterday’s off-day if both the Guardians and Tigers had lost, but both clubs picked up victories to at least mathematically keep their playoff hopes alive. The Twins host a largely dismantled Angels club this weekend and will kick off the series with their top two starters, Pablo Lopez and Sonny Gray, before turning things over to Joe Ryan on Sunday. The Tigers continue their four-game set in Oakland and the Guards continue a four-game series in Baltimore. The Twins would clinch simply by picking up one victory or by seeing both the Guardians and Tigers lose a game this weekend. It’s a matter of when, not if, they formally capture the division crown.
4. Bieber returns — will McKenzie follow?
While that last note is surely a sour one for Cleveland fans, the silver lining is that they’ll at least get to see their top starter back on the mound this weekend. Right-hander Shane Bieber, the 2020 American League Cy Young winner, will make his first start since July 9 tonight against the Orioles. Bieber experienced forearm discomfort and elbow inflammation midway through July, and the issue proved severe enough to effectively wipe out Bieber’s entire second half. It’ll be a welcome sight for Cleveland fans and figures to give Bieber at least some peace of mind heading into the offseason, assuming all goes well.
Of course, it also bears considering that Bieber could be making one of his last starts for the only team he’s known. Cleveland has a history of trading its top starters before they reach free agency, and Bieber is controlled only through the 2024 season. The Guardians also have a burgeoning crop of young arms emerging, with Tanner Bibee, Gavin Williams and Logan Allen all finding success in their rookie seasons. That trio and currently injured righty Triston McKenzie give the Guards a strong foundation in 2024 even if Bieber is moved. And speaking McKenzie, there’s a chance he could also return from the 60-day injured list for Sunday’s game. He’s been out since mid-June with a UCL sprain but has made a pair of minor league rehab starts in the past 10 days.
5. Caminero arrives
The Rays’ seemingly interminable pipeline of top prospects is set to produce another big leaguer, as top prospect Junior Caminero will be promoted for his debut today. He’s considered among the sport’s top all-around prospects, ranking fifth at The Athletic, ESPN and Baseball America, sixth at MLB.com and 11th at FanGraphs. The 20-year-old third baseman has decimated High-A and Double-A pitching this year, slashing a combined .324/.384/.591 with 31 homers.
Let’s go Mariners!
Out of the playoffs!
Booo
I don’t particularly hate the Mariners but their GM Jerry Dipoto is the most classless person even among all baseball executives for the 60+ years I have been a fan of baseball. Before departing the Angels he saddleded the team with a useless prospect and over-paying him more than maybe 100 times the signing bonus the guy deserved. By doing so the angels were prevented from signing any useable prospects from Latin America.(Rule of the times.)
Who is this prospect who got >100x what he deserved?
Moncada, if my memory serves right.
What’s his first name? The only Moncada I know is Yoan with the White Sox. Of course, maybe that proves the point.
LETS GO
OCTOBER RISE!!!!
I cannot imagine anything so filled with tension and excitement as the AL west race this year, maybe the best ever.
I mean that, and I have followed baseball since 1955.
I’m for the Mariners, as always. Down with the Astros.
Go Mariners!
You mean tension caused by AL East? AL East Division will go down as one of the most competitive/difficult ever. First time in nearly 100 years well see the Yanks and Sox be the bottom two teams. Every team may end the season with a win % over .500
Imagine if the A’s and Red Sox swapped divisions. Do the A’s win 40 games? Does any AL West team win 85?
Damnit. Since you pulled that statement out of your butt, now I really gotta go look up the AL West record vs the Red Sox this year:
Vs Mariners: 3-3
Vs Astros: 2-5
Vs Rangers: 3-3
Vs A’s: 4-2
Red Sox overall record vs the AL West: 12-13
Yeah, the Sox would have really buried all the AL West teams this year if they were in the same division LOLLLLLL
I forgive you guys for your blind and deaf east coast bias.
Good work, pal.
I dont usually comment on things like this and I tried to give the benefit of the doubt. Made sure that this article wasnt written like a month ago or something. But to say that the NL is a 3 man game and not add the currently second place in the wild card Dbacks is just poor writing.
They didn’t add dbacks because the dbacks are looking in. It’s was a battle for the last spot.
Journalism/Proofreading/Fact-checking is a LOT harder than it looks. Perfection is non-existent and these guys that write for MLBTR eat, sleep, and breathe baseball. I remember during the lockout talks how badly people on this site were ‘jonesing’ for just a SPRING TRAINING game article. The season’s almost over, and these guys are usually at least a B+ overall throughout the year on aggregate when it comes to publishing.
I see where you’re coming from, but the trade deadline/postseason/offseason articles are why this site reigns supreme and they’re allowed to bat .250 every once in a while.
Tjat B+ you give them is grade inflation. If journalists could actually read and write, they would be lawyers.
I think they are trying to keep these articles short. If you add Arizona why not add the Phillies, they are only three games further ahead and why don’t you include the Giants at 2 1/2 back along with the Padres who are only 1 game further back? But the Pirates are only 3 games further back and the Mets are just 1 game back of them so why not include all of them, too?
Hemlock, don’t forget the Cardinals.
Actually, they’re officially eliminated, so um, yeah…forget them.
The Royals may have the second worst record but they are 7-3 in their last ten and just won their series with Houston last week. Houston will choke this away like it’s Dusty’s toothpick
The Royals have turned Cole Ragans into something great. Texas is going to regret trading him for Chapman.
