Wild-card implications aplenty in NL, AL
Cardinals looking to stretch playoff streak to six years
USA TODAY Sports Weekly’s baseball correspondents weigh in on the top series over the next week in Major League Baseball:
ROCKIES AT DODGERS (Sept. 22-25)
This late-season series calls attention to a few lengthy trends of importance. The Dodgers again are mighty at home, where they were 47-27 entering this week. And the National League West title could be theirs for the fourth year a row, extending L.A.’s record-best hold. The youthful Rockies showed improvement this year, but the franchise is 0-for-24 in its quest for the NL West flag. Top performers in the season series, which the Dodgers lead 8-7, include Dodgers rookie
who is 4-for-5 with a game-winning grand slam; Dodgers catcher who has a 1.002 on-base-plusslugging percentage (OPS) in 12 games; and Rockies star
who has four home runs and a .988 OPS in 15 games.
CARDINALS AT CUBS (Sept. 23-25)
While the Cubs gear up for the postseason after clinching the NL Central championship, the Cardinals are trying to reach the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season by winning one of the two wild cards. St. Louis took each of the previous five season series, but the teams are 8-8 against each other this year. Cardinals left fielder has ho- The Cardinals’ Brandon Moss has hit five home runs against the division-rival Cubs this season.
mered five times against Chicago, and center fielder
has gone deep four times while hitting .310 (13-for-42) with 10 RBI. Cubs first baseman
has four homers against St. Louis.
METS AT MARLINS (Sept. 26-28)
Mets vs. Marlins, final week of the regular season. What could go wrong? If you know any Mets fans, don’t ask, because the team’s 2007 and 2008 September collapses both ended with losses to the Marlins. That’s a long time
ago, long enough that was still a Met before becoming a Marlin and eventually returning to the Mets. Reyes has helped the Mets overcome all their injuries, while injuries have made a promising Marlins season more difficult. The Mets won their first two series in Miami this year, and they are 32-22 against the Marlins over the last three years. So maybe playing the Marlins in the final week of the season won’t be that bad after all. If they’re out of wild-card contention by then, the Marlins would love to play the spoiler’s role.
MARINERS AT ASTROS (Sept. 26-28)
The Astros were aiming to make a run at the American League West title, but that didn’t happen and they’re scrambling for a wild-card spot for the second consecutive year. The Mariners’ goal was to be respectable this season after significant changes to the front office and roster, and they have done that and more. But now their wild-card hopes might depend on this critical three-game set in Houston. The Astros ended the Mariners’ eight- game winning streak and dealt their playoff chances a blow by taking two of three over the weekend in Seattle. Houston leads the season series 10-6.
INDIANS AT TIGERS (Sept. 26-29)
The Indians took a big step toward wrapping up the AL Central title last weekend by winning two of three from the secondplace Tigers in Cleveland. Detroit gets another crack at the Indians in a four-game series at Comerica Park, though the Tigers’ best hope of reaching the postseason is by earning a wild-card berth. The Indians have dominated the season series, going 13-2 after Detroit won 37 of 56 meetings in the previous three years. Cleveland first baseman and designated hitter
each have hit four home runs against the Tigers this season.
ORIOLES AT BLUE JAYS (Sept. 27-29)
Toronto has a 9-7 advantage in the season series and is 5-2 at home against the Orioles as they face off for the last time in the regular season. Both are in the playoff hunt and in contention for the AL East title.
has hit safely in 13 of his 15 games against Baltimore this season, batting .436 with seven home runs, 15 RBI and 19 runs scored — 14 of his 24 hits have been for extra bases. Although he leads the major leagues in home runs, has no homers in 16 games against Toronto this season while teammate
has four, matching his most against any opponent.