Matchups

The Washington Nationals attempt to take some momentum into the playoffs when they host the Miami Marlins for a day-night doubleheader on Friday to begin a four-game series. Manager Matt Williams has given his regulars some rest while keeping them sharp since the Nationals clinched their second National League East title in three years on Sept. 16. Washington split a doubleheader with the New York Mets on Thursday and lead the Los Angeles Dodgers by 2 ½ games for the top seed in the NL.

Ervin Santana went 9-10 for Kansas City in 2013, then sat unsigned through the offseason and the first few weeks of spring training until the Atlanta Braves’ starting rotation imploded due to injuries. The circumstances worked out well for both Santana, who makes his final start Friday when the Braves open a season-ending three-game set at the Philadelphia Phillies, and the team with 31-year-old serving as a veteran presence for several young hurlers. Philadelphia lost eight of its past 11.

The Cleveland Indians still are mathematically alive in the postseason race, but several things need to break in their favor. The Indians will try to take care of the one thing they control by earning a win when they host the opener of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday. Cleveland is three games behind the Oakland Athletics with as many to play and would need to leap over the Seattle Mariners as well.

The Washington Nationals attempt to take some momentum into the playoffs when they host the Miami Marlins for a day-night doubleheader on Friday to begin a four-game series. Manager Matt Williams has given his regulars some rest while keeping them sharp since the Nationals clinched their second National League East title in three years on Sept. 16. Washington split a doubleheader with the New York Mets on Thursday and lead the Los Angeles Dodgers by 2 ½ games for the top seed in the NL.

The Baltimore Orioles own the best record in the majors since the All-Star break, thanks largely to a pitching staff led by Chris Tillman that has posted a league-best 2.91 ERA. Tillman attempts to wrap up an undefeated second half of the season on Friday as the Orioles begin a three-game set in Toronto against the Blue Jays. Baltimore has posted a 43-22 mark since the Midsummer Classic and its ace has done his part, going 6-0 with a 2.06 ERA in 13 outings over that span.

While it appears the Los Angeles Angels' Mike Trout is everybody's darling to win the American League MVP award, Victor Martinez is building a pretty attractive case. The Detroit slugger tries to help the Tigers move one step closer to their fourth straight AL Central title when they host the Minnesota Twins on Friday. Detroit, which has already clinched a playoff spot, leads Kansas City by two games - with Martinez and his .337 average, 32 homers and 102 RBIs leading the way.

The Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees are meeting in the final series of the regular season with nothing on the line for either team except pride or the desire to send Derek Jeter off a winner. Jeter will begin the final series of his Hall of Fame career when the Yankees visit the Red Sox in the opener of a three-game set on Friday. Jeter waved goodbye to Yankee Stadium in an emotional farewell on Thursday with a walk-off single in a 6-5 victory over Baltimore.

There is plenty for the Pittsburgh Pirates to focus on as they open the final series of the regular season Friday at the Cincinnati Reds, but surely they will sneak an occasional glance at the out-of-town scoreboard. The Pirates sit one game behind St. Louis -- which plays at Arizona this weekend -- in the National League Central and leads San Francisco by one game for the top wild-card spot after clinching their second straight postseason berth.

While his team isn't in the running for a postseason berth, Jose Altuve has kept the conversation going as he vies for the American League batting title. Altuve looks to become his franchise's first player to win the lofty award as the Houston Astros open a three-game season-ending series versus the host New York Mets on Friday.

The Oakland Athletics are having plenty of trouble locking up an American League wild card. The Texas Rangers, who host the Athletics in the second of a four-game series on Friday, are only too happy to torment their division rivals. Texas earned a walk-off win in Thursday’s series opener and has taken four straight from Oakland over the last two weeks while winning 12 of its last 13 contests.

The Kansas City Royals' magic number resides at one to clinch a playoff berth - and should that happen, it will mark the first time that the team has advanced to baseball's second season since "Back to the Future" was No. 1 at the box office. Back to the present, the Royals will look to celebrate for the first time since 1985 when they play the second contest of a four-game series versus the host Chicago White Sox on Friday.

A season that once held so much promise for the Milwaukee Brewers has turned into a struggle to finish better than .500. The Brewers look to guarantee themselves of a winning record for a second straight year Friday when they begin a three-game home series against the Chicago Cubs. Milwaukee (81-78), which was a season-high 19 games above .500 on June 28 and held at least a share of first place in the NL Central from April 4-Aug. 31, was eliminated from postseason consideration Thursday.

The St. Louis Cardinals have control of their own destiny in the National League Central and couldn’t ask for a better opponent as they attempt to secure their second division crown in as many years. With their magic number to clinch the Central at three, the Cardinals begin their final regular-season series Friday when they open a three-game road set against the Arizona Diamondbacks. St. Louis has dropped three of four and holds a one-game lead over red-hot Pittsburgh as a result.

With their second consecutive National League West title already in their back pocket, the Los Angeles Dodgers will go about wrapping the regular season by opening a three-game series against the visiting Colorado Rockies on Friday. Los Angeles, which resides 2 1/2 games behind Washington in the race for the NL's best record, has won eight of its last 12 and needs one more victory to match last season's total.

The Seattle Mariners snapped a five-game slide to keep their fledgling postseason hopes alive, but cannot afford any more setbacks. The Mariners will try to earn a win and get some help when they host the Los Angeles Angels to start a three-game series that will end the regular season. Seattle is two games behind the Oakland Athletics in the race for the American League's second wild card while the Angels are battling for home-field advantage.

San Francisco has secured its third postseason berth in the last five seasons, but don’t expect manager Bruce Bochy to rest his regulars Friday when the Giants continue their four-game series against the visiting San Diego Padres. The Giants are one game behind Pittsburgh for the first wild-card spot and eager to build some positive momentum before next Wednesday’s contest. There were several encouraging signs in Thursday’s 9-8 victory.