Saturday starts with the Blue Jays trying to end the Royals six-game winning streak as Mark Buehrle faces Chris Young. Buehrle makes his second attempt at winning his tenth game of the season, which would give him fifteen straight seasons of winning at least ten games. He’s also well on his way to his 15th straight season of 200 IP. Young is showing great control this year, with just 22 walks in 81 innings. He’s only walked three batters in a lead-off situation this season.

Chris Sale visits Jon Lester as the White Sox continue their series with the Cubs. Since he became a fixture in the starting rotation in 2012, Sale’s strikeout rate increased each year. In 2012, it came in at 9.0 K per 9 IP, then progressed to 9.5, 10.8, and now 11.8 in 2015. Lester pitches well but is not winning. Nine times the Cubs scored two runs or less in his starts.

Dallas Keuchel leads the Astros against the Rays and Jake Odorizzi. The Astros lost six of their last seven games to make the AL West competitive again, Keuchel getting the lone win in that stretch. Odorizzi makes his first start since early June when he went on the disabled list with an oblique strain.

The Yankees try to drop the Red Sox once again as Ivan Nova takes on Eduardo Rodriguez. Nova walked seven and struck out 9 in 17 innings, which is too many walks and too few strikeouts. He allowed just one hit in 16 at bats with runners in scoring position, however. Rodriguez allowed all three of his home runs at Fenway, which his ERA stands at 7.52 in 20 1/3 innings.

Finally the John Lackey faces A.J. Burnett in a battle of veterans as the Pirates try to gain another game on the Cardinals in Pittsburgh. Lackey’s numbers are strong overall, but poor in the road where he allowed six of his eight home runs. Burnett, at age 38, is having his best season in terms of ERA, allowing just three home runs in 113 innings.

Enjoy!