Mets-Braves, Dodgers-Padres and other important series to keep an eye on in the final two weeks of the 2024 MLB season

What big and burly apparition just burst into the living room? That, friends, is stretch-drive baseball, the annual phenomenon that brings us final clarity before the postseason begins. Every season brings a thicket of varying density from mid- to late September, and this year's edition can be described as “moderately complicated.” We'll take it.

Of course, when it comes to the drawing of Major League Baseball's 12 playoff spots, the remaining regular season schedule has the final say. Unfortunately, we're out of tiebreaker games, so we'll be fully focused on the remaining games and series that will determine the 2024 playoff field. Speaking of which, it's now time for a quick tour of the most important games and series that remain on the schedule – the games and series that will tell us who gets a shot at the belt and the title in October.

We'll also note the standings of each season's series between the two big-name teams. That's because there are no longer tiebreaker games in MLB thanks to the expanded postseason and already packed regular season schedule. That means all ties for playoff spots, division titles, and seedings are determined by various regular season results. Almost all of those ties are decided by head-to-head matches during the regular season, and that's why the season's series standings are so important.

Let us now proceed chronologically, just like in the telephone book.

September 16-18: Philadelphia Phillies at Milwaukee Brewers

Season series: Phillies lead 3-0

The Brewers and Phillies are both clear favorites to win their respective divisions, meaning this particular series could have an impact on the seedings. As a reminder, the top two seeds in each league — that is, the two division winners with the best records — are rewarded with a first-round bye after the Wild Card Series and into the Division Series. Despite the Braves' incessant whining a year ago (and again this year), that's a huge advantage. Right now, the Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers are just ahead, but the Brewers can change the outlook if they win this ongoing series against Philly, or even sweep it all the way.

20-22 September: Minnesota Twins at Boston Red Sox

Season series: Twins lead 2-1

The Twins currently hold the third and final wild card spot in the American League by a narrow margin. At the time of this writing, the Detroit Tigers are actually a more serious threat to the Twins, but these two AL Central rivals will not meet again this season. That leaves us with the series with the Red Sox when it comes to the most direct impact on the “final playoff spot.” Currently, the Red Sox are 4 1/2 games behind the Twins and two games behind the Tigers and Mariners. Given the late hour and the deficit, Boston probably needs a sweep of the Twins in this game.

23–25 September: Seattle Mariners at Houston Astros

Season series: Mariners lead 6-4

The Mariners once led the AL West by 10 games, but their regression in tandem with the Astros' surge has Houston currently leading by 4 1/2 games. This series is likely the M's last chance to make the postseason. The challenge will be to cut Houston's lead to a sweep, while the Astros will surely be looking to bury Seattle by then.

24th-26th September: New York Yankees at Baltimore Orioles

Season series: Orioles lead 6-4

There will indeed be a lot at stake between these two AL East rivals. Yes, the division runner-up will almost certainly secure a wild-card spot, but the AL East winner will almost certainly receive one of the two first-round byes available to AL division winners. That, to reiterate, is a huge competitive advantage in the playoffs. As of this writing, the Yankees hold a three-game lead over Baltimore. Similarly, the O's have been below .500 since July 1.

September 24-26: New York Mets at Atlanta Braves

Season series: Draw 5-5

And most importantly of all? It's fair to say that. Because this series could decide which team snatches the third and final wild card spot in the NL. The Mets and Braves are tied in the race for that spot, and as we've seen so many times in recent years, even the bottom wild card teams have a real chance to win the championship and even the World Series. On top of that, the season series between these two teams is tied 5-5. That means that if the race for the third wild card spot ends in a tie, the winner of this series would advance to the playoffs. Add a dash of rivalry to this game and it gets even more exciting. Could Mets ace Kodai Senga return from injury in time to play some crucial innings in Atlanta? For the Braves, might Ozzie Albies return to take over at bottom against the Mets? Everything else may be resolved by the time this game begins, meaning all eyes could be on the Mets and Braves.

24th-26th September: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers

Season series: Padres have won the season series

The weakened Dodgers have yet to establish themselves in the division — let alone secure a first-round bye — and the Padres are currently within striking distance. Priority No. 1 for San Diego is to secure a postseason berth, no matter how it comes, but the prospect of winning the National League West for the first time since 2006 is obviously tantalizing. The Padres trail the Dodgers by 3 1/2 games in the NL West, a significant deficit this late in the season. These three head-to-head matches, however, put everything in play. And since the Padres have already swept the season series against LA — they are 7-3 against the Dodgers this year — they will win the division if the clubs are tied in the standings.

27–29 September: San Diego Padres at Arizona Diamondbacks

Season series: Draw 5-5

Speaking of the Padres, they and the D-backs are still trying to secure the top two wild card spots. That means trying not to slip to third place and, more importantly, not fall out of the playoff positions entirely. It also means sorting out the wild card spot. This series could be a duel for the top wild card spot in the NL, and thus a duel to determine which wild card team gets to host an opening round series. Moreover, this could also be a preview of that very opening round series. That's because the top two wild cards in each division will play each other, while the third wild card will visit the division winner who didn't get a bye. The Diamondbacks currently only have a two-game lead over the Mets and Braves, so from Arizona's perspective, it's premature to think about playoff spot right now. Whatever the details, this series at Chase Field is likely to be a decisive one for one reason or another.