Showdowns between heated rivals, WS contenders headline 5 series to watch

The calendar says August, but many of the matchups on the diamond this upcoming week should have a decidedly October feel.

We saw the Astros and Tigers face off in last year's postseason, and we'll get a rematch this week in Detroit. Might we see the Mariners and Phillies in the 2025 Fall Classic? It's within reason, and those two will get together in Philly for a three-game set beginning Monday. We will also witness the next chapters in some of the game's best rivalries.

Here are five series to watch this week.

Brewers at Cubs: 5 games (Monday-Thursday)

Head-to-head: They have split their eight meetings evenly this season, although the Brewers have won three of the past four. Milwaukee claimed a three-game set against the Cubs in late July, although Chicago ended that series with a 10-3 victory on July 30. That stands as one of the Brewers' five losses in their past 34 games.

Storyline: Thanks to a doubleheader on Monday, this will be a super-sized series at Wrigley Field. That Cubs win over Milwaukee last month represented the Brewers' most recent loss until Sunday's defeat against the Reds. In between, the Brewers spun off an incredible 14-game winning streak and ballooned their division lead over Chicago from one game to eight. This will be the last regular-season series between these clubs, so Milwaukee could effectively put the NL Central on ice with a big week in the Windy City.

Watch out for: The Brewers' big bats. Even with Sunday's 3-2 loss, Milwaukee is still averaging about eight runs per game this month with four regulars (Brice Turang, Isaac Collins, Christian Yelich, William Contreras) boasting an OPS better than 1.000.

Astros at Tigers: 3 games (Monday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: The Astros won two of three games against the Tigers in April at Daikin Park, a very small measure of revenge after Detroit dispatched Houston in last year's AL Wild Card Series. This will be Houston's first visit to Comerica Park since May 2024. It has won seven of its past nine games in Detroit.

Storyline: Each of these first-place clubs scuffled to a below-.500 record in July. But whereas the Tigers have seemingly righted their ship with six wins in their past eight games, the Astros are 7-8 in August and hold a slim lead over the Mariners in the AL West. Houston has averaged just 3.8 runs per game this month, including 10 runs over the previous five games. And now it will have a date with perhaps the best pitcher in baseball. Speaking of which...

Watch out for: Hunter Brown vs. Tarik Skubal. Yes, we are scheduled to get this must-see matchup on Tuesday night. Brown, a Detroit native, stumbled a bit before the All-Star break, but he has rebounded over his past five starts, posting a 2.57 ERA. His 2.45 ERA for the year ranks third in the AL while Skubal is at the top of the league at 2.42. The Tigers' splendid southpaw, who shut down the Astros in Game 1 of that playoff series last season, is rolling toward a second straight Cy Young. He leads the Majors in WHIP (0.87), K-BB rate (28.7%) and fWAR (5.5), to name a few categories.

• Staple of Skubal's pregame routine? Catch with 1-year-old son

Mariners at Phillies: 3 games (Monday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: These teams haven't faced off in Philly since April 2023, when the Phillies took two of three games. The Mariners -- who lead the all-time series, 14-11 -- won a three-game home set versus Philadelphia last August.

Storyline: In a week full of intriguing matchups, this might be the best one. The Mariners and Phillies rank second and tied for fourth, respectively, in winning percentage this month. The former is nipping at the Astros' heels in the AL West while the latter has grabbed a five-game lead in the NL East. Both squads possess some elite power in their lineups and top-end starters in their rotations. Might we see them meet again in about two months?

Watch out for: A possible two-man Home Run Derby. Kyle Schwarber is on pace for 56 homers, which would fall just two dingers shy of Ryan Howard's club record. But what's cooler than being on pace for 56 home runs? Being on pace for 61 home runs -- as a catcher. Cal Raleigh, this year's T-Mobile Home Run Derby champion and owner of 47 home runs, is just two long balls away from breaking the single-season record for home runs by a primary catcher. He got one step closer to the mark during the Little League Classic on Sunday night. Watching these two prolific sluggers swing it at Citizens Bank Park should be a treat.

Red Sox at Yankees: 4 games (Thursday-Sunday)

Head-to-head: The Red Sox enter this series riding a five-game win streak against their arch-rival. That includes a three-game sweep of the Yanks at Fenway Park in mid-June. Boston pitchers allowed a total of four runs during that series.

Storyline: It's the Red Sox versus the Yankees -- need we say more? OK, we will. That aforementioned sweep really kicked off a prolonged swoon for the Yankees, who went from 4 1/2 games up in the AL East to 5 1/2 games back. But they head into this week as winners in five of their past six games, capped by a sweep in St. Louis. Boston has the best winning percentage in the AL since it last faced New York (.618). While both clubs are still eyeing Toronto at the head of the table, they are also jockeying for position in the Wild Card race. The Red Sox, who have dropped six of their past 10 games, are just a half-game in front of the Yanks for the second AL Wild Card.

Watch out for: Roman Anthony. The Red Sox needed to see Anthony for just 46 games in the big leagues before giving him a lucrative eight-year contract extension. They have also made the 21-year-old their everyday leadoff hitter over the past few weeks. MLB Pipeline's former No. 1 overall prospect owns a .398 on-base percentage and an .832 OPS so far and has been even better over his previous 18 games (.458 OBP, .973 OPS). Already a fan favorite, Anthony could reach superstardom in Boston if he shows out in his first Major League games in the Bronx.

Dodgers at Padres: 3 games (Friday-Sunday)

Head-to-head: You again? We just saw these foes square off at Chavez Ravine this past weekend, and the Dodgers came away with a three-game sweep to pull two games ahead in the NL West. L.A. is 8-2 against San Diego this year and has secured the head-to-head tiebreaker, which could prove important by the end of the regular season. Los Angeles has won three of its previous four games at Petco Park, including Game 4 of last season's NLDS.

Storyline: The Padres' reign atop the division lasted all of one day before the Dodgers regained command this past weekend. Can San Diego strike back at home in what will be the final three games during the regular season between these rivals, or will the Dodgers strengthen their position as they strive for their 12th NL West title in 13 years?

Watch out for: Mookie Betts. He has been mired in the least productive season of his career, but Betts can make many people forget about that with a strong finish. And don't look now, but the eight-time All-Star is starting to look like, well, an eight-time All-Star. Betts delivered the game-winning blow in Sunday's series finale at Dodger Stadium and has recorded a .341/.400/.523 slash line with 12 runs and nine RBIs in his previous 11 games.