Live Scores, Live Odds and Game Matchups

Former MVP Bryce Harper and the Washington Nationals may be starting to find their top form as they vie for a four-game sweep against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday afternoon. Harper has homered twice and knocked in six runs in his last two games while the Nationals have won four straight contests, outscoring their opponents 27-10 in that stretch, and can reach .500 for the first time since April 20 with a win.

The Atlanta Braves wrap up a 10-game road trip Thursday with the series finale at the New York Mets, and do so occupying a position in the standings where they have not been this late in the season since 2014: first place in the National League East. Facing the top of the New York rotation in the opening two games of the series did not faze the surprising Braves, who jumped all over the Mets in Wednesday’s 7-0 victory behind a combined six hits from Freddie Freeman and Nick Markakis.

Edwin Encarnacion is still batting below the Mendoza line, but he warmed up for a meeting against his former teammates by cranking out three home runs in the Cleveland Indians' 12-4 rout of the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Encarnacion and the Indians look to keep the offense percolating when they host the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in a make-up doubleheader.

The New York Yankees' pitching staff has been outstanding of late and hopes to continue the trend Thursday afternoon against the host Houston Astros in the finale of their four-game set. New York, which has won 11 of 12, has allowed a total of four runs in its last five contests and only two over the first three games of this series, both of which came in a loss in the opener.

The Detroit Tigers escaped with a series victory following - of all things - a walk-off bunt down the first-base line while the Kansas City Royals effectively were done in by a trio of homers by the same player. The Tigers (13-16) vie for the third straight win on Thursday afternoon when they open a four-game series versus the American League Central-rival Royals (8-22) at Kauffman Stadium.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are just 2-7 in the season series but have an opportunity to salvage a split of their four-game set with the host Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday afternoon. Los Angeles lost the first two games of the matchup before recording a 2-1 victory on Wednesday.

Edwin Encarnacion is still batting below the Mendoza line, but he warmed up for a meeting against his former teammates by cranking out three home runs in the Cleveland Indians' 12-4 rout of the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. Encarnacion and the Indians look to keep the offense percolating when they host the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in a make-up doubleheader.

Mookie Betts returned from a brief absence and showed what a difference-maker he can be at the top of the Boston Red Sox's lineup, etching his name in the record books along the way. The Red Sox, who own the best record in the majors following Betts' three-homer eruption on Wednesday, begin a 10-game road trip with the first of four at the Texas Rangers on Thursday night.

One might understand the reluctance of the Minnesota Twins to pack a suitcase considering they have just three road wins to their credit and a fruitless seven-game stretch still fresh in their minds. The Twins (10-16) look to change the narrative as they begin a 10-game trek on Thursday with the opener of a four-game series versus the Chicago White Sox (8-20).

Albert Pujols is just two hits away from reaching 3,000 for his career as the Los Angeles Angels look to complete a three-game sweep against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday. Pujols went 2-for-4 with a homer in Wednesday's 10-7 victory to move closer to becoming the 32nd player to reach the milestone.

The Oakland Athletics used a late power surge to even the series and look to finish their road trip with a winning record when they visit the Seattle Mariners on Thursday for the finale of their three-game set. Oakland dropped the opener and was on its way to a fourth straight loss Wednesday until Jed Lowrie belted a two-run homer in the eighth inning and Mark Canha launched a solo shot in the ninth for a 3-2 victory.