Texas at Chi. Cubs 2:20 PM ET
The All-Star break came at just the right time for the Chicago Cubs and the visiting Texas Rangers, who hope to regain the form that staked them to big division leads when they open a three-game showdown Friday at Wrigley Field. The National League Central-leading Cubs and the American League West-leading Rangers both limped into the break but still have substantial cushions heading into the second half.
Boston at NY Yankees 7:05 PM ET
The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are still trying to figure out where they sit in the playoff race in the American League East, and whether they are good enough to remain in it for the duration. The Red Sox will try to creep closer to first place in the AL East and make the decision to sell a little easier for the Yankees when they visit their rivals in the opener of a three-game series on Friday.
NY Mets at Philadelphia 7:05 PM ET
With the festivities of the All-Star Game now in the rear-view mirror, the New York Mets are hoping history repeats itself as a strong second-half surge last season carried the club to the World Series. The Mets look to take the first step on that journey Friday when they open a nine-game road trip with the first of three versus the Philadelphia Phillies.
Pittsburgh at Washington 7:05 PM ET
The Washington Nationals and the Pittsburgh Pirates were both popular picks to reach the postseason in the National League, but only one enters the second half looking like a solid bet to achieve that goal. The Pirates will attempt to continue the course correction that began before the break when they start the second half by visiting the Nationals on Friday in the opener of a three-game series.
Baltimore at Tampa Bay 7:10 PM ET
The Baltimore Orioles hope to build on their lead in the American League East as they visit the struggling Tampa Bay Rays on Friday for the opener of a three-game series. The Orioles won four of their last five contests before the All-Star break to take a two-game lead over both Boston and Toronto while the Rays have dropped 22 of 25.
Kansas City at Detroit 7:10 PM ET
A pair of Kansas City Royals stars helped ensure the American League representative will have home-field advantage in the World Series, but they have plenty of work to do to earn a chance to defend their crown. Kansas City hopes to begin its climb toward a return to the postseason with a three-game road series against the Detroit Tigers starting Friday.
Milwaukee at Cincinnati 7:10 PM ET
The visiting Milwaukee Brewers and the Cincinnati Reds are two of the few teams that have the “seller” light lit up already with more than two weeks until the trade deadline and figure to have plenty of scouts in the stands when they meet for the opener of a three-game series on Friday. Both teams have an All-Star reportedly on the block and will be looking for big returns to spark their respective rebuilding programs.
Colorado at Atlanta 7:35 PM ET
As the Colorado Rockies open their second-half schedule Friday against the Braves in Atlanta, rookie Trevor Story hopes to find his hitting stroke after a rough start to July. The 23-year-old, who captured baseball’s attention by blasting 10 home runs in the season's first month, is hitting just .185 in July with 10 strikeouts in 27 at-bats.
Cleveland at Minnesota 8:10 PM ET
The Cleveland Indians look to continue their charge toward a second postseason berth in four years on Friday when they begin a nine-game road trip with the opener of a three-game series versus the Minnesota Twins. Although Cleveland holds a comfortable 6 1/2-game lead atop the American League Central, it has lost four of six to cellar-dwelling Minnesota this season.
Miami at St. Louis 8:15 PM ET
The St. Louis Cardinals must play better at home if they are seriously interested in punching their ticket to the postseason party for the sixth straight year. After losing 10 of their last 14 at Busch Stadium, the Cardinals look to give their fans a reason to cheer on Friday when the club opens a 10-game homestand with the first of three contests against the Miami Marlins.
LA Dodgers at Arizona 9:40 PM ET
When the Arizona Diamondbacks signed star right-hander Zack Greinke away from the Los Angeles Dodgers last offseason, it was one of several moves that many thought would level the playing field between the National League West rivals. Instead, Greinke is on the disabled list and the Diamondbacks are in last place when they open the second half of the season at home against the surging Dodgers on Friday.
Chi. White Sox at LA Angels 10:05 PM ET
The Chicago White Sox hope to get back in the thick of the race for the American League Central title as they begin the second half of the season Friday with the opener of a three-game series against the Angels in Los Angeles. Chicago was at or near the top of the division for most of the first two months of the campaign before falling off and begins its six-game road trip tied for third with Kansas City, seven games behind first-place Cleveland.
Toronto at Oakland 10:05 PM ET
The Toronto Blue Jays aim to strengthen their hold on a postseason position against one of the American League's bottom-feeders when they begin a three-game road series versus the Oakland Athletics on Friday. Toronto entered the All-Star break sitting in the second wild-card spot in the AL, just a few percentage points behind Boston, and trails East-leading Baltimore by two games.
Houston at Seattle 10:10 PM ET
Two teams hoping to make a second-half run at American League West-leading Texas meet Friday as the Seattle Mariners begin a three-game series against the visiting Houston Astros. Seattle sits 8 1/2 games behind the Rangers while the surging Astros have gone 31-13 since May 23 to pull within 5 1/2 games of first place.
San Francisco at San Diego 10:40 PM ET
More than any other All-Star, San Francisco Giants ace Madison Bumgarner figures to be well-rested when he takes the mound for Friday’s series opener against the host San Diego Padres. Bumgarner decided against pitching in Tuesday's All-Star Game after recording 14 strikeouts in a one-hit shutout against Arizona two days earlier.
