AP Photo/Frank Franklin IIA.J. Burnett and the Yankees take on David Price's Rays tonight in a battle of two aces. Many of the MLB games tonight feature hot pitchers.Major League Baseball: In the American League, the struggling Yankees, losers of a season-high five straight, take on AL East-leading Tampa Bay for the first time this season. A.J. Burnett is 4-0 all-time at Tropicana Field as a Yankee; David Price is 3-1 in his career versus New York (6:40 p.m.). ... The Blue Jays have won five straight and visit red-hot Detroit, winners of seven straight. If that's not enough, Jose Bautista and his MLB-leading 16 home runs face Tigers' starter Max Scherzer, who is 6-0 (7:05 p.m., Kyle Drabeck vs. Scherzer).
After sweeping the Yankees to hit the .500 mark for the first time this season, Boston returns home to host the Orioles, winners of four of their last five (7:10 p.m., Chris Tillman vs. Daisuke Matsuzaka). ... The AL Central-leading Indians leave the comfort of Progressive Field (where they are 15-4 this season) and visit Kansas City. Cleveland is 5-2 against the Royals this season (8:10 p.m., Josh Tomlin vs. Kyle Davies).
On the Senior Circuit, the Phillies visit St. Louis in the first of two between these pre-season playoff picks. Philadelphia has lost two straight and seeks to avoid its first three-game losing streak of the season. The Cardinals have lost three straight. Phillies' starter Cliff Lee is winless in his last five starts (7 p.m., ESPN, Lee vs. Jake Westbrook). ... The Cubs have lost four of six and head to Cincinnati for a two-game set with the first-place Reds. Chicago is 6-2 in Carlos Zambrano's eight starts this season; Homer Bailey has given up just one earned run in two starts for the Reds since coming off the DL (7:10 p.m., Zambrano vs. Bailey).
Other aces dealing tonight: Braves' Tommy Hanson (vs. Astros, 7:10 p.m.), Marlins' Josh Johnson (at Mets, 7:10 p.m.), Giants' Tim Lincecum (at Rockies, 8:40 p.m.), Mariners' Michael Pineda (vs. Twins, 10:10 p.m.).
Information from ESPN Stats & Information was used in this report.
