Week of May 1, 2023

While any provided week will have some noteworthy matches to see, today strikes various: it’s Rivalry Week. In accordance with this, MLB Network will be relaying each of the following video games: Braves-Mets on Monday, Dodgers-Padres on Friday, Yankees-Rays on Saturday and Astros-Mariners on Saturday. Braves-Mets is the ending of a three-game series, however the other matches are all part of series that start today, as all 3 are included in our 5 series to see throughout the week of May 1:

Pirates (20-9) at Rays (23-6)
3 video games (Tuesday-Thursday)

Head to head: The Rays went 3-0 versus the Pirates last season in Tampa, with the 3 wins coming over a combined 4 runs.

Storyline: When the MLB’s only 2 20-win groups take on, the story composes itself. Tampa Bay’s dominant start has actually currently been well-documented, however you may not understand rather as much about the Pirates, whose 20-9 record is their finest through 29 video games because beginning 21-8 in 1992 — the last time they reached the NLCS.

Watch out for: Andrew McCutchen. After hopping around 4 various franchises from 2018-22, the 36-year-old’s reunion trip in Pittsburgh is going as well as anybody might ask. His .478 punching portion is his greatest because 2017 (.486), which takes place to be his latest season with the Pirates.

Diamondbacks (16-13) at Rangers (17-11)
2 video games (Tuesday-Wednesday)

Head to head: These groups last played in 2021, when they divided a two-game series in Texas, and the Rangers swept a two-game series in Arizona.

Storyline: It’s reasonable to call this the Surprise Series. Both of these groups ended up 4th in their department last season, more than 35 video games behind the winners (Astros in the AL West, Dodgers in the NL West). But both teams have actually turned the tide up until now in 2023, each leading their department. There has actually never ever been a group in MLB’s divisional period (because 1969) to win its department one season after ending up 35-plus video games out of initially.

Watch out for: Geraldo Perdomo. Perdomo’s enhancement is among numerous factors that Arizona has actually risen to the top of the NL West. The 23-year-old’s on-base portion of .456 ranks 4th amongst all MLB gamers with a minimum of 60 plate looks.

Dodgers (16-13) at Padres (15-14)
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)

Head to head: These groups have actually not yet played in 2023. The Dodgers controlled San Diego (and everybody else) in the 2022 routine season, winning 14 of 19 matches. But the Padres stunned the Dodgers, 3-1, in the NLDS, making their very first NLCS look of the 21st century.

Storyline: Are the Padres lastly not the little sibling? The Padres weren’t shy about their objectives to capture the Dodgers last season, with owner Peter Seidler describing them as “that dragon up the freeway that we’re trying to slay.” With that wonderful four-game stretch in October, the dragon was undoubtedly killed. In the groups’ very first match ever since, the Dodgers will be starving to re-establish their supremacy, maybe including some more noteworthy minutes to an intra-state competition that has actually been filled with them recently.

Watch out for: Mookie Betts. Betts had a hard time in last season’s NLDS, ending up 2-for-14 throughout the 4 video games versus San Diego. And if getting vengeance for last season’s playoff exit isn’t sufficient inspiration, maybe Betts will likewise be interested by the possibility to beat his longtime Red Sox colleague: first-year Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts.

Yankees (15-14) at Rays (23-6)
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)

Head to head: These groups have actually not yet played in 2023. The Yankees went 11-8 versus the Rays in 2022.

Storyline: These are 2 of the 3 AL groups to reach each of the previous 4 postseasons, signing up with the Astros. Remarkably, the Yankees and Rays have actually just played each other in the playoffs when because period, when the Rays won an unforgettable 2020 ALDS in 5 video games thanks to a game-winning, eighth-inning crowning achievement from Mike Brosseau in the choosing video game.

Additionally, another story worth keeping an eye out for is the status of Aaron Judge. Judge just recently had an MRI for an ideal hip injury, and it has actually not yet been figured out if he will be put on the IL.

Watch out for: Harold Ramírez. Among the variety of Rays to be having career-best seasons is Ramírez, who has actually broken out in his 2nd season in Tampa. The 28-year-old is among 3 Tampa Bay gamers to have an OPS of a minimum of 1.000 (Josh Lowe, Yandy Díaz).

Astros (15-13) at Mariners (12-16)
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)

Head to head: These groups have actually not yet played in 2023. The Astros went 12-7 versus the Mariners in the 2022 routine season, and they likewise swept Seattle in the 2022 ALDS.

Storyline: Similar to the Padres-Dodgers vibrant, the Mariners have actually been going after the juggernaut of their department for many years, and they made considerable development in 2022, protecting their very first playoff look in 21 years. But unlike San Diego, they were unable to take that juggernaut down, losing the 3 ALDS video games by a combined 4 runs (consisting of a 1-0, 18-inning loss to end up the series). In their very first match ever since, Seattle will aim to close the space even further.

Watch out for: Jarred Kelenic. Kelenic simply may be the most enhanced gamer in MLB this season. After striking .168 throughout his very first 2 seasons, the 23-year-old has actually emerged with an outstanding .308/.366/.615 line this season, ranking ninth amongst competent players with a .982 OPS.