Matchups

Nick Markakis just seems to have a way of pestering the Los Angeles Dodgers. After belting a two-run homer in the opener, Markakis scored twice the following night and looks to help the Atlanta Braves secure a three-game series sweep when they host the Dodgers on Wednesday afternoon.

The performance of the Chicago Cubs' budding stars has pushed the team into the playoff picture earlier than expected. They'll be on display Wednesday as the Cubs wrap up a four-game series at the Cincinnati Reds with a day-night doubleheader after splitting the first two contests.

The New York Mets have a chance to finish with a .500 mark on a six-game road trip against a pair of division leaders when they visit the Washington Nationals on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game set. New York scored more than five runs for only the second time in 17 games to level the series with a 7-2 victory Tuesday.

The Tampa Bay Rays look to get their struggling offense in gear and finish a .500 road trip when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday for the rubber match of a three-game interleague set. The Rays snapped the Phillies’ four-game win streak Tuesday as Nathan Karns pitched five scoreless frames and homered for a 1-0 victory – recording only their ninth run in the last five contests.

For a team that is supposed to be selling off the usable parts of the roster, the Milwaukee Brewers sure are playing like a team with a shot at the playoffs. The Brewers will try to secure their fifth straight win when they host the Cleveland Indians in the finale of a two-game interleague series on Wednesday.

The All-Star break must have done wonders for Shin-Soo Choo. The 33-year-old South Korean looks to continue his torrid pace as the visiting Texas Rangers vie for a series victory against the Colorado Rockies in the rubber match of the three-game set Wednesday.

The San Francisco Giants have identical 25-22 records at home and on the road but are a much different team offensively when playing in the other team's park as they visit the San Diego Padres on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of their three-game series. San Francisco leads the National League with 228 runs away from home - 52 more than they've scored at AT&T Park - after recording a 9-3 victory Tuesday without its best hitter in the lineup.

The performance of the Chicago Cubs' budding stars has pushed the team into the playoff picture earlier than expected. They'll be on display Wednesday as the Cubs wrap up a four-game series at the Cincinnati Reds with a day-night doubleheader after splitting the first two contests.

Winners of 10 of their last 14 contests, the New York Yankees look to create some breathing room in the American League East when they vie for a series victory against the visiting Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Chase Headley, who had an RBI double in New York's 3-2 triumph in Tuesday's opener, is riding a six-game hitting streak and has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 contests.

Hours after manager Brad Ausmus said the Detroit Tigers are not out of postseason contention, his club provided more evidence that it may be sellers come the trade deadline. Detroit will attempt to bounce back from a crushing 11-9 setback when it hosts the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night in the third of a four-game series.

Any and all positive emotions that the Boston Red Sox managed to conjure up within their fan base with a strong run prior to the All-Star break have been wiped away over the last five games. The Red Sox will try to avoid a seventh straight loss when they visit the Houston Astros in the second of a three-game series on Wednesday.

The Chicago White Sox have the misfortune of playing the two teams with the best records in their respective leagues in back-to-back series, and so far they are not faring well. The White Sox will try to split the current series at one win apiece when they host the major league-best St. Louis Cardinals in the finale of a two-game interleague set on Wednesday.

The Kansas City Royals are 20 games over .500 and own a comfortable lead atop the American League Central, but they suddenly have concerns over their starting rotation. Kansas City's bullpen has been taxed for 12 2/3 innings against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in their three-game interleague series, which concludes on Wednesday.

One day after recording their first victory since the All-Star break, the Miami Marlins attempt to post a series win when they visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday for the finale of their three-game set. Miami began the second half by being swept of a three-game road series by lowly Philadelphia before losing the opener of its set in Arizona.

The Los Angeles Angels hope to have their young superstar back in the lineup Wednesday as they look to register their seventh consecutive victory when they host the Minnesota Twins in the middle contest of their three-game set. Mike Trout missed his first contest of the season Tuesday due to a sore left heel, but that didn't keep Los Angeles from rolling past Minnesota 7-0 in the series opener.

Oakland Athletics ace Sonny Gray looks to slow down the explosive Toronto Blue Jays offense Wednesday as the teams continue a three-game series at O.co Coliseum. Toronto has won three of its first four games out of the All-Star break and sits 4 1/2 games behind the first-place New York Yankees in the AL East, while Oakland remains mired in the AL West cellar.