Baseball by no means leaves us wanting for drama.
The week of June 9 may have but extra rivalry video games — together with a Yankees-Purple Sox rematch and an early battle for the NL West — plus a intestine verify for a terrific group down on its luck and a few alternatives to guage mid-tier contenders towards one another.
Listed here are 5 key sequence you may catch this upcoming week.
Cubs at Phillies
3 video games (Monday-Wednesday)
Face to face: The Phillies gained the primary matchup of 2025, a three-game set at Wrigley in late April, two video games to at least one. Since being swept within the 2022 season sequence (0-6), the Phillies have gone 11-4 towards the Cubs.
Storyline: After going 19-9 in Could and ending the month tied for first place within the NL East, issues gave the impression to be wanting up for the Phillies. Per week later, they’re down Bryce Harper (sidelined with the identical proper wrist irritation that bothered him by way of a lot of the 2024 season) and using a five-game dropping streak after being swept by the Pirates over the weekend. Actually and figuratively, the Phillies want a win — however they will be making an attempt to get one towards the second-best group within the league.
Be careful for: Michael Busch noticed a possibility to show the web page in June, took it, and is now working with it — in seven video games this month, he is 9-for-21 (.429) with a triple and three homers.
Dodgers at Padres
3 video games (Monday-Wednesday)
Face to face: Though they have been competing not directly all yr, this would be the division rivals’ first assembly of 2025. The Padres gained the 2024 season sequence, eight video games to 5, their first single-season successful file towards the Dodgers since 2010.
Storyline: The Dodgers make the Padres look scrappy by comparability — generally, anyway — however they have been neck-and-neck all season, they usually’ll be enjoying seven of their subsequent 10 video games towards one another, with the Dodgers internet hosting the Giants (one other probably vital sequence) and the Padres visiting the D-backs in between. Two weeks in June is unlikely to make or break any season, however the days forward may have big implications for the NL West for the remainder of the summer season.
Be careful for: In his final eight video games — starting with a 3-for-6 efficiency towards the Yankees on Could 31 — Max Muncy is 11-for-35 (.379) with 5 residence runs and 11 RBIs.
Twins at Astros
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)
Face to face: The Astros and Twins have not seen one another since early April, when the Astros took two of three in Minnesota. That is additionally a current playoff rematch — the Astros gained the 2023 ALDS over the Twins in 4 video games.
Storyline: Challengers with comparable aspirations trending in reverse instructions. The Astros can not seem to catch a break however have managed to take over first place within the AL West by way of sheer pressure of will. The Twins, in the meantime, appear to be spinning their wheels. Successful 13 straight from Could 3-17 gained them 4 video games within the AL Central standings; they’ve given again three by going 9-9 since.
Be careful for: Mercifully for the Twins, regardless of a few damage scares, Carlos Correa has been steadily heating up over the previous few weeks, and though he is 2-for-20 at Daikin Park as a member of the Twins, he is a lifetime .275 hitter in Houston and ranks fifth amongst lively gamers with 64 profession residence runs there.
Guardians at Mariners
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)
Face to face: The Guardians enter the 2025 season sequence having taken 4 of six video games from the Mariners in 2024. Additionally a rematch of two classic postseason sequence — the Guardians gained the 1995 ALCS in six video games and the Mariners gained the 2001 ALDS in 5.
Storyline: Bit by key accidents and nonetheless hampered by their very own lineups, it isn’t truly clear whether or not both of those groups can sustain with the remainder of the American League. In any occasion, they each have work to do, and owing to their similarities, this is not a nasty matchup for both of them.
Be careful for: George Kirby, seemingly getting the beginning on Saturday. Delayed to start out the season by proper shoulder irritation, Kirby’s first two begins of 2025 have been, for lack of a greater phrase, awful, and his third, though positive, ended with him taking a glancing blow on the mouth from a 102 mph line drive. Within the fast aftermath he stated he was positive, and now we imagine him, having seen him strike out a career-high 14 Angels in seven innings on Sunday.
Yankees at Purple Sox
3 video games (Friday-Sunday)
Face to face: This shall be one other fast turnaround — their first mutual sequence of 2025 got here this previous weekend, with the Purple Sox successful two of three in New York.
Storyline: The Purple Sox aren’t precisely a menace to the Yankees at this level, however that form of makes dropping this previous weekend’s sequence — at residence, no much less — even worse. However if you happen to’re the fourth-place Purple Sox, strolling into Yankee Stadium and taking two of three from a great group is sort of the ego enhance — taking this David and Goliath narrative a step additional with one other sequence win at Fenway can be big for the vibe in Boston.
Be careful for: In excellent news for the Yankees, Jazz Chisholm Jr., activated final week, does not look any worse for having spent a month on the IL — in six video games since his return, he is gone 8-for-21 (.381) with two residence runs and 7 RBIs.
