Big Bear Nolan's Blog

The second half to the 2026 season is underway now and I want to look at the five series I’m most intrigued on this week.

1. Los Angeles Dodgers (63-37) at Philadelphia Phillies (55-45)

Easily the best series this week. In a rematch of the NLDS last season, there are massive postseason implications on the line here. Dodgers are in a very tight race for the MLB No. 1 seed, just a half a game up on the Brewers. While the Phillies are 3 below Atlanta in the NL West. Not only is huge seeding on the line here. But this has a high chance of being a Postseason preview.

2. Minnesota Twins (49-51) at Cleveland Guardians (52-48)

Just like their earlier matchup a couple weeks before. This one still has a lot of implications in the AL Postseason race. After a rough series at Chicago, the Twins are 2 behind in the AL Wildcard race while the Guardians are one above. in the Central, Cleveland is just 1 back where the Twins are 4 back. Both want this one. And especially with trade talks surrounding the Twins, this series could be the difference between a playoff push and another fire sale.

3. Pittsburgh Pirates (52-48) at New York Yankees (55-44)

Despite a rough start to the second half with losing another series to the Dodgers. The Yankees who were helped by the red hot Boston Red Sox sweeping the Rays in four sit just 1.5 behind in the AL East. However it doesn’t get much easier as they get a Pirates team that has won 5 of their last six games and are in a three-way tie for the last spot in the NL Wildcard race.

4. Chicago White Sox (52-46) at Texas Rangers (50-49)

I don’t know what’s more surprising, the White Sox vs Rangers being a matchup between 1st place teams? Or a 52-46 team against a 50-49 team being a 1st place matchup. Either way the Central and West leaders in the AL square off in Arlington Texas this week.

5. New York Mets (42-58) at Milwaukee Brewers (62-37)

The Brewers are just 0.5 behind the Dodgers for the MLB No. 1 seed. And now they get the struggling Mets for three at home. The Brewers could completely bury the Mets and old friends in Freddy Peralta and GM David Stearns for good. While the Mets could spoil the Brewers fun, similar to how they did in 2024.

((You can find the complete standings for yourself here at MLB.com)