As the 2024 Major League Baseball season takes shape, we're uncovering ever more surprises -- among them unexpected hot hitters, intriguing new pitches and thrilling resurgences -- and getting a better idea of what the months ahead may have in store. Thinking a little more short-term, the week ahead will feature, among others, the season's first meeting of division rivals with no love lost between them, a recent World Series rematch and a showcase of the next generation of superstars.

Rangers at Tigers
4 games (Monday-Thursday)

Head-to-head: The Rangers took their 2023 season series against the Tigers, four games to three, but that record is just a bit deceptive as Detroit was outscored 42-29 in the seven matchups.

Storyline: This series could be a gut check for all involved -- the Tigers, thanks to their pitching staff, are punching well above their weight class, but have stacked up mostly against anemic lineups. The defending champs, meanwhile, are playing .500 ball, and early concerns about their bullpen -- in particular, closer Jose Leclerc (8 ER in 6 IP) -- are mounting.

Watch out for: You'll be able to catch Tigers ace Tarik Skubal and his ongoing breakout in this series -- the left-hander is scheduled to take the mound Wednesday to build on his excellent start to the season (2.08 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 20 K's in 17 1/3 IP).

Guardians at Red Sox
4 games (Monday-Thursday)

Head-to-head: The clubs split their season series in 2023, 3-3, but the Red Sox are 12-7 against the Guardians since 2021, very much in keeping with the AL East's historic dominance over the AL Central (.586 overall winning percentage since 2021).

Storyline: The biggest surprise of the young season has been Boston's rotation, which looked for all the world like an obvious weakness to enter the year, especially following the season-ending injury to offseason addition Lucas Giolito. But three weeks in, Red Sox starters lead all of baseball with a 2.05 ERA.

Watch out for: It's been a winding road, but things seem to be coming back together for new Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill -- of his 14 hits on the season, seven have been home runs.

Braves at Astros
3 games (Monday-Wednesday)

Head-to-head: In their sole 2023 matchup, the Astros swept a three-game series with three comeback wins. That's in keeping with recent history, as the Astros are 9-4 against the Braves since leaving the National League (as NL opponents, Atlanta had a .541 winning percentage against Houston).

Storyline: This is a rematch of the 2021 World Series, but in the immediate, it's a matchup of baseball's best offense (as a team, the Braves lead baseball in runs per game, batting average, OBP, SLG, OPS and hard-hit rate, and it's not even close) and the Astros' uncharacteristically leaky pitching staff, which counts among its hardships the recent loss of Framber Valdez to a sore left elbow, rough starts to the season for Hunter Brown and J.P. France, and a bullpen that ranks 27th in MLB with a 5.32 ERA.

Watch out for: The Braves raised a few eyebrows when they announced their intent to convert flamethrower Reynaldo López back into a full-time starter, a role he hadn't held since 2019, but thus far, the shift is paying off. López, scheduled to get the start Monday, has given up one run across 12 innings in his first two starts as a Brave, but the Astros' relentless lineup will represent his biggest challenge yet.

Rays at Yankees
3 games (Friday-Sunday)

Head-to-head: The Rays won all four head-to-head series in 2023, taking the season series 8-5, although nine of the 13 games were settled by three runs or fewer.

Storyline: Last year, the Rays' start to the season was April's hottest topic. This year, with a lineup paced by Juan Soto and a great deal of good luck, the Yankees are rolling along with the best record in baseball at 12-4. That said, of their 16 games, just three have come against an AL East opponent, and this week should give us a better idea of what the division might look like in a few months' time, as they will also see the Blue Jays just ahead of their weekend series with the Rays.

Watch out for: Giancarlo Stanton may just be settling into one of his infamous, devastating hot streaks -- of his four home runs on the year, three have come in his last seven games.

Orioles at Royals
3 games (Friday-Sunday)

Head-to-head: The O's and Royals have already met once this year in about as tight a three-game series you could find -- while the Orioles took the series, two games to one, both wins came via walk-off and both clubs scored 11 runs apiece across the three games. That was in stark contrast to 2023, when Baltimore cashed in against an 106-loss K.C. club, winning the season series 5-1.

Storyline: No two clubs are better examples of baseball's current youth movement, and a number of young stars are already off to great starts -- among them the Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. (.333 AVG, 1.086 OPS), Nelson Velázquez (.314 AVG, .854 OPS) and MJ Melendez (.277 AVG, .944 OPS) and the Orioles' Colton Cowser (.441 AVG, 1.445 OPS).

Watch out for: While we're on the subject of young talent, MLB top prospect Jackson Holliday made his much-anticipated Major League debut for the Orioles this past week.