The dog days are never really over, regardless of what the song says. Yet, as Major League Baseball’s season staggers into the final three weeks, at least this battle of attrition will soon integrate magic numbers, tragic numbers and do-or-die games into the mix.
Alas, this week’s slate of crucial matchups is light on teams fighting for the same prize. Still, once again, more series than not are relevant.
Five of them stand out from the pack, for various reasons. With that, here’s five crucial series to keep an eye on this week:
MLB POWER RANKINGS: Guardians trying to walk-off their way to playoffs
RED SOX: Interim manager navigated ‘fire drill’ to turn Boston into contender
1 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)
1 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Athletics Lawrence Butler is tagged out by Chicago White Sox third baseman Miguel Vargas as he tires to extend his double into a triple during the eighth inning at Sutter Health Park on April 18, 2026.
(Scott Marshall, Imagn Images)
2 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Cleveland Guardians mascot Slider interacts with fans during game against the Baltimore Orioles at Progressive Field on April 17, 2026.
(David Richard, Imagn Images)
3 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Washington Nationals right fielder Daylen Lile attempts to catch a ball hit for a single by the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum during the first inning at PNC Park on April 16, 2026. The Nationals won the game, 8-7.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
4 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Milwaukee Brewers catcher Gary Sanchez wears a special chest protector to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day during the game against the Toronto Blue Jays at American Family Field on April 15, 2026.
(Benny Sieu, Imagn Images)
5 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 13: The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Spencer Horwitz celebrates a home run in the dugout while wearing a welder’s hood during the 16-5 win over the Washington Nationals at PNC Park.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
6 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 12: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, The Phanatic, entertains fans with local team mascots for a birthday celebration before the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
7 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
April 11: The Tampa Bay Rays’ Jonathan Aranda (left) celebrates with Ryan Vilade after hitting a walk-off single against the New York Yankees in the 10th inning of a 5-4 win at Tropicana Field.
(Nathan Ray Seebeck, Imagn Images)
8 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cleveland Guardians’ Jose Ramirez acknowledges the fans after becoming the team’s all-time leader in games played against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field on April 6, 2026.
(David Dermer, Imagn Images)
9 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A rainbow appears during the fourth inning during the game between the San Diego Padres and Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on April 6, 2026.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
10 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A fan dresses as the Pope claps during the first inning of the game between the Chicago White Sox and Toronto Blue Jays at Rate Field on April 5, 2026. The White Sox won the game, 3-0, to complete a three-game sweep of the Blue Jays.
(Matt Marton, Imagn Images)
11 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Konnor Griffin celebrates with a traffic cone after making his major-league debut in a 5-4 defeat of the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park on April 3, 2026.
(Charles LeClaire, Imagn Images)
12 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
A young Red Sox fan meets Tessie the Boston Red Sox mascot before the Red Sox’s home opener against the San Diego Padres at Fenway Park on April 3, 2026.
(Eric Canha, Imagn Images)
13 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
(Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Images)
14 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Miami Marlins shortstop Otto Lopez (6) and center fielder Jakob Marsee celebrate a victory against the Chicago White Sox at loanDepot Park on April 1, 2026.
(Jim Rassol, Imagn Images)
15 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans try to catch a solo home run hit by the San Francisco Giants’ Matt Chapman as San Diego Padres left fielder Nick Castellanos looks on during the third inning at Petco Park on March 31, 2026.
(Denis Poroy, Imagn Images)
16 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Philadelphia Phillies mascot The Phillie Phanatic entertains fans during the game against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park on March 31, 2026.
(Kyle Ross, Imagn Images)
17 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Toronto Blue Jays’ Kazuma Okamoto gets doused with ice water by teammates after a win over the Athletics at Rogers Centre on March 29, 2026.
(John E. Sokolowski, Imagn Images)
18 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The Cincinnati Reds’ Eugenio Suárez blows a bubble as he waits to bat against the Boston Red Sox at Great American Ball Park on March 28, 2026.
(Aaron Doster, Imagn Images)
19 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
The St. Louis Cardinals’ JJ Wetherholt is doused with water by teammates after hitting a walk-off two-run single against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 10th inning at Busch Stadium on March 28, 2026.
(Jeff Curry, Imagn Images)
20 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Fans react as the Milwaukee Brewers’ Jake Bauers homers against the Chicago White Sox at American Family Field on March 26, 2026.
