The first place Rangers continue their series against the first place Pirates with Nathan Eovaldi facing Rich Hill. Eovaldi is back on his game with a 2.83 ERA, helped by allowing just three home runs in 60 1/3 innings. Hill keeps keeping on. His ERA is just 3.80 despite allowing eight home runs in 47 1/3 innings, five of them with men on base. That’s a bit tempered by opponents hitting just .212 against him with runners in scoring position.

The Orioles visit the Yankees, New York trailing Baltimore by three games for second place in the AL East. Kyle Bradish takes on Gerrit Cole. Bradish does not go deep in games, pitching just 32 1/3 innings in seven starts. His main strength is limiting walks. Cole mostly goes into the seventh inning, limiting walks and home runs. His record at 5-0 in ten starts probably should be better given his 2.01 ERA.

The Padres visit the Nationals, and a win by Washington would give the two teams the same record. Given the disparity in payroll, that has to make one wonder what’s going on in SD. Yu Darvish battles MacKenzie Gore. Darvish pitched inconsistently this season with six starts allowing one or two runs, and three starts allowing at least four runs. Gore, part of the Juan Soto trade, strikes out and walks lots of batters, but is saved by a .194 BA allowed with runners in scoring position.

Finally, Alex Cobb of the Giants takes the hill against Sonny Gray of the Twins. Both sport sub 2.00 ERAs. Both pitchers do a great job of limiting home runs. Gray still has not allowed a home run, now in 49 1/3 innings. Cobb allowed just three dingers in 51 innings.

Enjoy!