As the 2024 regular season continues, here are three things well be keeping an eye on around the baseball world headed into the weekend: 1. Series Preview: Rangers @ Mariners Its been a struggle for the reigning World Series champion Rangers this year, as theyve played to just a 33-35 record that places them 5.5 games back of the Mariners for the AL West lead and 3.5 games back of the Twins for the final AL Wild Card spot. Texas has begun to heat up recently with a 9-6 record over their past 15 games, a stretch that includes swiping two of three from the Dodgers in L.A. earlier this week. With a three-game set against Seattle on the docket this weekend, the Rangers will turn to lefty (4.06 ERA), veteran (2.68 ERA), and righty (4.80 ERA) opposite the three-headed monster at the front of the Mariners rotation: (3.35 ERA), (3.81 ERA), and (3.19 ERA). The coming series will be crucial to the defending champs chances of turning things around Alec Marsh Jersey , particularly in the division standings, prior to the trade deadline next month. The Rangers wont play the Mariners again until September. A sweep of the series by Texas would place them just 2.5 games back of Seattle in the division and back over .500, while the Mariners would be able to create even more distance in the AL West with a sweep of their own, giving them at least an eight-game lead over their closest competitor. The series kicks off tonight in Seattle and 7:10pm local time. 2. Cole continues rehab: Yankees ace is scheduled to make his third rehab start at the Triple-A level today, manager told reporters (including those at ). Boone added that Cole is expected to throw around 70 pitches, and Cole himself said following his last start that he expected to make one more before returning to the majors. That could signal that Cole will be ready to be activated as soon as next week, a suming there are no hiccups during his rehab outing today. The reigning AL Cy Young winner has been sidelined since Spring Training due to a bout of elbow inflammation but has looked like his usual dominant self in two rehab starts at the Double-A level. In a combined eight innings of work, Cole has struck out nine batters (32.4% strikeout rate) while i suing zero walks and allowing just one earned run. Coles return to the rotation should allow the Yankees to return right-hander to his role as an occasional spot starter rather than a fixture of the rotation, though the 29-year-old has impre sed with a 2.40 ERA in three starts since replacing an injured . 3. 2021 NL Cy Young Award rematch: Sundays game between the Phillies and Orioles will be a particularly interesting one, even aside from the inherent intrigue of seeing two of the leagues heavyweights square off in a hypothetical World Series preview. Right-handers and are set to face off in Baltimore starting at 1:35pm local time. It will be the first time the pair have faced each other since finishing as the top two in a close 2021 NL Cy Young Award vote that saw each hurler get 12 out of 30 first place votes. Ultimately, Burnes bested Wheeler by a narrow margin to take home the award. Burnes was traded to Baltimore over the winter and upon joining the Orioles has enjoyed his best campaign since he was crowned the best pitcher in the NL three years ago. In 86 2/3 innings, hes notched 2.08 ERA and 3.22 FIP, though his 23.6% strikeout rate is a far cry from the 35.6% figure he posted in 2021. Meanwhile, Wheeler recently signed an extension to stay in Philadelphia through 2027. His 2.16 ERA in 87 2/3 frames this season would be a career best, and he sports an excellent 2.90 FIP with a 27.7% strikeout rate. Willie Aikens Jersey