We're hitting the stretch run of the 2009 MLB season. I will write a preview every Friday for the rest of the season to touch on the important series during the weekend that involve teams either in the hunt for the division or the Wild Card. I have been red hot on the bases, winning seven of 10 days and have posted five straight free MLB picks on my page (Click Here).

Philadelphia Phillies at The New York Mets

This series is a four-game set and the Phillies are winners of eight of their last nine and are now 6.5 in front of the Marlins and Braves and 14.5 in front of the Mets -- you wouldn't think this one would be that important. The Mets are a mess, but this is a lineup that is at about half-strength because of all the injuries. I don't think the Mets will lay down to the hated Phillies but this team just doesn't have the guns to compete in this series.

Florida Marlins at The Atlanta Braves

A huge series takes place down in Atlanta this weekend with these two teams neck-and-neck at 64-57 and tied for second place in the National League East, four games back of the Wild Card leading Colorado Rockies. Some good pitching matchups in this one, especially Saturday and Sunday with two young guys going tomorrow with Chris Volstad vs. Tommy Hanson and Ricky Nolasco vs. Derek Lowe on Sunday. This will be a good series and one of these teams can improve their playoff chances. The Marlins have a 5-3 advantage so far this year over the Braves.

San Francisco Giants at The Colorado Rockies

Another big series as both of these teams have closed the gap of the National League West leading Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Rockies behind by 3.5 games while the Giants are 5.5 off. The Rockies are "top dog" in the Wild Card race and can go long way in separating themselves from the Giants, who trail them by two games in the race. They might just get the Giants at the right time with this being their third straight road series. They will still have to face Tim Lincecum on Sunday but in the first two games of this series will get the back end of the Giants rotation, facing Jonathan Sanchez and Joe Martinez. The teams have split eight games so far this season.

New York Yankees at The Boston Red Sox

Same old boring New York/Boston series… just kidding. The Red Sox took the first eight games of this series before getting swept in a four-game set in New York in early August. The Red Sox are finally getting healthy. They have a one-game lead in the Wild Card and are 6.5 games back of the Yankees for the division. While it may be tough to overcome that deficit , this series could spark a playoff run. Great pitching matchup Sunday night C.C Sabathia vs. Josh Becket.

Texas Rangers at The Tampa Bay Rays

What a huge series this is! It looks like the only way these teams can punch a ticket to the postseason will be by the Wild Card. Texas is trailing Boston by a game in the Wild Card race while the Rays are four games back, this could be the biggest series this weekend for playoff implications and could start to put nails in the coffin if the Rays fall on their face. Don't think that will happen with Kazmir, Garza and young gun David Price on the mound but the Ray's were already swept in Texas this year.

Baltimore Orioles at The Chicago White Sox

This may not seem like a big series with Baltimore involved but the O's will be facing a White Sox team sitting two and a half games behind the Tigers for the division lead -- this series means a lot for the home team. What makes these three games so important for Chicago is after this series they have a challenging road trip starting on Monday that will take them through Boston, New York and Minnesota -- the Sox's can't afford to slip up against the lowly O's.