Matchups

The Boston Red Sox are starting to pick things up on the offensive end, beginning with the bottom of the lineup. The Tampa Bay Rays will try to slow that surge when they visit the Red Sox in a day-night doubleheader on Thursday. Boston scored as many as seven runs once in the first 23 games but has reached the mark in three of the last four as Will Middlebrooks, A.J. Pierzynski and Jackie Bradley Jr. lead the charge.

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the series in a bit of a slump but have a chance to put a nice winning streak together if they can take a doubleheader from the host Minnesota Twins on Thursday. Tuesday’s scheduled opener was postponed by rain and the Dodgers, who entered the series losers of five of seven, got a strong start from Zack Greinke and took the opener 6-4 on Wednesday. The Twins dropped back to .500 (12-12) with the loss.

The Pittsburgh Pirates ended a 20-year postseason drought last year and their record in interleague play (15-5) was among the reasons why. Following consecutive rainouts on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Pirates get a chance to snap out of a funk and reprise last season's interleague success when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday for a doubleheader. Losers of 13 of its last 17, Pittsburgh faces its first non-division opponent after 26 straight games versus National League Central foes.

Robinson Cano was the subject of jeers at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday and will look to again send the New York fans home unhappy on Thursday when the Seattle Mariners face the Yankees in a series shortened to two games due to rain. Wednesday’s contest was postponed due to the weather issues, which gives New York fans one less day to air their displeasure. Cano went 1-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI in Tuesday’s 6-3 win.

The Pittsburgh Pirates ended a 20-year postseason drought last year and their record in interleague play (15-5) was among the reasons why. Following consecutive rainouts on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Pirates get a chance to snap out of a funk and reprise last season's interleague success when they visit the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday for a doubleheader. Losers of 13 of its last 17, Pittsburgh faces its first non-division opponent after 26 straight games versus National League Central foes.

The Boston Red Sox are starting to pick things up on the offensive end, beginning with the bottom of the lineup. The Tampa Bay Rays will try to slow that surge when they visit the Red Sox in a day-night doubleheader on Thursday. Boston scored as many as seven runs once in the first 23 games but has reached the mark in three of the last four as Will Middlebrooks, A.J. Pierzynski and Jackie Bradley Jr. lead the charge.

Few expect the Miami Marlins to challenge for a playoff spot, but they have sent a clear message to opposing teams that winning in Miami will not be easy. The Marlins go for a series sweep of National League East leader Atlanta on Thursday after two blowout victories over the Braves, improving Miami’s home record to 11-4. The Braves had not lost consecutive games since April 6-8 before arriving in South Florida, but have been overmatched by Miami's pitching.

The Milwaukee Brewers continue to surprise by recording the best record in baseball (20-8) through April while building a 5½-game lead in the National League Central. The Brewers can extend their advantage against a divisional foe when they visit the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday to start a four-game series. Milwaukee has gotten strong pitching all season and comes in after taking two of three at St. Louis - its closer pursuer in the NL Central - and is 9-3 in its last 12 games.

The Los Angeles Dodgers entered the series in a bit of a slump but have a chance to put a nice winning streak together if they can take a doubleheader from the host Minnesota Twins on Thursday. Tuesday’s scheduled opener was postponed by rain and the Dodgers, who entered the series losers of five of seven, got a strong start from Zack Greinke and took the opener 6-4 on Wednesday. The Twins fell back to .500 (12-12) with the loss.

Having already secured their first series win over Toronto since 2011, the Kansas City Royals have their eyes on a rare sweep as they host the Blue Jays in Thursday's finale of their three-game set. The Royals used clutch hitting to win the first two games, including Alcides Escobar's two-run double in the seventh inning of Wednesday's 4-2 triumph. The Royals, who haven't swept the Blue Jays in a series since 2001, send Jeremy Guthrie to the mound Thursday.

A pair of teams off to surprising starts begin a four-game series Thursday as the Colorado Rockies host the New York Mets. Colorado won four straight series and is 4-0-1 in its last five despite losing to Arizona 5-4 in 10 innings Wednesday and returns home to Coors Field, where it is 8-4 and averaging 7.4 runs. New York (15-11), which hasn't been four games over .500 since July 14, 2012, had its road trip shortened to eight games after Wednesday's contest in Philadelphia was postponed.