As we approach the final week of August, the conclusion of the 2025 regular season is near.
This week, every matchup and series takes on added significance. An exciting NL East clash between the top two teams, encounters between Wild Card contenders, and a showdown of elite teams make this a pivotal week.
Here are five series to keep an eye on this week.
Phillies at Mets: 3 games (Monday-Wednesday)
Head-to-head: The Mets have won four out of six against the Phillies, but the season series has been tightly contested with Philadelphia outscoring New York 29 to 28. Their previous meetings in June featured blowout games: the Phillies won 10-2, the Mets took the second game 11-4, and the Phillies concluded the series with a 7-1 victory.
Storyline: The Mets’ chances of winning the division seem slim; they are seven games behind with only 32 games left. The more pressing issue for New York is merely qualifying for the playoffs, as they hold just a 1.5-game lead over the Reds. The Phillies could impact the Mets’ playoff hopes significantly in this series.
Watch out for: Kyle Schwarber is on the cusp of his first 50-home-run season. Currently at 45 home runs, he is just two shy of his personal best. At 32, Schwarber is having a career year that boosts the Phillies’ prospects for their first World Series title since 2008.
Padres at Mariners: 3 games (Monday-Wednesday)
Head-to-head: The Mariners swept the Padres decisively in three games on May 16-18, scoring a total of 15 runs to San Diego’s 3.
Storyline: Both teams are not only contending for Wild Card spots but also threaten to win their divisions. The Padres are tied with the Dodgers for first place in the NL West, while the Mariners are just two games behind the Astros, making every game critical for both teams.
Reds at Dodgers: 3 games (Monday-Wednesday)
Head-to-head: The Dodgers edged out the Reds in a series in late July, winning two of three games by a narrow margin, 12 to 11.
Storyline: Fans are curious if Shohei Ohtani will have his first outing of five-plus innings to qualify for a win. After gradually increasing his pitching workload, he may be ready to pitch longer while still being a formidable hitter with 45 home runs and a 1.008 OPS.
Watch out for: The series features impressive pitching matchups, including Hunter Greene and Clayton Kershaw.
Brewers at Blue Jays: 3 games (Friday-Sunday)
Head-to-head: This is the only regular-season encounter between the Brewers and Blue Jays this year. The Brewers previously took two of three games from the Blue Jays last season.
Storyline: With both teams among the top contenders in baseball, this matchup could hint at a potential Fall Classic encounter. The Brewers, with the best record at 81-50, and the Blue Jays, tied for fourth best, interestingly both seek their first World Series title in decades.
Watch out for: Brice Turang has been a key contributor for the Brewers, displaying significant power with eight home runs this August, a notable improvement over his previous season.
Tigers at Royals: 3 games (Friday-Sunday)
Head-to-head: The Tigers have been dominant in their matchups against the Royals, winning four of six while outscoring them 34 to 20.
Storyline: The Tigers currently lead the American League, while the Royals are making a resurgence, having gone 20-14 since the break. This series could significantly impact playoff positions for both teams.
Watch out for: Vinnie Pasquantino has become a power asset for the Royals, recently hitting 13 home runs since the All-Star break, bolstering the team at a crucial time.
