Skip to content

3 series to watch this week with massive playoff implications

Ed Szczepanski / USA TODAY Sports

The final week of the regular season is upon us, and that means do-or-die time for a number of clubs battling for a playoff spot or a division title.

Here are three can't-miss series' with massive playoff implications to watch this week:

San Francisco Giants at Los Angeles Dodgers

The Giants invade Dodger Stadium for three games beginning Monday and realistically need a sweep in order to get back in the hunt for the National League West title. San Francisco enters the series 4 1/2 games behind L.A. in the division and is also battling for home field advantage in a potential play-in game with the Pittsburgh Pirates. The two teams have split the season series 8-8, but the Giants have the daunting task of trying to beat Dodger hurlers Zack Greinke (Tuesday) and Clayton Kershaw (Wednesday) on their own turf.

Kansas City Royals at Cleveland Indians

The Royals will be looking to carry over the momentum they seized by salvaging a win in the final contest of a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers over the weekend as they head into a three-game set with the Indians, who are hanging tough in the American League wild-card chase (3 1/2 games back). The Royals and Indians also have to finish up a suspended game carried over from Aug. 31 on top of playing the three games. Kansas City trails Detroit by 1 1/2 games in the AL Central, so this series is crucial in its bid to avoid a one-game showdown in the wild card.

Seattle Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays

The Mariners dropped two of three games to the lowly Houston Astros over the weekend, and now they're in a pickle. Seattle is 1 1/2 games games off the wild-card pace and four contests with a Toronto squad looking to play spoiler won't be a cakewalk. The Mariners will likely have to sweep the series in order to close the gap on the Royals and Oakland Athletics, and then make their final stand at Safeco Field for three games against a Los Angeles Angels squad that will be looking ahead to the divisional series and likely resting many starters.

Honorable Mention

New York Yankees at Boston Red Sox

This series has virtually no playoff implications, but it will surely draw the interest of all baseball fans as the Derek Jeter farewell tour makes its final stop at Fenway Park for a three-game weekend series. The Yankees-Red Sox rivalry didn't live up to the hype this year, but it's fitting that Jeter will say goodbye at America's most beloved ballpark. Fans will surely want to tune in Sunday afternoon to watch The Captain take a final bow and close the book on a prestigious career. Could the hated Jeter be the recipient of a cheer by Red Sox faithful as he heads into retirement?

Daily Newsletter

Get the latest trending sports news daily in your inbox