As the calendar is about to turn to the final month of the season each series contending teams play against each other is important.  With about a week and a half left before the beginning of the final month there are still key series to watch in the month of August.  There is only one key series that could have an effect on the division races, but there are four games of teams in the wild card chasing each other and most of these games are this weekend.  So clear your schedules and get your snacks ready because this weekend will be must see television.

Los Angeles Angels @/vs Oakland Athletics - August 22-24 in Oakland and August 28-31

The two best teams in baseball reside in the American League West and to end the month of August they play each other seven times beginning this weekend in Oakland.  These series could be the most important out of all of the series this month because not only would it affect the division title in the west, if one team dominates the other it could change the landscape of the Wild Card as well.  If the fact that these two teams have the best two records in baseball isn’t enough to pull you in, this series will also feature the best player in baseball, Mike Trout.

New York Yankees @ Detroit Tigers - August 26-28

As of the end of play on August 19 the Detroit Tigers are tied with the Seattle Mariners for the second Wild Card spot and right behind them sits the New York Yankees four games back.  This is a series that is huge for the Yankees.  If they can sweep this series it will go a long way to proving that they are still in the playoff hunt, and if they can win the series they will gain some ground, but if they do any worse than that their playoff hopes will become slim.  For the Tigers every series the rest of the way is important as they chase the Kansas City Royals, but they also need to keep up with the Royals and push the teams like the Yankees that are chasing them further back to at least secure the Wild Card.

Tampa Bay Rays @ Toronto Blue Jays - August 22-24

A team that was once thought of as the biggest disappointment in all of baseball playing against a team that was one of the best teams in baseball before their star first baseman Edwin Encarnacion went down with injury.  Now Encarnacion is healthy and the Rays have played themselves back into the playoff discussion.  Both teams are watching as the American League East leading Baltimore Orioles streak away from the rest of the pack, but both teams have a shot at the second Wild Card spot and their chances would look a lot better if one can sweep the other.  The Jays have a much better chance at catching the Tigers and Mariners at only 4.5 games back, but the Rays at seven games back could make a statement in this series and at the least knock their division rivals out of the hunt.

St. Louis Cardinals @ Pittsburgh Pirates - August 25-27

The Cardinals have been chasing the Brewers all season long to no avail, but even without catching them they still sit in a good position as the top team in the Wild Card.  Meanwhile, the Pirates were the biggest disappointment in the National League, but now they have surged back to the top and have an outside chance at catching the Brewers but has a real chance at the Wild Card at only 2.5 games back of the second spot.  This series will be huge in the Wild Card standings because a sweep by the Pirates could knock the Cards out of the top spot and put the Pirates in prime position to step into one of the two spots.

Atlanta Braves @ Cincinnati Reds - August 21-24

This series is big for the Braves because they are a half game behind the San Francisco Giants for the second Wild Card spot, but it is huge for the Reds.  The Reds have been up and down all season long and injuries are a key factor in their inconsistency, but if they are going to have any chance at making the playoffs they are going to need to start winning and fast.  Not only do the Reds need to start winning, they need to start beating teams that are ahead of them in the standings because they are 5.5 games back of the Giants and they can’t keep losing and hope everyone else loses too.