Matchups

The Chicago White Sox believe they're still playoff contenders and they'll get a chance to prove it when they host the American League Central-leading Kansas City Royals for a doubleheader Friday. The Royals, who own the best record in the AL, hope to pick up where they left off after winning eight of 10 prior to the All-Star break.

While the New York Yankees surprised some by assuming the top spot in the American League East at the All-Star break, the Seattle Mariners were a first-half disappointment. The teams begin the second half of their seasons when they meet Friday at Yankee Stadium in the opener of a three-game set.

Overcoming worrisome shortcomings, the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Dodgers finished the first half of the season atop the National League East and West, respectively. The division leaders meet for the first time this season and attempt to start the second half strong when they open a three-game set Friday in the nation’s capital.

Jose Fernandez goes for his third straight victory since returning from Tommy John surgery when he takes the mound against the host Philadelphia Phillies on Friday in the opener of their three-game series. Fernandez hopes to begin changing his fortunes on the road, where he is 4-8 with a 3.93 ERA in his career while sporting 14-0 and 1.17 marks at home.

The Tampa Bay Rays look to build off three consecutive wins before the All-Star break when they visit the struggling Toronto Blue Jays for the opener of their three-game series on Friday. After losing 15 of their previous 18 contests, the Rays allowed just four runs during their sweep of Houston last weekend to move into second place in the American League East -- 3 ½ games behind the New York Yankees.

The Baltimore Orioles won the American League East in 2014 and swept the Detroit Tigers in three games in the division series before falling to the Kansas City Royals in the ALCS. When the Orioles open the second half of the 2015 season by visiting the Tigers on Friday, both teams are on the outside looking in at the AL playoff picture.

The Cincinnati Reds attempt to start the second half of the season on the right foot when they begin a seven-game homestand on Friday with the first of three interleague contests against the Cleveland Indians. Cincinnati is looking to get back into the playoff picture as it sits 7 1/2 games out of a wild-card spot in the National League after losing its last two contests before hosting the All-Star Game.

The Chicago Cubs open the second half of the season clinging to the final National League wild-card spot, but the schedule presents a golden opportunity for Chicago to bolster its postseason standing. Starting with Friday’s opener of a three-game series at the Atlanta Braves, the Cubs play 17 consecutive games against sub-.500 competition.

The Chicago White Sox believe they're still playoff contenders and they'll get a chance to prove it when they host the American League Central-leading Kansas City Royals for a doubleheader Friday. The Royals, who own the best record in the AL, hope to pick up where they left off after winning eight of 10 prior to the All-Star break.

The Houston Astros held a seven-game lead in the American League West less than a month into the season on the strength on a 10-game winning streak before the Texas Rangers rained on their parade. The Astros welcome the Rangers back for the first time since when the slumping in-state rivals begin a three-game series Friday in Houston.

The Pittsburgh Pirates own the second-most wins in the majors but have the misfortune of the lone team ahead of them being in their own division. The Milwaukee Brewers, who host the Pirates to open the second half on Friday, sit in last place in that National League Central and are gearing up for the trade deadline at the end of the month.

After winning four in a row and six of seven prior to the All-Star break, the New York Mets will test their mettle on Friday when they open a six-game road trip with the first of three contests at the St. Louis Cardinals. New York, which trails National League East-leading Washington by two games, will conclude the trek with three contests against the Nationals.

After winning three straight heading into the All-Star break, the San Francisco Giants look to continue heading in the right direction when they play the opener of a three-game series at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. The reigning World Series champions swept lowly Philadelphia in dominant fashion, outscoring the hapless Phillies by a 27-9 margin while batting .393 (48-for-122) - including 18-for-43 with runners in scoring position.

Mike Trout spent All-Star week firmly planting himself at the front of the conversation as the best player in baseball while drawing universal praise from his peers and winning his second straight MVP Award in the Midsummer Classic. Trout will get back to the business of helping his team advance toward the playoffs when the Los Angeles Angels open the second half by hosting the Boston Red Sox on Friday.

Winners of three in a row and six of their last seven, the Minnesota Twins look to continue their torrid pace when they open a three-game series versus the host Oakland Athletics on Friday. Offense has been the operative word for Minnesota, which erupted for 24 runs to take the final three contests against Detroit prior to the All-Star break and scored 28 times to win three of four versus Oakland from May 4-7.

The Colorado Rockies look to extend their winning streak to five games when they visit the San Diego Padres for the opener of a three-game series on Friday. Colorado completed the first half of the season with a four-game home sweep of Atlanta, limiting the Braves to three runs or fewer in each contest.