8* Tampa Bay (7:10 ET): About two months ago was a critical turning point in the Rays' season. Manager Kevin Cash, faced with an injury-riddled rotation and middling record, decided to roll the dice and start employing "openers" (as he calls them), meaning a reliever to start the game. But, generally asked to go no longer than two innings, these "openers" are no traditional starters. As "wacky" as the experiment seemed at the time, it has paid shocking dividends. Tampa Bay entered the All-Star Break w/ the lowest team ERA in all of MLB since the change was made. They also have gotten themselves into Wild Card contention and I see no reason (other than the front office trading away key talent) why this club can't make it three playoff teams out of the AL East. The Rays couldn't have asked for a much easier opponent to start the second half and should roll Friday. 

Of course, the Rays have some quality "traditional" starters as well. One is Nathan Eovaldi, though you wouldn't know that by simply looking at his team start record. Eovaldi has a 3-6 TSR despite a 0.980 WHIP. While he is coming off his worst start of the season (allowed eight runs in 2 2/3 IP vs. Minnesota on 7.13), I'm confident in him bouncing back given the bulk of the resume. His previous three starts had seen him allow just two runs (on 10 hits) in 19 IP. It also helps to be pitching at home where the Rays are 26-17 and outscoring the opposition by a full run per game. So far, Eovaldi has gotten to pitch at home just twice and his last time here saw him hold another NL East foe (Washington) scoreless over six innings of one hit ball. The Marlins present an ideal matchup for Eovaldi considering their lousy offensive numbers (26th in runs, 28th in slugging). They are his former team, so expect an inspired start. 

The Marlins did surprisingly take two of three from the Rays last month, but that was in Miami. You can look to find these Fish "swimming" at the bottom of the National League the rest of the way as they've been outscored by a Senior Circuit worst 115 runs. Honestly, them having even 41 wins at this point of the season should be considered fortunate. They've been outscored by nearly two full runs per game on the road this season and no team allows more runs per game away from home (and here they'll have to deal w/ a DH). Starting here is Dan Straily, who has pitched well of late, but still owns a 4.29 ERA & 1.346 WHIP for the season. The team has won just two of his previous nine outings. It was a win when they faced Eovaldi last month, but in extra innings, as Eovaldi held them to just two runs. Tampa is simply the much better team here, especially at home. 8* Tampa Bay

8* Cleveland (8:05 ET): The Indians made headlines on the final day of the All-Star Break, completing a blockbuster deal that looks to totally revamp their beleagured bullpen. Considering their 'pen had the worst ERA in all of MLB in the 1st half, it was a necessary move to bring in Brad Hand, no matter the price. Granted, it will be a breeze earning another AL Central pennant, but there's a lot of ground to make up to compete w/ the likes of the Yankees, Red Sox and Astros. The Tribe's first opponent after the break, Texas, is one that they should dominate regardless of the bullpen situation. In fact, they may not even need to call upon new arms to finish the Rangers off on Friday. Not considering the way starter Trevor Bauer (an All-Star) has pitched this season. I look for Cleveland to roll here. 

I played Bauer in his most recent start, which ended up being a 5-2 win over the Yankees. Taken from that analysis, "Despite his 10-9 TSR overall, he's pitched quite well all season, owning a 2.30 ERA and 1.075 WHIP. Over the L3 starts, the enigmatic Bauer has a 1.61 ERA and 0.985 WHIP and last time out he was truly dominant w/ 12 strikeouts in eight shutout innings vs. the Reds. It was the sixth time in his last nine starts overall that Bauer finished w/ 11 or more K's. He has a 1.58 ERA and 0.935 his L7 starts w/ a 71-13 KW ratio in 51 1/3 IP. He has not lost since June 13th, holding opponents to a .192 batting average since while striking out 12.1 hitters per nine innings. He's tied for second in the AL in ERA (w/ Boston's Chris Sale) and also third in both strikeouts and innings pitched. It's pretty easy to understand why this guy is an All-Star, no?" 

True to form, Bauer shut down the Yankee bats on Sunday, limiting them to two runs in seven innings. It should be a lot easier against the Rangers, especially starting opposite Martin Perez, who has some truly unsightly numbers this season (7.67 ERA, 2.046 WHIP). He has a 10.00 ERA in two home starts. Texas typically gives up a lot of runs (5.7 per game at home), so scoring should not be a problem for Cleveland here and Bauer takes care of the rest. Perez has pitched only one time since April, that being last Saturday. While that last start went well, it was against sorry Baltimore and the Rangers still lost (1-0!). I wouldn't count on Perez pitching that well again here. 8* Cleveland

10* Over Mets/Yankees (7:05 ET): In the last installment of the "Subway Series," the Yankees essentially exerted their dominance in taking two of three from the Mets and did so in relatively low-scoring fashion. Such is life in a National League park. None of the three games at Citi Field saw more than seven total runs scored and the Under cashed every time. (The Yankees' lone loss in the series actually saw them get shutout). While I pretty much expect the team wearing pinstripes to roll again this weekend, I also believe we'll see a lot more scoring this time around. We're at Yankee Stadium, which not only means the use of the DH, but also a Yankees' offense that averages 5.6 rpg at home. Even the Mets' anemic offense should do SOMETHING tonight! Take the Over. 

At first glance, the return of Noah Syndergaard to the Mets' rotation brings out reason to rejoice as the team got the win in his first start back, beating Washington 4-2. But a closer inspection of the box score reveals Syndergaard was a bit lucky to give up just one run as he also allowed seven hits in 5 IP. His KW ratio (3-2) wasn't good either. This will be as challenging a start as he faces all season and while he brings in a 2.97 ERA, note the rather pedestrian WHIP of 1.22. His L3 starts have all gone Under, as have six of the last seven, which has a lot to do w/ a bad Mets' offense as much as anything. Nevertheless, I expect Syndergaard to give up far more runs than we're accustomed to seeing him allow here. 

The Mets started 11-1, but are just 28-54 since. The Yankees' season has been quite the opposite as they've gone 53-24 since a 9-9 start and lost only three of their previous 26 series. They're playing better than .650 ball at the moment, but unfortunately for them, so too is rival Boston (.694!). Certainly, we can expect the Yanks to make the postseason, but don't be suprised if tonight's starter (Domingo German) isn't part of the rotation when they get there. German has a 5.97 ERA after allowing 6 ER in his last start before the Break, the fourth time this season he's given up that many (in just 12 starts). He's made it past the sixth inning just once in his last seven starts. With the Yankees doing most of the heavy lifting and German likely to allow some runs as well, expect a slugfest Friday night. 10* Over Mets/Yankees