MLB Games for 8/31

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

American League

Chicago White Sox (72-58) vs. Detroit Tigers (69-61) 7:05 PM ET

A showdown for the division lead in the American League Central lost a bit of its luster when the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers were sideswiped on the way to the starting line. The Tigers will look to regroup from a three-game sweep at Kansas City when they host the White Sox in a three-game set beginning Friday night. Chicago lost three of four games in Baltimore but still managed to extend its lead in the division to three games over Detroit.

The Tigers managed to scrape out only one run in the final two contests against the Royals to drop three games behind Baltimore for the second wild card spot. Detroit has won seven of 11 meetings and defeated the White Sox four straight times, including a three-game sweep last month at Comerica Park. Right-hander Jake Peavy gets the start in the opener for the White Sox – the fifth time he will face the Tigers this season – and will be opposed by Doug Fister.

Texas Rangers (77-53) vs. Cleveland Indians (55-76) 7:05 PM ET

Baltimore Orioles (72-58) vs. New York Yankees (75-55) 7:05 PM ET

Tampa Bay Rays (71-60) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (59-71) 7:07 PM ET

Minnesota Twins (53-78) vs. Kansas City Royals (59-71) 8:10 PM ET

Boston Red Sox (62-70) vs. Oakland Athletics (73-57) 10:05 PM ET

Los Angeles Angels (69-62) vs. Seattle Mariners (64-68) 10:10 PM ET

National League

San Francisco Giants (74-57) vs. Chicago Cubs (50-80) 2:20 PM ET

St. Louis Cardinals (71-60) vs. Washington Nationals (79-51) 7:05 PM ET

New York Mets (61-70) vs. Miami Marlins (59-72) 7:10 PM ET

Philadelphia Phillies (62-69) vs. Atlanta Braves (74-57) 7:35 PM ET

Cincinnati Reds (80-52) vs. Houston Astros (40-91) 8:05 PM ET

Pittsburgh Pirates (70-60) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (62-68) 8:10 PM ET

The Pittsburgh Pirates resume their chase for the final National League wild-card playoff spot Friday when they begin a three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers, who return home after completing a 5-2 road trip. Pittsburgh trails St. Louis by one half-game in the race for the second wild card berth after recording its first season series win over the Cardinals since 2008 with consecutive shutouts. Pedro Alvarez has powered the Pirates’ offense by reaching safely in 12 of his past 13 games, going 19-for-47 with 10 walks and raising his average to .249. His 26 home runs lead all National League third basemen.

The Brewers remain far removed from the playoff race at 17 games behind first-place Cincinnati after dropping a 12-11 decision to the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. Catcher Jonathan Lucroy drove in seven runs in a game for the second time this season on Thursday, and he was 8-for-20 (.400) during the Brewers’ seven-game road trip. Pittsburgh’s Neil Walker has missed three straight games because of tightness in his lower back, but he’s expected to avoid the disabled list. Walker, whose 69 RBIs leads all major league second basemen, is listed as day-to-day and could return during the Milwaukee series.

San Diego Padres (61-71) vs. Colorado Rockies (53-76) 8:40 PM ET

Arizona Diamondbacks (65-67) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (70-62) 10:10 PM ET

Check the latest MLB Scores and Odds