24 Tampa Bay Rays (Baz) @ Philadelphia Phillies (Wheeler)

Philsmania 2024-09-12 17:52:10 UTC #101

Interestingly, of all the NL contenders, only the Padres with series against the Astros and White Sox and barely-still-contending Cubs with a series against the Athletics have games against AL teams left on the schedule.

BostonRoss 2024-09-12 18:12:27 UTC #102

That's true, but MLB can control the schedule.

My feeling is make it as fair as possible rather than focusing on gimmicks like interleague play and intracity rivalries. It was fair before the wild card was a thing, and it could be fairer now. As zambonir notes, it would be easier to remove imbalances with 32 teams when and if that happens, and even easier if they are willing to stray further from the historic league definitions.

EastFallowfield 2024-09-12 19:07:42 UTC #103

Wonder why they can't spread out the division games more. You seem to get these series at home and the road within the same short time period (like the upcoming two series against the Mets with just 3 days apart) and you even sometimes get starting pitching matchups where both pitcher's previous outings were against the same team and the same opposing pitcher. Why not have them further apart?

Philsmania 2024-09-12 21:08:42 UTC #104

Looking ahead at the 2025 schedule, they do seem to do that at least for the Phillies.

zambonir 2024-09-12 21:23:33 UTC #105

Might have had something to do with the London series in this case. I would also wonder why the Phillies don't play the Braves at all in September. And if I were a Dodgers fan I wouldn't be thrilled they are on an East Coast road trip so late in the year, though that's also life as an NL West team I guess.

Philsmania 2024-09-12 21:36:15 UTC #106

Next season, the Phillies very last road trip is to LA and AZ before closing things out at home against the Marlins and Twins.

zambonir 2024-09-12 22:58:12 UTC #107

I might enjoy travelling to those. But tough draw.