Matchups

Mother Nature put a halt to the Washington Nationals' hot stretch, but they hope to pick up right where they left off when they host the Cincinnati Reds in a split doubleheader Saturday. The Nationals took the opener of the four-game series by a 10-4 margin before rain forced Friday night's affair to be called off.

Javier Baez looks to continue another offensive surge when his National League Central-leading Chicago Cubs host the struggling San Diego Padres on Saturday afternoon for the third of a four-game set. Baez belted his fourth homer in seven games Friday to match a career high with 23 overall as the Cubs edged San Diego 5-4, and is 11-for-27 with 10 RBIs in that same stretch.

A highly anticipated showdown between the two best teams in the majors has been dominated by the Boston Red Sox, who will try to make it three straight wins over the New York Yankees on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park. Boston has outscored the Yankees 19-8 in the first two games to open a 7 1/2-game lead in the American League East - its biggest cushion of the year.

Tampa Bay Rays ace left-hander Blake Snell will return to the mound for the first time since the All-Star Game when he comes off the 10-day disabled list to face the Chicago White Sox on Saturday in the second of a three-game series. Snell, whose 12 wins are one more than his first two seasons combined, will look to help the Rays rebound from a rare home loss.

Mother Nature put a halt to the Washington Nationals' hot stretch, but they hope to pick up right where they left off when they host the Cincinnati Reds in a split doubleheader Saturday. The Nationals took the opener of the four-game series by a 10-4 margin before rain forced Friday night's affair to be called off.

The Philadelphia Phillies can clinch their fifth consecutive series win at home when the play the third of a four-game series with the visiting Miami Marlins on Saturday. The Phillies improved to 12-3 in their last 15 games at Citizens Bank Park with Friday's 5-1 victory, giving them wins in the first two games of the set.

The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals seem to be headed in opposite directions, and the surging Pirates would like to continue that trend when they continue their three-game series against the visiting Cardinals on Saturday. Pittsburgh took Friday’s opener 7-6 to move a game ahead of the Cardinals for third place in the National League Central.

He does not turn 21 years old until December, but Ronald Acuna continues to show why he is one of the top prospects in recent memory as he leads the Atlanta Braves into the third matchup of a four-game road series Saturday at the New York Mets. Acuna recorded his third-consecutive multi-hit contest in Friday’s 2-1 victory, and during his four-game hitting streak the speedy outfielder is 8-for-16 with four extra-base hits (including two homers) and five runs scored.

Shohei Ohtani looks to follow up his best offensive night in the majors with another big effort when the Los Angeles Angels visit the Cleveland Indians for the middle contest of a three-game set Saturday night. Ohtani, a 24-year-old rookie from Japan, registered season highs of four hits and two homers in Friday’s 7-4 victory as the Angels snapped a four-game slide overall and won for the first time in 11 contests at Cleveland.

Eric Thames provided a much-needed jolt for the Milwaukee Brewers in the series opener, and the club looks to build on the momentum when it hosts the Colorado Rockies on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Thames' walk-off, three-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning turned a possible third straight defeat into a memorable 5-3 victory.

Miguel Sano's season will likely go down as a disappointing one for the Minnesota Twins' young slugger, but perhaps his 1 1/2-month exile to the minor leagues earlier this summer was just what he needed to rediscover his stroke. The Twins hope to ride the former All-Star's mini-surge a bit longer and look to stay hot at home Saturday when they host the second of three games this weekend against the Kansas City Royals.

The Texas Rangers have scored 28 runs while winning the first two contests of their four-game series against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and look to continue the assault on Saturday. The Rangers slugged three homers in each of the victories, including Friday's 11-3 rout that followed a season-best 17-run performance.

The Arizona Diamondbacks aim for their sixth win in eight contests when they continue their four-game set against the visiting San Francisco Giants on Saturday. After losing the series opener, the Diamondbacks posted a 6-3 victory on Friday to pull into a tie with the Los Angeles Dodgers for first place in the National League West.

The Oakland Athletics vie for their fifth consecutive victory when they host the Detroit Tigers on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. The Athletics outlasted the Tigers in the series opener as a newcomer provided the key hit in the 13th inning of a 1-0 triumph.

There is a definite postseason feel in the air this weekend at Dodger Stadium, where the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros are meeting in a rematch of last year’s World Series. After opening the three-game interleague set with a 2-1 victory behind ace Justin Verlander, Houston aims for its fourth straight win on Saturday.

James Paxton tossed a no-hitter when he faced Toronto earlier this season and looks for another strong outing when the Seattle Mariners host the Blue Jays on Saturday for the third contest of their four-game series. The Canadian left-hander struck out seven and walked three while stifling the Blue Jays in the May 8 contest in Toronto.