The New York Yankees have responded to criticism for electing against adding reinforcements at the trade deadline by slugging their way to victory in each game thus far in August. The homer-happy Yankees bid to extend their winning streak to a season-high nine contests on Thursday when they play the opener of a four-game series against the host Toronto Blue Jays.

If the Boston Red Sox fail to make it to the playoffs, there will be plenty of blame to go around for the reigning World Series champions. One player who will receive the brunt of the criticism is ace left-hander Chris Sale, who has won only once at Fenway Park entering Thursday's start against the Los Angeles Angels in the opener of a four-game series.

The top of the Atlanta Braves batting order has produced all season, and the trio of Ronald Acuna Jr., Ozzie Albies and Freddie Freeman enter Thursday’s series opener at the Miami Marlins after destroying Minnesota pitching. In the final two of a three-game series won by the Braves, the top three spots in the lineup combined to go 18-for-31 with six homers, 13 RBIs and 15 runs scored after Albies homered twice Wednesday in Atlanta's 11-7 victory.

The Cincinnati Reds are trying to prove they still belong in the conversation for a postseason spot in the National League, and a strong showing this weekend will prove their case. The Reds will try to push their latest winning streak to four straight and knock a game off their deficit in the National League Central when they host the first-place Chicago Cubs on Thursday in the opener of a four-game series.

The Detroit Tigers started their post-All-Star break malaise by surrendering 20 runs en route to dropping two of three games to the Kansas City Royals. Nineteen losses in 23 contests ensued for the tumbling Tigers, who look to get back on their feet Thursday in the opener of a four-game series against the visiting Royals.

The Cleveland Indians look to ride the momentum from a dominating day on the mound when they visit the Minnesota Twins on Thursday night for the opener of a four-game showdown series in the American League Central. The Indians allowed one run while getting a pair of homers from Jose Ramirez during a doubleheader sweep of Texas on Wednesday to move within two games of the Twins for the top spot in the division.

After moving into postseason contention with a 19-6 record last month, the San Francisco Giants have reverted to their sluggish early-season form over the past week. The Giants, losers of four straight and seven of their last eight, look to get on track Thursday when they open a four-game series against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.

The San Diego Padres and Colorado Rockies will not soon forget the last time they faced off, with the teams combining to put on a record-setting offensive showcase. The fortunes of both National League West rivals have gone downhill since as they occupy the bottom two rungs in the division entering Thursday's opener of a four-game set in San Diego.