The Rays come into Yankee Stadium for the last series before the All-Star Break, trailing New York by four games in the AL East. A Rays sweep takes them into a tie with the Yankees. They’ll start by sending Jeff Niemann against Bartolo Colon. Since returning from the disabled list, Niemann made two good starts and one poor one, but the Rays have not pushed him beyond six innings yet. The Large Intestine pitched six shutout innings in his return from the disabled list, walking none and striking out six.

After losing two of three to St. Louis, the Reds take on another opponent ahead of them in the NL Central as they send Homer Bailey against the Brewers and Chris Narveson. Bailey solved his control issues this season. With eight walks in 42 innings, he’s well below his career rate of 3.8 BB per 9 IP. The Reds knocked around Narveson this season. In two starts, he’s pitched a total of 6.1 innings, giving up 13 hits and 12 runs despite nine strikeouts.

Finally, Doug Fister and Jered Weaver square off as LAnaheim hosts Seattle. Fister upped his strikeout rate this season, lowering his hits allowed and his ERA, the latter by over a run compared to last season. With the Mariners anemic offense, however, he’s just 3-9 despite his 3.02 ERA. Weaver is on a roll, having given up no more than one run in each of his last four starts, and with nine quality starts in a row.

Enjoy!