The Oakland Athletics attempt to extend their series unbeaten streak to eight when they visit the American League West-leading Houston Astros on Thursday afternoon for the finale of their four-game set. Khris Davis knocked in three runs and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 contests as the Athletics, who went 6-0-1 in their previous seven series, earned an 8-3 victory on Wednesday - their second in the set.

The Colorado Rockies evened their three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks in a big way and aim for their fourth straight series victory when they host their National League West rivals for the rubber match on Thursday afternoon. The Rockies avenged a series-opening 5-3 setback with a 19-2 triumph thanks in part to five home runs, including one by starting pitcher German Marquez.

The Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles failed to unleash any semblance of offense as they were thwarted in their bids to win their respective four-game series on Wednesday. After losing for just the fourth time in 14 outings, the Phillies (51-40) will look to get back on track on Thursday as they visit the Orioles (26-67) in the makeup game of a rainout on May 15.

The Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates will be ready for the All-Star break by the time they’re done with this week’s series. The National League Central rivals clash Thursday in Pittsburgh for the first of five games over four days heading into the break.

One of the best pitching matchups of the first half of the season will be center stage when the Cleveland Indians host the New York Yankees on Thursday for the opener of their four-game series. Cleveland sends two-time Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber to the mound to face fellow All-Star Luis Severino, leading off the set between American League heavyweights.

Boston Red Sox left-hander David Price will try to rebound from back-to-back rocky outings when he takes on the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series. Price was rocked for eight runs over 3 1/3 innings at Yankee Stadium two turns ago and failed to find a soft landing spot in Kansas City on Saturday in an erratic outing that saw him hit three batters in one inning and fail to complete five.

Max Scherzer will make his last start before the All-Star Game when he leads the Washington Nationals (46-46) into Citi Field on Thursday for the opener of a four-game series against the New York Mets (37-53). The three-time Cy Young Award winner bounced back from being shut out in three of his previous five starts to post his first win since June 5 in Saturday's 18-4 romp versus Miami.

The Tampa Bay Rays have won five in a row and are a season-high four games over .500 as they head to Minnesota to open a four-game series against the Twins on Thursday night. The Rays will look to make it six straight behind ace Blake Snell, who could have some extra motivation after he was snubbed for the American League All-Star team.

The Seattle Mariners made their three-run lead stand a day after squandering one and attempt to post their second series win over the Los Angeles Angels in less than two weeks when they visit their American League West rivals on Thursday for the rubber match of their three-game set. Seattle saw its 3-0 lead turn into a 9-3 loss in the series opener but bounced back Wednesday with a 3-0 victory.

One day after being named to his first All-Star team, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ross Stripling takes the mound Thursday in the finale of a four-game series against the host San Diego Padres. Stripling joined teammates Matt Kemp and Kenley Jansen on the National League roster after being named as a replacement for St. Louis’ Miles Mikolas, who is pitching on Sunday and will be unavailable for Tuesday’s Midsummer Classic.