It's around middle to late August when the games start to truly matter. There are about 40 to 45 games left in each MLB team's regular season, and this weekend has a few games that might clear the playoff picture a little bit.
"Playoffs? Don't talk about playoffs. Are you kidding me, playoffs?"
No Jim Mora, we're not kidding. We're going to talk about the playoffs.
Whether it's two teams trying to hold on to a slim division lead (Dodgers-Astros), two teams fighting to keep their current wild-card berth (Blue Jays-Angels) or two teams chasing down a division leader (Giants-Pirates), these August matchups will have a huge impact on who will be playing in October.
Los Angeles Dodgers at Houston Astros (Friday-Sunday)
After a two-game sweep via the worst team in the American League, the Oakland Athletics, the Los Angeles Dodgers knew they had to make a move.
They only hold a two-game NL West lead over the lurking San Francisco Giants, and with the NL Central currently holding the top two Wild Card spots, it might be division or bust for the Dodgers.
They took advantage of the August waivers trade period, but not to obtain the late-inning reliever they so desperately need; the Dodgers decided to give former Philadelphia Phillies star second baseman Chase Utley a homecoming back to Southern California. He'll play a big role in replacing second baseman Howie Kendrick, who is currently on the disabled list.
And along with the other Phillies all-time middle infielder Jimmy Rollins, the Dodgers hope the two will be turning double plays deep into October and maybe even November.
Take heart, @Phillies fans: Proof that Chase Utley and @JimmyRollins11 belong together: http://t.co/X1JlesuZDk pic.twitter.com/IvzGXsnKU8
— Cut4 (@Cut4) August 20, 2015
In the other clubhouse, the Houston Astros are in a similar situation. They hold a 2.5-game AL West lead over the Los Angeles Angels after back-to-back walk-off wins over the Tampa Bay Rays this week earned the team a new nickname.
.@TeamCJCorrea's first career #walkoff hit is the #HTownMoment pres. by @ATT. http://t.co/ztaokfc342 pic.twitter.com/364jNtNkcu
— Houston Astros (@astros) August 20, 2015
There is something special happening in Houston, 33 come from behind wins!! #cardiackids
— Mike Stanton (@MikeStantonRS) August 20, 2015
They might be baseball's biggest surprise. Most baseball fans and analysts thought they were at least a year away from competing on this level, but they jumped the gun.
The question is whether the young, exciting team led by rookie shortstop Carlos Correa and ace pitcher Dallas Keuchel will unwind down the stretch while being chased by the veteran Angels.
The Dodgers will send out their best starters in Brett Anderson, Zack Greinke and Clayton Kershaw this weekend in hopes to extend their division lead.
If either the Astros or Dodgers suffer a sweep this weekend, they could be looking up at a new division leader Monday morning. And with the competitiveness of the wild-card race, that's a fate neither team can afford to face.
Toronto Blue Jays at Los Angeles Angels (Friday-Sunday)
From the Astros to the team chasing them, the Angels. They won't be able to do much scoreboard watching this weekend because they'll have their hands full with the suddenly surging Toronto Blue Jays.
Currently, the Angels hold a half-game lead over the Baltimore Orioles for the second wild-card spot. Along with the Orioles, the Texas Rangers, Minnesota Twins, Rays and Detroit Tigers are all waiting for even the smallest slip from the Angels to overtake their position.
The Angels ship looked like it was sinking as they had lost six of seven games on a road trip against the Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Royals, but they saved faced with an early-week three-game home sweep of the White Sox and are firmly back in control of their own destiny.
#HaloRecap: Carlos Perez leads the #Angels to their 3rd straight win over the #WhiteSox with a solo home run! pic.twitter.com/FEydsqORtw
— Angels (@Angels) August 20, 2015
This is what makes this series so intriguing; the Blue Jays are also in the midst of the playoff hunt. They're currently holding the top wild-card spot with a 2.5-game lead over the Angels, but they want the division. They've stalked down the New York Yankees throughout August thanks to their all-in push at the trade deadline acquiring David Price, Troy Tulowitzki and Ben Revere, among others.
The Blue Jays were on an 11-game winning streak before losing two out of three against the Yankees.
And despite being Canada's only professional baseball team, the Blue Jays have quickly become America's favorite underdog team.
If you view baseball as too slow, soft & polite, pay attention to the defiantly unique Jays: http://t.co/wJOhog1PW4 pic.twitter.com/r4RhZTIMjT
— ESPN (@espn) August 17, 2015
These two teams could very well face each other in the play-in Wild Card Game in early October, but both would rather get in by winning the division.
This series will play a huge part in whether either team will achieve its goals, and for the Angels, a bad series could fling them out of their wild-card spot and behind two or three teams. For the Blue Jays, it's all about catching the Yankees, which seems nearly inevitable the way Toronto has been playing lately.
San Francisco Giants at Pittsburgh Pirates (Thursday-Sunday)
It's an odd year; the Giants have no chance, right? Wrong!
San Fran is just as much in the mix this year as they were at this point last season. They're merely two games back of the Dodgers for the NL West and three games shy of the young Chicago Cubs for the Wild Card.
Like we've seen in previous years, you should never count them out even when they look like an inferior team. And when they make plays like this, words like destiny start to get thrown around.
.@juan_perez24 finds time to do some Parkour in the middle of the game: http://t.co/qrMcDs95Jq #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/UgNLdsfXZq
— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) August 19, 2015
Their postseason run begins Thursday with a four-game series with the equally postseason-minded Pittsburgh Pirates. This series will be a rematch of last year's National League Wild Card Game, which the Giants won 8-0. The Pirates will be eager to seek their revenge but, more importantly, avoid playing in that win-or-go-home game again.
They may not have a choice. Despite their superb season, which has them with the second-best record in the National League, they still sit five games back of the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals.
They'll be at home against the Giants where they have been unreal as of late.
Home sweet home! @Pirates are 17-4 in last 21 home games as they beat D-Backs, 4-1. pic.twitter.com/SxDzx5mze8
— Baseball Tonight (@BBTN) August 19, 2015
With it being a four-game series, whoever wins the extended weekend matchup—whether 3-1 or a clean sweep—will be in a great position going forward.
The Pirates, who hold a seven-game wild-card lead over the Giants, could all but seal up at least a berth in the Wild Card Game with a great series and get them even closer to hunting down the Cardinals.
The Giants, on the other hand, have to at least hold pace with the Dodgers, as the division might be more obtainable than a wild-card berth.
Either way, it will be good to see two of the NL's best teams square off at PNC Park.
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