MLB Games for 7/6

There are some great matchups today. Here are the games.

American League

Tampa Bay Rays (43-40) vs. Cleveland Indians (43-39) 7:05 PM ET

Kansas City Royals (37-44) vs. Detroit Tigers (41-42) 7:05 PM ET

New York Yankees (49-32) vs. Boston Red Sox (42-40) 7:10 PM ET

While there is nearly three full months left in the regular season, the New York Yankees can take a big step toward burying their bitter rival when they visit Fenway Park for a four-game series with the Boston Red Sox starting Friday night. The Yankees have a 5 1/2-game lead atop the American League East and hold a 7 1/2-game cushion over the Red Sox, who are a middling 21-21 at home and were pounded by New York in two meetings at Fenway in April.

The Yankees went 20-7 in June, including a 10-game winning streak, to take control of the division. Robinson Cano has not cooled off in July, extending his hitting streak to 11 games and RBI streak to eight games to help the Yankees avoid a three-game sweep at Tampa Bay. The Red Sox limp home after being swept three games in Oakland to cap a desultory 2-5 road trip. Boston managed only five runs and 16 hits in the three games against the Athletics.

Minnesota Twins (35-47) vs. Texas Rangers (50-33) 8:05 PM ET

Toronto Blue Jays (42-41) vs. Chicago White Sox (45-37) 8:10 PM ET

Baltimore Orioles (44-38) vs. Los Angeles Angels (46-37) 10:05 PM ET

Seattle Mariners (35-49) vs. Oakland Athletics (41-42) 10:05 PM ET

National League

Colorado Rockies (31-51) vs. Washington Nationals (48-32) 7:05 PM ET

Atlanta Braves (43-39) vs. Philadelphia Phillies (37-47) 7:05 PM ET

After salvaging a split of a four-game series versus one last-place team, the Atlanta Braves will look for better results against another on Friday when they open a three-game set against the host Philadelphia Phillies. Atlanta wrapped up a 5-5 homestand on Thursday by belting four homers en route to a 7-3 triumph over the struggling Chicago Cubs. Philadelphia took two of three from its National League East rival from May 1-3.

The slumping Phillies could be getting a shot in the arm soon – something they can desperately use. Slugger Ryan Howard, who is working his way back from an Achilles injury, is expected to be activated off the disabled list this weekend. Roy Halladay, who is nursing a strained right latissimus dorsi, will have his third bullpen session on Saturday and is tentatively eyeing a return as early as the July 16-18 series in Los Angeles.

San Francisco Giants (45-38) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (46-36) 7:05 PM ET

Chicago Cubs (31-51) vs. New York Mets (45-38) 7:10 PM ET

Milwaukee Brewers (38-44) vs. Houston Astros (32-51) 8:05 PM ET

Miami Marlins (40-42) vs. St. Louis Cardinals (44-39) 8:15 PM ET

Los Angeles Dodgers (47-37) vs. Arizona Diamondbacks (39-43) 9:40 PM ET

Cincinnati Reds (44-38) vs. San Diego Padres (34-50) 10:05 PM ET

Check the latest MLB Scores and Odds.