(some of these games are four game series so since their first games on Thursday are considered to be part of the weekday series’ I don’t include them until now)
1. San Diego Padres (43-43) at Los Angeles Dodgers
After finding some heat, the Padres have been cooled down by their rivals in LA at home and then got swept at Wrigley. After losing last night while seeing a 6-0 lead go to waste, the Padres are now at 43-43 and 3 games down in the Wildcard chase. The Dodgers on the other hand continue to strengthen the lead on the NL west by 13 games now and also hold a 2.5 lead in the NL and MLB standings over the Brewers for the No. 1 seed. LA could use this one if they want to wrap up a big lead going into the All star Break and the Padres desperately could use this one too just to not lose ground in their season.
2. Tampa Bay Rays (51-33) at Houston Astros (43-46)
When you’re hot and your main rival is not, that is what the Tampa Bay Rays are going through right now. TB is on a 7 game win streak and at the same time, the Yankees are on a 7 game losing streak and that has allowed the Rays to retake control of the AL East and the AL’s No. 1 seed. With a great June, the Astros have got themselves back in the race for the AL West and the AL Wildcard even with being 3 games below .500. But they ended June and started July by losing their first series since the first week of June against the Minnesota Twins. Now Houston gets the red hot Rays at Daikin Park. Can the Astros cool off the Rays and not lose ground, or can the Rays pull away from New York and take control of the relatively weak American League.
3. Toronto Blue Jays (41-46) at Seattle Mariners (45-43)
I’m not shocked that both of these teams are in Postseason contention as they literally competed in a 7-game ALCS series last year. But what I am shocked about is both of these teams are literally sleepwalking in this position. I know injuries have played effect especially with the Jays, but both them and Seattle have been lackluster to the say the least and only are alive because the AL is so weak. Maybe if either one of these teams can find heat they will get back to where they should be, but that starts with winning this series.
4. Minnesota Twins (42-46) at New York Yankees (48-38)
Here we go again, the Yankees are on a slump and they get the Twins as their next opportunity to try and break it. Minnesota after getting swept against LA found some rhythm back with a second straight series win this time at Houston to win the season series over the Astros. And while they’re only 3 back in the Wildcard and only 4 in the division, they’re just trying to hold hope that they can sneak into a spot. To do that, they got to take care of a battered Yankee team that has lost its last seven games and albeit against not great competition too. New York while they are injured is just trying to snap out of it and not let the Rays pull away in the East. These are the spots where the Yankees have taken advantage of the Twins and will it happen again or will the Twins not fall for the same NYY tricks and actually take one at Yankee Stadium.
5. Chicago White Sox (45-41) at Cleveland Guardians (46-42)
Series No. 2 between the two AL Central leaders started last night with Cleveland taking it. For a better portion of the last few weeks now, these two have been tied in the standings with Chicago having the upper hand. If Cleveland wants the upper hand, taking a four game series at home vs a White Sox team that has not been great on the road is definitely a great way to do it. But if Chicago can take this one, that’s a statement right there.
(Note: These standings are how they sit at 2:20 pm on July 3rd. For up to date standings check here.)
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