MLB Power Rankings: The nine most important series
MLB Power Rankings: The nine most important series: Two weeks and a half. There are no more games left in the 2022 MLB season. It’s been a whirlwind, right?
Or has it?
According to Matt Snyder,
“If you ask me, every baseball season contains a contradiction for those of us who live and breathe it 24/7.”
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One may comment, “It feels like just yesterday was Opening Day!” with little thought. I can’t think of a good counterargument to that.
Back in March, when I first heard that the season might be curtailed at all, my initial reaction was one of alarm. When an agreement was reached, the owners terminated their voluntary lockout of the players, and it seems like only yesterday. We were overjoyed.
“It doesn’t feel like that long ago as I mentioned.”
Do you recall the discussion about whether or not Clayton Kershaw’s perfect game should have been stopped at seven innings? Don’t you think it’s hard to believe that was so long ago?
Indeed, I find that this helps me much. A very long period has passed since then. The 13th of April has arrived. When the World Series is over, it will seem like an eternity since spring training.
Such a remark only makes sense to those of us still paying attention, and the grind goes by swiftly. Whoever knows, knows.
With only a few games left in the regular season, we’ve compiled a list of the top nine series that could affect the outcome of the playoffs for both teams. You won’t find the likes of the Dodgers or Astros on our list since we’re going to concentrate on games in which both teams have something to gain and something to lose. (Each season is presented in reverse order.)
1. Mets at Brewers, Sept. 19-21
The Brewers appeared to find their rhythm again after sweeping the doubleheader against the Giants on September 8. The Padres and Phillies have a new opponent in the race for the wild card. The Mets, meanwhile, are neck-and-neck with the Braves. To kick off the week, we’ve got a big one.
2. Blue Jays at Phillies, Sept. 20-22
Both clubs have a good chance of advancing to the next round, but a loss might eliminate either of them, and there is competition for the two wild-card slots. It’s possible that the Jays are aiming high, and we’ll discuss that possibility in a second.
3. Guardians at White Sox, Sept. 20-22
There are only three more meetings between the two clubs. The White Sox need to beat up on the Guardians before Cleveland closes their season with a six-game home series against the hopeless Royals.
4. Braves at Phillies, Sept. 22-25
It’s not a true head-to-head matchup because they aren’t competing for the same thing, but the Phillies’ success might hurt the Braves’ chances of winning the NL East, and vice versa. Hurting an opponent is always entertaining, right? Also, each must maintain their individual successes.
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5. Blue Jays at Rays, Sept. 22-25
Though it appears that both clubs have clinched wild-card berths, the Orioles still have a chance to make a late run if they win this four-game series.
6. Yankees at Blue Jays, Sept. 26-28
Perhaps by the time this series is completed, it will be over. Although, the Yankees might not be completely safe just yet. At this time, they’re up by 5 and a half games. After the Blue Jays have taken the lead for four or five games, a Yankees sweep would make the rest of the series a tight contest.
7. Rays at Guardians, Sept. 27-29
The White Sox have one last chance to acquire some much-needed assistance before the Guardians face another team of equal or greater quality. Also, the Rays can be vying for a postseason position or the AL East title. As a minimum, seeding will be important, and it’s possible that we’ll see this exact same matchup again in the wild-card round.
8. White Sox at Padres, Sept. 30-Oct. 2
Perhaps though the White Sox are already mathematically gone from playoff contention, if they are within striking distance of the Guardians or even leading the AL Central, this matchup is crucial. It’s possible that the Padres will have to battle with the Brewers and/or the Phillies for the NL’s last playoff slot. Possibly the final games for both squads. What a great idea!
9. Mets at Braves, Sept. 30-Oct. 2
Right, let’s get started. This is baseball’s finest remaining series. If the score remains tight, the series will have the feel of a playoff matchup.
The loser will still advance to the postseason, but this game is still very important. Should we allow ourselves to become greedy? Let’s start becoming avaricious. Gods of Baseball, please have these two clubs enter the series tied. What we require of you is little.
Of course, these aren’t the only interesting series, and there are plenty of other potential previews for the playoffs (the Rays and Astros square off twice and the Dodgers play the Cardinals, for example).
The point is that there is still plenty of regular season series worth our attention, despite the fact that the grind is winding down and the playoffs feel imminent.
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