Blue Jays, Padres, Brewers and more: MLB series that matter most in September

By Jordan Shusterman
FOX Sports MLB Writer

With an additional wild card up for grabs in each league, there are even more possibilities than usual for how the MLB postseason picture can shape up as the 2022 regular season winds down.

Certain teams — such as the Dodgers, Astros, Mets, Braves, Cardinals and, yes, even the recently flailing Yankees — are looking like safe bets to appear in the playoff field and will aim to finish the regular season strong and, most importantly, healthy.

Several other teams either currently hold a postseason spot — Guardians, Phillies, Padres, Rays, Mariners and Blue Jays — or have the postseason well in their sights — Brewers, Orioles, Twins and White Sox — but will need to play well over the next month to ensure that Oct. 5 isn’t the last day of their seasons.

And then there are the teams whose seasons are definitely coming to an end Oct. 5 but who also have a month of games to go. These teams are primarily focused on two things: 1) giving their young players an opportunity to learn and develop at the highest level without the pressure of needing to win; and 2) playing spoiler for those opponents still pursuing the postseason. 

Obviously, teams still want to win every game because losing isn’t fun, but at the same time, winning too many games could have an adverse effect on their draft position. Speaking of which, for the first time in MLB history, a lottery will determine the order of the top six picks in the draft.

But enough about the bad teams and next year’s draft. These next five or so weeks are about the teams playing for the chance to, well, keep playing.

Here are the series you won’t want to miss over the final month:

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