Matchups

Wrigley Field traditionally has been a great place to hit in the summer months, and the Chicago Cubs have been taking advantage of late. The Cubs have slugged 18 home runs in their last eight games and hope to continue their hot hitting in the second contest of their four-game series with the visiting Atlanta Braves on Friday afternoon.

With his powerful swing, Miguel Sano is intent on turning around the fortunes of the Minnesota Twins. After belting his third two-run homer in his last four contests, the rookie hopes to help straighten out the Twins again Friday when they play the second of their four-game series versus the host Baltimore Orioles.

The New York Yankees look to rebound from a rare hiccup at home when they continue their four-game series against the Cleveland Indians on Friday. The Yankees swept aside Minnesota in three contests to begin their 10-game homestand before suffering just their second loss in eight outings with a 3-2 setback to the Indians on Thursday.

The Washington Nationals began to pull themselves out of a long slump against one last-place team and will try to pick on another when they return home for the start of a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. The Nationals open up a nine-game homestand against teams with losing records as they attempt to close a four-game gap on the National League East-leading New York Mets.

San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner seeks to become the second pitcher in the majors to 15 wins when he takes the mound Friday against the host Pittsburgh Pirates in the second of a four-game series. The Pirates have won three in a row and seven of their last eight contests to pull within 4 1/2 games of first-place St. Louis in the National League Central.

The Detroit Tigers are putting a dent in the Texas Rangers’ American League wild card plans while resurrecting their own. The Tigers will go for their fourth straight win when they host the Rangers in the second of a four-game series on Friday.

The Boston Red Sox hired Dave Dombrowski as president of baseball operations this week, just in time for him to watch the farm system nurtured under former general manger Ben Cherington start to blossom. The surging Red Sox will try to ride that youth to a fourth straight win when they host the American League-leading Kansas City Royals in the second of a four-game series on Friday.

The Cincinnati Reds look to halt their six-game losing streak when they host the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday in the second contest of a four-game set. Arizona recovered from a four-run deficit in Thursday's series opener to register a 5-4 decision for only its third victory in eight games.

The Miami Marlins have the third-fewest wins in baseball but they are swinging the bats as well as anyone while winning four of their last five games. The Marlins have piled up 37 runs in that span and look to extend the offensive fireworks Friday when they host the Philadelphia Phillies in the second contest of a four-game set.

Chase Utley is expected to make his debut with his new team as the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game interleague series against the host Houston Astros on Friday. Utley, who was acquired from Philadelphia for minor-leaguers Darnell Sweeney and John Richy, spent the first 13 years of his career with the Phillies and could play a significant role with fellow second baseman Howie Kendrick on the 15-day disabled list with a left hamstring strain.

The New York Mets attempt to get back on track Friday as they continue their road trip with the opener of a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies. New York has lost four of five contests since beginning the month with a 10-2 stretch that included a four-game sweep of Colorado at home.

David Price strives to remain unbeaten since joining Toronto when the Blue Jays open a three-game series against the host Los Angeles Angels on Friday. Price is 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA in three outings since Toronto acquired him from the Detroit Tigers.

The Tampa Bay Rays continue their 10-game road trip when they visit the Oakland Athletics for the opener of a three-game series on Friday. The Rays improved to 2-5 on the trek Thursday as they earned a split of their four-game set at Houston with a 1-0 triumph.

Chicago's Chris Sale and Seattle's Felix Hernandez square off in an elite pitching matchup when the White Sox visit the Mariners in Friday's opener of a three-game set. The two All-Star hurlers have combined for 25 victories — 14 by Hernandez, who is tied for the American League lead in victories with Houston's Dallas Keuchel.

The St. Louis Cardinals have been the best home team in baseball this season but their stretch run will feature a heavy dose of road games. The Cardinals begin one of two remaining 10-game road trips - their longest voyages of the season - when they open a three-game series at San Diego on Friday.