As the calendar nears September, teams and fans of contenders begin circling dates and games on the schedule. Head-to-head matchups against other clubs vying for a playoff spot loom large, but the other games against also-rans can't be ignored. How teams fare against clubs out of the race can determine a playoff berth nearly as easily as the games versus other contenders. There are a few dangerous clubs primed to play spoiler down the stretch. Let's get into those ballclubs that are poised to upset other teams' postseason dreams, as well as the contenders who could be most affected.
Los Angeles Angels
Spoiler Alert: Houston Astros, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners and Colorado Rockies
After signing Shohei Ohtani and Zack Cozart and trading for Ian Kinsler, the Angels looked ready to contend behind another MVP-level season from Mike Trout. Their season hasn't worked out as planned as injuries to Ohtani and Cozart blunted their impact and the bullpen hasn't quite delivered. The Angels aren't a bad team, but hovering around .500 isn't going to get it done in the top-heavy American League.
Trout might not be able to carry a team for an entire season, but he is capable of winning a series or two. With Justin Upton (once he returns from the DL), the resurgent Kole Calhoun and Andrelton Simmons, the Angels are a decent team playing the most difficult schedule in baseball down the stretch. The club has 10 games against the Astros, six against the A's, four games against the Mariners and a couple of games against the Rockies for good measure. The Angels don't have what it takes to get back in the race, but how they play down the stretch will likely help determine who wins the AL West and the wild-card race.
Cincinnati Reds
Spoiler Alert: Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Reds sit in last place in the NL Central nearly 20 games out of a playoff spot. That description doesn't seem to fit with a team capable of playing spoiler down the stretch, but the Reds are a better team than their record indicates. On April 22, the Reds fell to 3-18 on the season with a minus-56 run differential. Since that time, the team has played four months of .500 baseball with an almost even run differential. That's the team Cincinnati's opponents should fear from here on out.
Having Joey Votto on the disabled list at the moment doesn't help the Reds' prospects, but Scooter Gennett and Eugenio Suarez are putting up very good seasons. Their pitching is also a little better than their stats show. Luis Castillo struggled in the first half, but has a great 2.86 FIP and 2.70 ERA since the All-Star break. Castillo and Anthony DeSclafani have combined to make 10 starts since the break and have given up one run or none in six of those starts and only one time gave up more than three runs. With good strikeout rates and decreasing walk numbers, the Reds have a couple of starters who could provide difficult matchups and a still-good closer in Raisel Iglesias.
With seven games each against the Brewers and Cubs, six games with the Pirates, three with the Cardinals and a series with the Dodgers, the Reds' performance will have an effect on the Central Division and the National League wild-card race.
Minnesota Twins
Spoiler Alert: A's, Astros
The Twins don't have quite as many games against contenders as the two teams above them on this list, but nearly 20 percent of the A's remaining games come against Minnesota. The Twins also have a three-game set against the Astros. The club's season didn't go as planned as Brian Dozier failed to repeat his past success while the development of Miguel Sano and Byron Buxton stalled. Dozier's now gone to the Dodgers and Buxton is still in the minors, but Sano has shown some signs of a better bat, with a line 20 percent better than league average since the All-Star break.
The offense isn't what could make the Twins dangerous the rest of the way, however; their starting pitching is. The 24-year-old Jose Berrios has been worth nearly 3.0 fWAR with an ERA and FIP under 4.00 on the year. Kyle Gibson is doing the same with a nasty slider that has increased his strikeout rate from 18 percent a year ago to 23 percent this season. The two right-handers have thrown at least six innings and given up two runs or fewer in nearly half (23 of 50) of their starts. Jake Odorizzi has been solid of late as well with a 3.10 FIP and 3.88 ERA over his past 10 starts. The A's play the Astros after their next series with Minnesota and the Mariners after their later Twins series. Oakland should be wary of looking past the Twins.
New York Mets
Spoiler Alert: Cubs, Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies, Atlanta Braves
Yes, the Mets' season has been a disaster, as their 11-1 start is basically the only thing standing between them and a 100-loss season. On the other hand, the Mets have arguably the best pitcher in baseball in Jacob deGrom and an excellent sidekick in Noah Syndergaard. Of pitchers with at least 100 innings, deGrom ranks first in the National League in FIP and ERA, while Syndergaard's 2.68 FIP trails only those of deGrom, Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin. After making just 17 starts over the previous three seasons, Zack Wheeler is having a nice year as well.
The Mets' offense and their bullpen have kept them from contention this season, but their starters have the ability to dominate. Their season might be down the drain, but sweeping a contender down the stretch isn't out of the question. They're scheduled to send both Syndergaard and deGrom to the mound against the Cubs in a series next week. New York just took three of five games against the Phillies and the Mets have six more games against them the rest of the season, along with series against the Dodgers and Braves.
Washington Nationals
Spoiler Alert: Phillies, Cubs, Brewers, Cardinals, Braves, Rockies.
Washington isn't technically out of the race, but the Nationals' trades Tuesday make it clear they're throwing in the towel. Even so, when talking about teams that a contender would not want to face, the Nationals would rank high on that list even when you include the current expected slate of playoff teams. With Max Scherzer, Bryce Harper, Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto and now Stephen Strasburg back in action, the Nationals still have one of the most talented rosters in all of baseball. Their season has been a huge disappointment, but the Nationals could play a big role in the race even if they won't play their way in.
With eight games against the Phillies, four games against the Cubs and three games each against the Brewers, Cardinals, Braves and Rockies, Washington will be playing a ton of games with playoff implications down the stretch. That's sort of the way the Nationals planned their season -- it's just that they expected they'd also be in the postseason picture.