Dodgers and Rangers unmissable three game series this weekend

It is far too early to talk about who will make the World Series. Mathematically, of course, eighteen teams still have a valid shot, with another three or four holding onto outside chances. But realistically, when you cast your eye over the horizon of the baseball universe, that whittles down to four or five standouts.

In the National League, the Dodgers are in a two-horse race with Atlanta, while over in the American League there are still the Rays, O’s, Twins, and Astros thumping away.

If any regular season matchup can have a legitimate claim at being a preview of the World Series, however, then you can hardly do better than this weekend.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are playing a three game stand in Arlington’s Globe Life field against the Texas Rangers.

Both of these teams, make no mistake, will be in the hunt deep into the post season. And right now, the Rangers are the team to beat.

The Texas Rangers

The only team in MLB to remain undefeated since the All-Star break, the Rangers are looking rejuvenated both on the mound and with their prolific bats in July.

Currently on a season-best six game winning streak, the Rangers have had to come from behind in several of them. Unafraid to take the fight to the opposition, they have been able to rely on the batting skills of their offense.

Marcus Semien is chasing his 200th career home run, and the way that he has been putting the bat to the ball, it may well come this weekend. But even if it doesn’t, the Rangers are a team who are happy to play small ball and put runners on the bases. They have hit multiple-base hits in 27 games on the trot so far, and can make defenses pay for any lapses.

The Rangers are coming off a sweep of the Rays and will start Andrew Heaney on Friday.

The Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers are one of the strongest teams in MLB, year in and year out, always for the same reason. They build, buy, and trade for the absolute best players in the game. Picking up Mookie Betts from the Red Sox three years ago was the foundation to what they have now.

Los Angeles has been canny with their trades and signings as well, grabbing Freddie Freeman from Atlanta and picking up some of the best pitchers in the game. Clayton Kershaw is expected back in a few weeks, which would give them a boost on the mound.

And then the Dodgers have players like Julio Urías, who they developed through their own organization and who is now a solid arm for them to lean on in times of crisis.

The Dodgers are coming off a series win against Baltimore and will start Tony Gonsolin on Friday.

Keys to the season

Both of these two teams are favorites in the Shohei Ohtani trade saga. While many feel that the Japanese superstar will prefer to stay in SoCal, giving the Dodgers the edge in negotiations, the big fly in that ointment is that Angels owner Arte Moreno has reportedly said that he will never trade with the cross town rivals.

The Yankees near-total collapse this season bumps them down the pecking order for any short-term deal with Ohtani, although looking longer-term, they are still a tempting destination.

The Rays and Rangers seem to be the two favorites to sign Ohtani for this season and next should Moreno decide to deal him to anybody at all. If the Rangers pick him up, they would skyrocket into favorites to become World Series champs. His bat added to what is already the most productive offense in baseball would make any failings on the mound purely academic. Although, his arm in their outstanding rotation would more than make up for the loss of Jacob deGrom, making the Rangers easily the strongest team in the game.