Would be excellent for the Twins to get the first round bye because the stros are swept by the royals
That’s impossible, Texas and Seattle play each other 7 more times, worst case thata 4 guaranteed wins for one team with a 3 game series. Even if MIN runs it, one of those 3 teams will have at least 91 wins
Why you want to squash my dreams scissors?
Hoyer’s bargain basement BP philosophy is coming back to haunt him. He’s had some success with reclamations (Merryweather and Leiter), but Ross has leaned heavily on those 2 and a couple of others and they’re gassed with no other options. Alzolay did well for awhile until he too had nothing left in the tank. This is where an investment in a late innings veteran stud or 2 might’ve really paid off.
Bigger issue is Ross’s gross misuse of said bullpen
The Cubs streaks of horrendous play under Ross is getting ridiculous.
Hoyer could have added Matt Moore or Andrew Chafin in the offseason but did not. Cubs really needed bullpen help, and Hoyer didn’t address it. A lefty bullpen arm was badly needed.
I still can’t forgive the dozens of “writers” who assured us that Texas would finish 4th in the AL West. PETCO even projected them to be 79-83. Yeah, the team performed a bit better, but to project anything less than a winning record ahould have been a fireable offense. I hope Texas makes the playoffs so those guys getting bribed from NY to trash the Rangers and praise the Mets are embarassed out of the sport. Now, I don’t get why Matt Bush and Antoine Kelly are still at AAA while Jonathan Hernández is still in MLB. CY can still manage to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, but the team cannot finish 4th in 99.99% of scenarios (15.5 games apart atm).
Those writers were wrong about Texas finishing 4th with a sub-.500 record. They should not be employed anymore. PETCO simulated them at 79-83. Smh
>They should not be employed anymore.
So if they write something that’s wrong, that’s it…you take the hands off?
NO MORE WRITE FIR YOU!!!
And they can’t even be employed at all? What about the job writing those short sentences in children’s coloring books?
“Alfie jumped for joy! Jump Alfie, jump!”
You wouldn’t let them apply to write that?
The hate is strong. Let it go.
That guess was so irrational at the time, but I do agree these guys should be allowed to write children’s books lol.
> PETCO simulated them at 79-83.
What are you even referring to? Where I’m from, PETCO is a food store for pets.
I think he met the PECOTA predictions but somehow I think you knew that lol
PETCO traded Draft Picks and naming rights. With that being cleared up, welcome to PECOTA Park here in sunny San Diego!
Guardians and Orioles are playing in Cleveland, not Baltimore.
It’s too big of a weekend in college football to care about mlb
The bigger issue for baseball is a tropical storm coming up the East Coast that could disrupt the games involving the Braves, D-backs, and Phils.
As well, Milwaukee can clinch the NL Central as early as Friday evening depending on the Cubs’ result. Brewers have a magic number of 2 for the division and to host a wild-card series.
Lol imagine caring about college football. I hardly even pay attention to my own University’s team
Is it possible for neither Seattle or Texas to get in? Not a Rangers fan (don’t hate them, just not big on them) and that rathole Seattle shouldn’t even have a sports team until they fix their city.
I doubt it, unless New York sneaks in by a “miracle.” I’m not getting why you don’t ask about Houston and Seattle in that case, though. 3 of the 4 should make it in 99.9% of simulations: Toronto, Texas, Houston, and Seattle
> Is it possible for neither
> Seattle or Texas to get in?
No. 4 spots to:
TOR HOU SEA TEX NYY
2/3 must be HOU SEA TEX
Wait… which 4 spots? Tampa Bay/Baltimore eill take the 1st wild card spot, so 2 remain for those 3 teams plus the AL West
Yes correct sorry
Those “—“ they use when ties in the standings fooled me into thinking there were four wildcards.
Forget the katana, use the barbed wire—Take my hands off. Too much of this for one day.
The NL THIRD Wild Card is up for grabs between the Cubs, Marlins and Reds. The Phillies and DBacks currently hold the first two Wild Card spots.
Unless Minnesota goes on a run or one of the AL West teams craters, we will have a postseason where the Twins:
a) have a higher seed than a Tampa Bay (or Baltimore) team with a better record in the toughest division in baseball
b) qualify for the playoffs while an AL West team with a better record goes home
c) benefit obscenely from playing in a division where they are the only .500 team
Is it just me, or does there need to be a fix for this? Like a division winner with a lower record than the top wild card should drop to the 4 seed? And a division winner that finishes below the 4th-place team in the wild card standings should have to play a play-in against that 4th-place team, and the play-in should be for 6th seed?
> Is it just me
Yes
So you want to put more playoffs into your playoffs to see who gets into the playoffs? I didn’t even get to the one game playoffs before the playoffs to get into the playoffs, if they tie it all up after 162.
As for the AL West, the main thing I’m seeing is that the final 7 games of the Mariners season will be all against the other 2 top teams, 3 against the Astros and 4 against the Rangers.
Plus just before that, The Ms play 3 at the Rangers, starting tonight.
“It don’t get no better than that”, is what Mule Anderson said about it today down the street at the Donald Tavern.
Game time is coming right up, another 35 minutes.
Mule is so excited that he stood a round of beer for the house just now.
… And this guy Mule Anderson usually “don’t buy nuthin for nobody.”
Yeah, he’s excited all right.
Go Mariners!
“Meanwhile” can’t come in the middle of the sentence. It has to START the sentence. When will this hack Adams learn???
Great game!