Baseball is a funny game sometimes. Go figure, that in last Friday’s MLB Weekend Series Preview, I called out the Seattle Mariners. I laid out some numbers, including their league-worst .184 batting average entering their series versus Houston. I called out their big bats for not hitting well (Julio Rodríguez, Cal Raleigh, and Josh Naylor).
Now, here we are three days later, and all Seattle has done is hit Astros pitching like nothing was ever wrong. There is still one game to go in that four-game series, which concludes on Monday. So far, the Mariners have outscored the ‘Stros 23-14 in three contests. Rodriguez has shown signs of waking from his winter hibernation. It’s as if someone on the Mariners staff read Friday’s preview and posted it on the clubhouse wall. Perhaps as a wake-up call. I doubt it’s true, but it got me thinking about some of the upcoming series this week. There are a few surprising teams struggling right now, much like the Mariners were heading into their series with Houston. Maybe I can work the same magic and call out two more franchises today that have looked anything but themselves lately. Here’s a hint: They both play in New York.
No. 1: Rangers (8-7) at Athletics (8-7)
Series length: Four games (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Before we get to the New York franchises, let’s head to the AL West, where the division’s top two teams by record are meeting for the first time this season in Sacramento. These clubs will also meet again for a three-game set at Texas in less than two weeks. Given the early-season struggles by Seattle and Houston, I guess it’s no surprise that a pair of teams one game over .500 currently rule the division.
The A’s enter this week on a five-game winning streak, which began with a 2-1 series win at Yankee Stadium, followed by a three-game sweep in Queens versus the Mets. If there were a Surprise Team of the Week Award handed out by MLB, certainly the Athletics would have claimed it. During this winning streak, the A’s pitching has posted three shutouts, while outscoring their two New York opponents 20-8. Now they return home for only the second time this season. That’s right, the Athletics have only played at Sutter Health Park three times in ’26. Up to this point, no other franchise in MLB has played fewer than six games at its own site.
The Rangers went 4-2 last week after a home sweep versus the Mariners was followed by a 2-1 series loss in Los Angeles. This feels like a big opportunity for both clubs to make an early-season statement. At some point, I think we all assume that Seattle and Houston will figure some things out. Seattle might already have done so. If that’s the case, this becomes even more important for a couple of teams playing fairly well right now.
No. 2: Mets (7-9) at Dodgers (11-4)
Series length: Three games (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
What is the definition of an MVP? I know every voter has his or her own way of deciding based on numerous factors. It’s always a great debate come award season in November. Most often, I look at an MVP as someone whose absence would leave their team struggling mightily. Yes, the stats have to be there too, but for the New York Mets, I’m looking at an offense that has struggled to score runs ever since their star, Juan Soto, went down with a calf strain against the Giants on April 3.
I already mentioned how the A’s have three shutouts over their last five contests. Two of those were against the Mets this past weekend. During their current five-game slide, New York has scored only nine runs. Make no mistake that their most valuable player is Soto. Without him, they struggle offensively.
Unfortunately for the Mets, they hit the road for a three-game series with the Dodgers starting on Monday, followed by a trio of contests at Wrigley Field this weekend. Maybe this is just what the Mets need. However, they’ll be facing Yoshinobu Yamamoto on Tuesday, followed by Shohei Ohtani in Wednesday’s series finale. Good luck with that.
No. 3: Angels (8-8) at Yankees (8-7)
Series length: Four games (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
Speaking of five-game losing streaks. The Angels are coming to the Bronx at a good time, one would think, after watching the Yankees’ struggles last week against the A’s and Rays. The good news for the Yanks is that their next seven contests are at home. Four of those will be against the Angels, who won’t be using their staff ace José Soriano in this series after the right-hander tossed another gem on Sunday versus the Reds (W, 7 IP, 0 ER, 2 H, 10 K).
I’ll admit that I’m a bit disappointed that we won’t have the early-season AL Cy Young Award favorite going in this series. With no Soriano on the bump, what’s worth watching is the rest of the starting staff. I’m waiting for Yusei Kikuchi and Reid Detmers to contribute more in the early going. They’ll start on Monday and Tuesday, respectively. The Yankees will counter with Will Warren in Monday’s opener, followed by Ryan Weathers on Tuesday.
No. 4: Marlins (8-8) at Atlanta (10-6)
Series length: Three games (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday)
An early-season battle between the top two squads in the NL East. This is the first meeting of the year between these clubs. This is more about Atlanta than Miami right now. I’m impressed with how Georgia’s team has played this year, especially on the pitching side. Atlanta enters this series with an MLB-best 2.41 ERA after holding Cleveland to one run in Sunday’s series finale. The Marlins are coming in on a three-game slide after being swept in Detroit. Miami was held to three runs in that series.
With the Phillies and Mets off to slow starts, both of these clubs will look to put some space between themselves and the preseason NL East favorites.
No. 5: Nationals (7-8) at Pirates (9-6)
Series length: Four games (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday)
This is the third four-game series making the top five list this week. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t have much hope for Washington this season. However, after an impressive road sweep in Milwaukee over the weekend, one thing stood out for me about this Nationals lineup: maybe James Wood is a good option in the leadoff spot. Many pundits have wondered why the Nats would use their home run and RBI leader from a year ago in the one-hole. After seeing him get on base at a near .400 clip so far (.392), and watching him go 6-for-11 against the Brew Crew with three walks in the series, I might see the big picture. He’s still not your prototypical leadoff man, but on a team trying to find its identity, it’s probably not going to be a big issue for the time being.
The Nationals will face a first-place Pirates team coming off a series win at Wrigley Field. Watching Oneil Cruz this season has been a treat. Seeing Cruz with anything better than a .250 batting average is a surprise. Seeing him with a .339 batting average heading into Monday’s action is a shocker. I’m not sure if I’d put the Buccos’ centerfielder as my MVP favorite after only 15 games, but if the season ended today and I had to decide who gets the NL Most Valuable Player Award, Cruz might get my vote based solely on the fact that his team is in first place, and he has been the most important reason why. As I said earlier with Soto and the Mets, if you take Cruz out of the Pirates’ lineup, how good would they be? Would they still be 9-6, let alone over .500?
There’s a lot of baseball to be played, but right now these clubs are worth a gander. Wood and Cruz have earned a top-five spot this week.
Missed the top five
Diamondbacks (9-7) at Orioles (8-7): Three games
Cubs (7-8) at Phillies (7-8): Three games
Red Sox (6-9) at Twins (9-7): Three games
Guardians (9-7) at Cardinals (8-7): Three games
Royals (7-9) at Tigers (7-9): Three games
Giants (6-10) at Reds (9-7): Three games
Rays (8-7) at White Sox (6-10): Three games
Blue Jays (6-9) at Brewers (8-7): Three games
Rockies (6-10) at Astros (6-10): Three games
Mariners (7-9 at Padres (10-6): Three games
