Heavyweight NL showdown, AL East battle highlight 5 series to watch

It's the final week before the All-Star break, and there's no shortage of exciting series coming up.

Whether it's a battle of the top two teams in the National League, the best teams in the AL East facing off or a repeat of last year's ALCS, the storylines aren't lacking in many series this week. As we enter the final days of the first half, here's a look at the five most enticing series of the week.

Braves (49-39) at D-backs (45-45)
4 games (Monday-Thursday)

Head-to-head: The Braves swept a three-game set in Atlanta in early April but the series was much closer than it appeared. Atlanta outscored Arizona 20-15 in the series.

Storyline: Will either of these teams start playing closer to their 2023 levels? While injuries have certainly been part of the equation for the Braves, this team is simply too talented to be only 10 games over .500. Winning the NL East might be out of the question for a Braves team eight games back of the Phillies, but Atlanta could play much better baseball from here on out. After winning last year’s NL pennant, the D-backs sit right at .500 and are two games out of a Wild Card spot.

Watch out for: Chris Sale has had a resurgent season in his first year with the Braves. Selected to his eighth All-Star Game on Sunday, Sale is a top 10 qualified starter by ERA (2.71), strikeouts (127), FIP (2.26), FanGraphs' version of Wins Above Replacement (3.3) and expected ERA (2.57). Sale will start Monday's opener against the D-backs and will look to continue to push for the first Cy Young Award in his excellent career.

Dodgers (55-36) at Phillies (58-32)
3 games (Tuesday-Thursday)

Head-to-head: The Dodgers thoroughly dominated the 2023 series, winning four of six games and outscoring the Phillies 52-23.

Storyline: This could very well be an NLCS preview. The playoffs are always unpredictable (see, last year’s World Series matchup), but the Dodgers and Phillies are currently the top teams in the National League. While there will still be plenty of star power, this series will be missing the likes of Mookie Betts, J.T. Realmuto and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, although it’s expected that Kyle Schwarber will be activated from the injured list before Tuesday’s opener and potentially Bryce Harper as well. This is a fascinating litmus test of where these teams stand and potentially a glimpse of a future playoff matchup.

Watch out for: Shohei Ohtani continues to dazzle and make a strong case for NL MVP. In his first year with the Dodgers, Ohtani leads the National League in fWAR (5.0), home runs (28) and SLG (.637). Despite not pitching this season due to last year’s arm surgery, Ohtani could very well take home his third MVP and first in the NL.

Royals (49-43) at Cardinals (47-42)
2 games (Tuesday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: The two teams split last year’s four games, although it’s fair to note that both clubs are in much more competitive positions this season.

Storyline: This year’s I-70 Series potentially features two playoff-bound clubs. While neither team is likely to win their respective divisions, both teams are firmly in the mix for a Wild Card spot. If both teams make it to the playoffs, it’d be the first time since 2015, the last time the Royals made the playoffs and the year they won the World Series against the Mets.

Watch out for: If 2023 was Bobby Witt Jr.’s breakout season, consider this year his mega breakout version. The Royals’ shortstop has truly blossomed into a franchise cornerstone, one of baseball’s best players and a true MVP candidate in a crowded AL field this season. Witt’s 5.6 fWAR trails only Aaron Judge and Gunnar Henderson, while he’s running a 154 wRC+ (12th among qualified hitters) with 15 home runs and 22 stolen bases.

Yankees (55-37) at Orioles (57-33)
3 games (Friday-Sunday)

Head-to-head: The Orioles have taken five of seven games from the Yankees this season, scoring 39 runs compared to New York’s 21 runs.

Storyline: It's no secret that the Yankees aren't playing well -- their 5-15 record since June 15 is the worst mark in the Majors. As a result, the Orioles have taken advantage and entered the series with a three-game lead in the division. They could further separate themselves by winning the series, giving them more of a cushion in the division and head-to-head advantage. If the Orioles take two of three games, they will clinch the head-to-head tiebreaker for the division if the two teams end the season with the same record.

Watch out for: Three of the best players in the Majors and top AL MVP candidates will be on full display. Judge leads all position players with 32 home runs and a 1.105 OPS. Henderson leads the Majors with 6.2 fWAR and is looking to become the first Orioles MVP since Cal Ripken Jr. won in 1991. Juan Soto ranks fourth in the Majors with 5.1 fWAR and is third with a 180 wRC+.

Rangers (42-48) at Astros (46-44)
3 games (Friday-Sunday)

Head-to-head: The Astros have taken four of seven games this season while both teams have each scored 42 runs. Houston dominated last year’s regular-season series -- winning nine of 13 games -- but the Rangers had the last laugh by winning their ALCS matchup on their way to Texas’s first World Series title.

Storyline: It’s a repeat of last year’s ALCS, but neither team’s records indicate that there will be an encore this season. Each team has been on a different trajectory, though, with the Astros rebounding after a 7-19 start and putting themselves in the playoff picture with a 39-25 record since then. The Rangers have struggled to get going and defend their 2023 title, going 11-16 in both May and June, putting them well out of a playoff spot as the All-Star break approaches.

Watch out for: The surging Astros. Despite several key injuries -- Kyle Tucker hasn't played since June 3 and several starting pitchers have undergone season-ending surgeries -- the Astros have been one of baseball's best teams for most of the season after an abysmal start. They also appeared to avoid even more injury woes this weekend, as Jose Altuve only missed one game over the weekend after getting hit by a pitch on Friday and Yordan Alvarez's knee issue doesn't appear to be serious. Just two games back of the Mariners in the AL West, the division is still very much in play.