(Jovanny Hernandez, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
21 / 21
Ballpark vibes, big plays and wild celebrations during 2026 MLB season
Two F-35C planes from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron NINE Detachment Edwards Air Force Base perform a flyover before the Opening Day game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on March 26, 2026.
(Kirby Lee, Imagn Images)
When: Monday-Wednesday, American Family Field
Key matchup: Wednesday – Cubs RH Kevin Gausman vs. Brewers RH Logan Henderson
Outlook: These guys again, huh? Well, this really, truly is the final series between the two, and the Cubs need a sweep to win the season series. Milwaukee managed a split at Wrigley Field last week, its Central lead still a healthy seven games. Yet, with the playoff field still aligned to match these two up in the NLDS for a second consecutive year, it’s worth a peek to see which arms look most viable as late September approaches. Gausman beat Henderson in a 2-1 duel last week and struck out nine. How will Brewers hitters adjust to his splitter, which accounted for most of his punchouts last week?
When: Tuesday-Thursday, Citizens Bank Park
Key matchup: Wednesday – Astros RH Hunter Brown vs. Phillies LH Cristopher Sánchez
Outlook: This is just a stopover for the Phillies in their crucial stretch of seven games against Atlanta, the final three coming next weekend at Truist Field. This rematch of the 2022 World Series has fairly wide-ranging ramifications for a September interleague clash, with the 73-71 Astros aiming to fend off the Texas Rangers in the AL West. The Brown- Sánchez clash is great eye candy, but the Phillies also hope rookie Andrew Painter can build on a three-start showing in which he’s given up just four earned runs in 20 innings (1.80 ERA). Philly fans might remember Yordan Alvarez for his mammoth home run in Game 6 of the 2022 Series. Now, he’s bidding for the AL Triple Crown, leading in average and RBIs and tied with Tampa Bay’s Junior Caminero for the home run lead.
Sep 6, 2026; Houston, Texas, USA; Houston Astros designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (44) looks up after hitting a home run during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
When: Tuesday-Thursday, Truist Field
Key matchup: Thursday – Braves LH Chris Sale vs. Rays RH Nick Martinez
Outlook: An I-75 World Series, anybody? OK, so that won’t sell too many travel packages, unless you’ve got grandparents to visit in The Villages on the way. Still, this is a ball aficionado’s kind of matchup, spiced up by Ronald Acuña Jr. getting his swagger back. We’re not sure when Sale will throw this series, but the Braves’ practice of giving him an extra day or two of rest figures to push him against Martinez, whose 3.04 ERA ranks sixth in the AL, just behind teammate Drew Rasmussen. While we’re on that subject, Martinez and Rasmussen are a combined 28-9. Wins? Yep, wins. Once again, a ball aficionado’s series.
When: Friday-Sunday, Rogers Centre
Key matchup: Sunday – Orioles LH Trevor Rogers vs. Blue Jays RH Dylan Cease
Outlook: We’re pretty much done including the Orioles in these little exercises, given the four Ls they just took at home courtesy of the Red Sox. Yet, Baltimore still has six games left with Toronto and three earlier this week against Cleveland and those guys are 1-2 for the final wild card, so yeah, you never know. The Blue Jays briefly ducked over .500 – 72-71! – for the first time since they were, uh, 4-3 back in April. Naturally, the Royals dropped them back to even. The Blue Jays are 17-9 when Cease starts. Baltimore remains winless in September.
When: Friday-Sunday, Chase Field
Key matchup: Friday – Rangers RH Jacob deGrom vs. Diamondbacks RH Brandon Pfaadt
Outlook: Guess this is the week for fairly recent and mildly forgettable World Series rematches involving teams from Texas, eh? Since July 31, the Rangers have spent all but two days within one-half to three games of the first-place Astros. Be nice to take matters into their own hands, eh? Sorry! The season series is done. And the remainder of the season is just like this series – all pretty good, but not great, but also not terrible teams like the Mariners, Twins, Blue Jays and Mets. Arizona, at least, will get one more crack at its wild card rivals, the Padres. Of course, that must wait until the final series of the season. So let’s party like it’s 2023 this weekend.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Five MLB series to watch this week as September picks up urgency
