The Week Ahead in Major League Baseball June 10-June 16

Next week is Father’s Day. What better present for Dad than treating him to a day of doing……..nothing. OK, watching the day’s action in Major League Baseball ranks a close second, particularly if it is a rainy day. At least fans of the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Mets won’t be watching baseball during breakfast. Most kids, including my own, will be done with school this week. Time to start letting them stay up late to watch some West Coast action.

Here is what is coming up this week:

Series to watch: Philadelphia Phillies at Baltimore Orioles

This past weekend bought the hype of a possible World Series preview with the Los Angeles Dodgers playing at the New York Yankees. The Phils-O’s matchup can be deemed as such, too. It wouldn’t be the first meeting between the clubs in the Fall Classic as in 1983 the Orioles were victorious in five games, their last World Series appearance. Philadelphia owns the best record in baseball while Baltimore is tied with the Cleveland Guardians with the third best mark. Gunnar Henderson already has 20 home runs for the Orioles, the most in either league. Kyle Schwarber has been quiet so far this month, a stark contrast to his previous June. Will the friendly confines of Camden Yards wake up his sleeping bat?

Player to watch: Francisco Alvarez

The Mets were 12-8 when their young catching star suffered a thumb injury. They are now 28-36. It’s impossible to attribute the total meltdown to Alvarez’s absence. However, a telling stat appeared on SNY, home of the Mets, a couple of weeks ago. The pitching staff’s ERA is two runs lower with Alvarez behind the plate. The lineup, which has been showing signs of life, could use his big and dramatic bat in the order. Despite the bad record, the Mets are only three games out of a playoff spot. All signs point to Alvarez returning to Queens over the weekend.

Last Stand for the Blue Jays?

The Toronto Blue Jays are a game under .500, and in fourth place in the American League East. Cavan Biggio, once a part of a core of youngsters that was to make the Jays annual contenders, was designated for assignment. Alek Manoah will miss the rest of the season. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr and Bo Bichette are due to be a free agents after 2026. It almost feels as though if Toronto misses out on the playoffs this year, there will be a major teardown of the team. I think management will add, rather than subtract at the trade deadline.

National League West woes

The NL West was seen as a very strong division at the start of the season. Today, four of the five teams are under .500. Even the Los Angeles Dodgers are not immune, playing .500 ball over the last two weeks. The Colorado Rockies are the only team that is hopeless while the other three teams are within a game and a half of one another. Despite the miserable starts, I expect two of the three teams bundled together to make the playoffs.