Matchups

The National League Central rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates will heat up over the next three weeks, as the teams play seven times before the end of the regular season and appear to be headed for another clash in the wild-card game. It starts with a doubleheader Monday that begins a critical four-game series in Pittsburgh.

The Baltimore Orioles have found their stride just in time to make a desperate late push at the American League’s final wild-card spot, but they have yet to run into a pitcher as hot as Joe Kelly during their recent run. Kelly aims to become the first Boston hurler since Hall of Famer Pedro Martinez in 1999 to win nine straight starts on Tuesday as the Red Sox attempt to even their three-game road set with the Orioles.

The National League Central rivalry between the Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates will heat up over the next three weeks, as the teams play seven times before the end of the regular season and appear to be headed for another clash in the wild-card game. It starts with a doubleheader Monday that begins a critical four-game series in Pittsburgh.

Although Jayson Werth has seen the Washington Nationals plummet out of contention in the National League East, he still managed to relieve some stress against his former team. After belting a pair of homers and driving in five runs in the series opener, Werth looks to send Washington to its third straight win when it continues its three-game series versus the host Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday.

The Cleveland Indians can move over .500 for the first time since the third game of the season when they continue their four-game series against the visiting Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. Cleveland rolled to an 8-3 victory in the series opener to improve to 13-5 in its last 18 games and remain in the chase for a postseason berth.

The New York Yankees look to build off a stirring late rally in the opener when they visit the fading Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday for the second of a three-game series. Alex Rodriguez tied it with a two-out RBI double in the ninth before rookie Slade Heathcott followed with a three-run homer as the Yankees moved within three games of first-place Toronto in the American League East.

The Toronto Blue Jays spent the weekend in direct competition with the team closest to them in the standings and came out with a convincing series win. The challenge now will be to bring that same energy when the Blue Jays continue their road trip with the opener of a three-game series at the lowly Atlanta Braves on Tuesday.

With eight wins in a row, the New York Mets are on the fast track toward securing their first National League East title since 2006. The surging Mets look to continue their torrid run to glory when they play the second contest of their three-game series versus the visiting Miami Marlins on Tuesday.

The Texas Rangers have the opportunity to overtake Houston for first place in the American League West when they host the Astros on Tuesday in the second contest of their four-game series. Texas won the opener 5-3 to move within one-half game of Houston and also holds a one-game lead over Minnesota for the second AL wild-card spot.

After going the extra mile to continue their mastery of Oakland, the Chicago White Sox vie for their seventh straight win versus the visiting Athletics on Tuesday when the teams play the second contest of their four-game series. Melky Cabrera slapped a walk-off RBI single in the 14th inning as Chicago recorded an 8-7 victory on Monday to improve to 3-4 on its 10-game homestand.

The Minnesota Twins need to capitalize on a favorable portion of their schedule as they attempt to overhaul the Texas Rangers for the second wild card in the American League. The Twins opened a 10-game homestand with a 7-1 drubbing of the Detroit Tigers on Monday and go for their third straight win Tuesday in the second of a three-game series.

The St. Louis Cardinals did not fare well against one of the teams at the bottom of the National League Central over the weekend and hope to have more success against a different sub-.500 foe when they visit the Milwaukee Brewers for a three-game series starting Tuesday. The Cardinals managed to avoid a four-game sweep at last-place Cincinnati but the division race is becoming closer than they would prefer.

Wrist issues short-circuited Wil Myers' first season with San Diego, but the center fielder is looking for a hot finish as the Padres face the host Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday in the second contest of their three-game set. Myers homered and recorded a season-best four RBIs as San Diego halted its four-game losing streak with a 10-3 rout of the Diamondbacks in the series opener.

Felix Hernandez aims to take over the American League lead in victories when the Seattle Mariners host the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday in the second contest of their three-game series. Hernandez, who has won his last three starts, is tied with Houston's Dallas Keuchel with 17 wins.

The Los Angeles Dodgers attempt to extend both their winning streak and lead in the National League West when they host the division-rival Colorado Rockies on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game set. Los Angeles maintained its 7 1/2-game advantage over second-place San Francisco by kicking off its 10-game homestand with a 4-1 triumph in Monday's series opener.

The San Francisco Giants look to extend their winning streak and remain in the hunt for a playoff berth when they host the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday in the middle contest of their three-game series. San Francisco defeated Cincinnati 5-3 in the opener to improve to 4-0 on its nine-game homestand after dropping two of three at Arizona.