Matchups

The New York Yankees’ current lineup won’t be confused with the Murderer’s Row of old, but they’ve looked the part lately. The Yankees have slugged eight home runs in their past two games and hope to continue the power surge in the second of a three-game series with the visiting Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday.

The Baltimore Orioles played their way out of wild-card contention over the last few weeks but are still in a position to effect the race in the American League East. The Orioles will continue to make it tough on their rivals when they visit the Toronto Blue Jays for the second of a three-game series on Saturday.

Matt Garza will look to avoid becoming the first pitcher in the majors to reach the 15-loss plateau on Saturday as the Milwaukee Brewers begin a 10-game road trip with a doubleheader versus the Cincinnati Reds. Garza, who is tied with Philadelphia veteran Aaron Harang with a league-high 14 defeats, was blasted for seven runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings before escaping with a no-decision in Cincinnati's 12-9 victory on last Saturday.

Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta looks to join Johnny Vander Meer in the record books when he takes the mound for the second of a three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. Arrieta gets the ball for the first time since tossing his first career no-hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday as the Cubs try for a second straight victory.

The Boston Red Sox and the Philadelphia Phillies are both looking toward the future, and right now it looks like the Red Sox are on the better track. The Phillies will try to get their youth to shine and even the series at one win apiece when they host Boston on Saturday.

Starling Marte is starting to heat up after a cold spell, and the Pittsburgh Pirates would like to follow suit. After driving in three runs in the opener, Marte looks to maintain his hot hand as the visiting Pirates attempt to climb back into contention for the National League Central title when they continue their three-game series versus the first-place St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday afternoon.

Matt Garza will look to avoid becoming the first pitcher in the majors to reach the 15-loss plateau on Saturday as the Milwaukee Brewers begin a 10-game road trip with a doubleheader versus the Cincinnati Reds. Garza, who is tied with Philadelphia veteran Aaron Harang with a league-high 14 defeats, was blasted for seven runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings before escaping with a no-decision in Cincinnati's 12-9 victory on last Saturday.

The Washington Nationals are starting to put the pieces together in their bid to contend for a division title while the Atlanta Braves have effectively thrown the puzzle in the trash can. After a 15-1 rout in the opener was followed by a 10-inning triumph, the host Nationals vie for their sixth win in eight outings when they continue their four-game series versus the reeling Braves on Saturday.

The Cleveland Indians are in sixth place in the race for the two wild cards in the American League but will attempt to continue their recent hot stretch in the second of a three-game series at the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night. The Indians improved to 10-4 in their last 14 games with an 8-1 romp over Detroit in the series opener.

After piling up 27 runs and 34 hits in back-to-back wins over Detroit, the Kansas City Royals got a taste of what it felt to be on the receiving end of such a drubbing in Friday's 12-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox. Kansas City looks to even the series at one game apiece when it hosts the visiting White Sox on Saturday night.

The Houston Astros received another weapon as they make a run at landing an American League playoff berth. Outfielder George Springer is back from a wrist injury and will be in the lineup for the second straight night when the Astros host the Minnesota Twins on Saturday.

The New York Mets are trying to determine the best way to proceed down the stretch with their young pitchers, and wrapping up the National League East as soon as possible would certainly allow them to get some rest. The Mets will try to get back to the process of doing that when they visit the Marlins for the second of a three-game series on Saturday.

The San Francisco Giants attempt to put an end to their losing streak when they visit the National League West-rival Colorado Rockies on Saturday for the third contest of their four-game set. After allowing 11 runs in a series-opening loss, San Francisco gave up only two on Friday but scored just once en route to its seventh consecutive setback.

The Los Angeles Dodgers look to extend their lead in the National League West when they visit the division-rival San Diego Padres on Saturday for the third contest of their four-game set. After blowing a late lead in the series opener, Los Angeles used the long ball to post an 8-4 triumph on Friday and move 7 1/2 games ahead of second-place San Francisco in the West.

Derek Holland is coming off a masterful effort and seeks another strong outing when the Texas Rangers visit the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday for the second contest of their three-game set. Holland, who blanked Baltimore on three hits for his eighth career shutout on Sunday, squares off against Jered Weaver in a pivotal game after the Angels won the series opener.

Felix Hernandez is itching to take the mound after receiving some extra rest as the Seattle Mariners face the host Oakland Athletics on Saturday in the second contest of their three-game series. Hernandez hasn't pitched since beating the Athletics on Aug. 26 as manager Lloyd McClendon skipped him in the rotation to give him a breather prior to the season-ending stretch.