MLB Weekend Series To Watch 9/21/12
Just a quick look at the standings before we get to what we need to watch out for this weekend:
| Division | Team | Games Back |
| AL East | Yankees | 0 |
| Orioles | 1 | |
| AL Central | White Sox | 0 |
| Tigers | 2 | |
| AL West | Rangers | 0 |
| Athletics | 4 | |
| AL Wild Card | Athletics | 0 |
| Orioles | 0 | |
| Rays | 4.5 | |
| Angels | 5.5 | |
| Tigers | 6 | |
| NL East | Nationals- Clinched Playoff Spot | 0 |
| Braves | 5.5 | |
| NL Central | Reds- Clinched Playoff Spot | 0 |
| Cardinals | 11 | |
| NL West | Giants | 0 |
| Dodgers | 10 | |
| NL Wild Card | Braves | 0 |
| Cardinals | 0 | |
| Brewers | 2.5 | |
| Dodgers | 3 | |
| Phillies | 4 | |
| Pirates | 5.5 | |
| Diamondbacks | 5.5 |
Series To Watch
Athletics @ Yankees- New York wants to hold on to its division lead, while Oakland seems fairly secure in a playoff position. Jarrod Parker will be more important for the team with Brett Anderson out a couple of weeks, and he’ll be facing CC Sabathia on Friday night. Ivan Nova goes for the Yankees Sunday on TBS. Sabathia is dealing with an elbow issue and the Yankees need him in top form the rest of the way. The player to watch in this series is clearly Ichiro Suzuki, who’s on a 10-17 tear over the last week with game winning hits and stolen bases.
White Sox @ Angels- Chicago looks to hold on to its slim AL Central lead, while the Angels try desperately to inch closer to Oakland. Cy Young candidate Jered Weaver closes out the series for Anaheim against Gavin Floyd. One player to watch in this series is Erick Aybar, who is 11 for his last 22 with a couple of stolen bases mixed in over the last week.
Dodgers @ Reds- While Cincy has things relatively wrapped up, Los Angeles is right in the thick of things as time runs out. The series gets the ESPN Sunday night game this week with former Reds ace Aaron Harang battling Homer Bailey. Mat Latos opposes Stephen Fife in the FOX Saturday game. One player to watch is Dodgers SS Luis Cruz, who’s tied for the major league lead with four doubles in the last week.
Brewers @ Nationals- While Washington has things sewn up, Milwaukee is making a mad dash toward a playoff spot. On Saturday, Gio Gonzalez goes for his 20th win of the season against Wily Peralta. Ryan Braun has been on fire lately, batting .348 with two homers, five RBI’s and a baseball-leading five steals over the last week. He’s the player to watch in this series.
Braves @ Phillies- Philadelphia cannot afford any more missteps if they want to come all the way back and the Braves would like to clinch a playoff spot this weekend. Roy Halladay takes the mound for the Phils in the FOX Saturday game against Mike Minor. Jimmy Rollins is the player to watch, with three homers and six RBI’s in the last week. But then again, Ryan Howard leads the NL in RBI’s over the last week with 12.
