Live Scores, Live Odds and Game Matchups

With the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs both surging recently, their three-game series at Wrigley Field this week might feel like a preview of a third consecutive National League Championship Series meeting. But Cubs manager Joe Maddon doesn’t want his team thinking that way when the series begins with a split doubleheader on Tuesday.

Although the offense has been mostly responsible for the Washington Nationals' recent 1-6 slide, the bullpen has played a role in two of the losses. The Nationals made a move Monday to fortify themselves in the latter area and hope facing one of the worst pitching staffs in the majors will help correct the former when they begin a three-game set at home Tuesday against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Seattle Mariners, who own the third-best home record in the American League, will hit the road for a 10-game trek that includes the two teams ahead of them in that regard. The Mariners begin a three-game series against the New York Yankees on Tuesday before visiting Boston later in the week.

While a 10-game homestand in mid-June isn't likely to define the Pittsburgh Pirates' 2018 season, the club at least needed to put together a good showing in order to remain relevant in the National League Central. The Pirates have done that so far and will attempt to move to 4-1 in their last five games in Pittsburgh on Tuesday when they continue a three-game set with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Odubel Herrera has answered a nearly month-long home run drought by going deep in back-to-back outings and three times over the last four games. The 26-year-old Venezuelan aims to continue his power surge as the Philadelphia Phillies bid for their first four-game winning streak since early May on Tuesday versus the visiting St. Louis Cardinals.

The Toronto Blue Jays spent the weekend sweeping three contests from defending National League East champion Washington, and Tuesday take their shot at the current division leader when the Atlanta Braves arrive to open a two-game series. Right fielder Randal Grichuk stayed hot in Sunday’s 8-6 victory, belting a pair of solo homers to raise his average to .326 with five homers and 13 RBIs since returning June 1 from a sprained ligament in his right knee.

The Cleveland Indians look to continue their latest upswing in a see-saw season when they host the struggling Chicago White Sox for the middle contest of a three-game set Tuesday night. The American League Central-leading Indians won six in a row to end May and lost eight of 14 to start June before recording victories in their last two contests after rolling to a 6-2 triumph in the series opener on Monday.

The Detroit Tigers were not expected to do much this season, and the outlook didn't get any better last week with Miguel Cabrera going down for the season, but the team is still finding ways to win. The Tigers will try to earn their sixth consecutive victory and climb back to the .500 mark when they visit the National League-worst Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a two-game interleague series on Tuesday.

With the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs both surging recently, their three-game series at Wrigley Field this week might feel like a preview of a third consecutive National League Championship Series meeting. But Cubs manager Joe Maddon doesn’t want his team thinking that way when the series begins with a split doubleheader on Tuesday.

The Boston Red Sox finished last in the American League in home runs in 2017 but are finding their power again in 2018 and rank second in the majors in homers behind the rival New York Yankees. The Red Sox will try to keep the power flowing when they visit the Minnesota Twins for the opener of a three-game series on Tuesday.

Justin Verlander attempts to pitch his team to a franchise-record 13th consecutive victory when the Houston Astros host the Tampa Bay Rays in the middle contest of their three-game set on Tuesday. Houston kept alive its streak when Alex Bregman delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth inning for a 5-4 victory in the series opener.

Shortstop Elvis Andrus is back from a broken right elbow and looks to help the Texas Rangers win their fourth consecutive contest when they visit the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Andrus, who missed more than two months with the injury, went 0-for-3 with two walks on Monday in his return to the lineup.

The New York Mets face an uphill climb in the National League East standings but may have a breakout star in outfielder Brandon Nimmo. The red-hot 25-year-old has created some much-needed buzz around the Mets, who continue their four-game series against the host Colorado Rockies on Tuesday.

The Arizona Diamondbacks avoided a third consecutive loss in the series opener and look to make it back-to-back wins when they conclude the two-game interleague set against the host Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. Arizona owned a six-run lead in the fourth inning on Monday and withstood a comeback attempt to post a 7-4 victory.

The San Diego Padres put together a respectable road trip with five wins in 10 games but come home disappointed after watching the bats go cold in back-to-back losses at Atlanta. The Padres will try to put some runs on the board when they host the Oakland Athletics in the opener of a two-game interleague series on Tuesday.

The Miami Marlins may have one of the worst records in baseball, but they remain big winners when they face the San Francisco Giants. The Marlins look to frustrate host San Francisco again on Tuesday in the second contest of their three-game series after scoring three runs in the ninth inning of the opener to post a 5-4 victory.