The visiting Baltimore Orioles will attempt to sweep the Boston Red Sox and extend their winning streak to eight games when the teams wrap up a three-game series Sunday.

The Orioles opened the series with an 11-2 victory on Friday night and won 13-12 on Saturday. The Red Sox collected 23 hits in Saturday’s loss but stranded runners on first and third in the bottom of the ninth.

“There were a lot of runs scored and a lot of back and forth, but both teams were just battling to get this win, and we were lucky to get it,” Baltimore’s Aaron Hicks said following Saturday’s victory. “Proves how much we want to fight. Everybody in this dugout is ready to go, ready to help the team win, and that’s what you need.”

Baltimore (90-51) has won its past seven series. The Orioles have a four-game lead over Tampa Bay at the top of the American League East standings.

Boston (72-70) has lost four games in a row overall and its last six at home.

“Obviously, we haven’t played good defense throughout the season, pitching has been on and off, and it’s tough,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “We just have to keep grinding. Everybody’s giving their best effort out there. We’re putting guys in situations that are really, really tough now as far as usage. We’re trying, which is the most important thing. Nobody’s quitting here.”

Rookie Grayson Rodriguez (5-3, 4.91 ERA) is Baltimore’s scheduled starter for Sunday’s game. It will be the first time he’s faced Boston.

Rodriguez, a right-hander, was demoted to the minors in late May after he had a 7.35 ERA through his first 10 MLB starts (45 1/3 innings), but he’s been a different pitcher since he was recalled on July 17. He has a 2.85 ERA in nine starts (53 2/3 innings) since returning to the majors.

In his most recent start, Rodriguez allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings and earned the win in Baltimore’s 6-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday. He struck out seven and walked two.

Rodriguez said his confidence has increased significantly since he returned from the minors.

“It’s not even close,” he said. “It’s been a little more fun (in his second stint). The first time I was up here, I wasn’t really having fun, and I think it showed. Now I can’t wait to get out there and get the ball.”

Brayan Bello (11-8, 3.61) will take the mound for Boston. The right-hander took the loss in his only career appearance against the Orioles, giving up three runs on three hits, walking four and striking out seven in 5 1/3 innings in a 3-2 setback against Baltimore last September.

In his most recent appearance, Bello allowed three runs on five hits in six innings of Monday’s 7-3 victory over Tampa Bay, which did all of its scoring in the first inning. Bello struck out seven and walked two.

Baltimore has prevailed in five of the eight meetings with Boston this season.

–Field Level Media

Left-hander Cole Ragans will try to extend his 21-inning scoreless string Sunday afternoon and help the visiting Kansas City Royals avoid a three-game series sweep by the Toronto Blue Jays.

It is the longest active streak in the major leagues and the longest by a Royals pitcher since Wade Davis had a 22-inning scoreless stretch from April 6-May 31, 2015.

In eight starts with the Royals since being acquired from the Texas Rangers on June 30, Ragans has an ERA of 1.51.

“I’m just trying to finish the season strong,” he said. “Every time I go out there, I try to give us a chance to win.”

The Royals (44-99) want a win after dropping the first two games of the three-game series against the Blue Jays (79-63), including 5-1 on Saturday. Kansas City has lost three in a row overall.

Ragans (6-4, 3.00 ERA) will face the Blue Jays for the first time.

Toronto is scheduled to start right-hander Jose Berrios (9-10, 3.68) in the series finale. In 20 career starts against Kansas City, he is 6-5 with a 4.85 ERA.

The Royals had two players suffer season-ending injuries in their 5-4 loss on Friday.

Left-handed reliever Austin Cox (left knee) was put on the 60-day injured list Saturday. He was injured in the seventh inning Friday while covering first base on an infield hit.

“We believe it’s an ACL,” Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. “He felt a pop in there on the play when he reached for the bag.”

Royals catcher Freddy Fermin (fractured left middle finger) was put on the IL on Saturday after he was injured on a catcher’s interference.

The Royals reinstated right-hander Brad Keller (shoulder) from the 60-day IL on Saturday and selected catcher Tyler Cropley from Double-A Northwest Arkansas.

Keller will work out of the bullpen for now.

“It’s been a trying year for (Keller),” Quatraro said. “But as of late, the last three weeks or so, he’s really thrown the ball well on his rehab assignment. (Cropley) does a great job behind the plate receiving and blocking.”

Salvador Perez, who played first base on Friday, was behind the plate on Saturday. The eight innings that he caught gave him 10,000 behind the plate for his career, the first Royals catcher to reach that mark.

The Blue Jays are 9-5 with one game left in their span of 15 games against teams with records below .500.

In their win on Saturday, Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman allowed one run and two hits while striking out 10 in eight innings.

Toronto right fielder George Springer was 3-for-4 with two solo home runs and four RBIs. He has 19 homers for the season.

The Blue Jays occupy the third American League wild-card spot, and Springer has a reputation for being his best at this time of the season and in the playoffs.

“What’s there not to like?” Springer said. “This is what you play for. This is such a fun time to play. I know that sounds old, but it is. This is why you play the game, for moments like this to be in a playoff race and be in the hunt. This is a good time of the year. It’s so fun to play in these games.”

–Field Level Media

The Los Angeles Dodgers and Washington Nationals might be tiring of each after this weekend.

The teams have spent lots of time at the ballpark in Washington, D.C., where they will wrap up a three-game series Sunday afternoon. And it’s almost certain that they won’t be very well-rested.

The Dodgers and Nationals played Friday night in a game that involved a long seventh-inning rain delay, resuming after 11 p.m. Then Saturday’s game was on hold for more than four hours because of weather issues — and then lasted 11 innings.

So far, it’s a split, with the Dodgers (86-65) winning Friday and the Nationals (64-78) prevailing Saturday.

“I think we did a really good job of not letting circumstances affect how we prepare and go about playing a baseball game,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I thought there were a lot of good things — big at-bats, some defensive plays, some pitches that were made.”

Washington has won just twice in eight games in the homestand, which will conclude with this matchup.

The Nationals still covet their successes.

“I got an opportunity to do something cool, so it was a blessing to be a part of that,” Michael Chavis said.

Chavis, an infielder who entered the game as a pinch runner in the ninth inning, scored the winning run Saturday night on a wild pitch in the 11th. This came following some strong defensive plays by the Nationals, who seemed unfazed by the long delay.

“Everybody was showing out,” Chavis said.

For the Dodgers, a win on Sunday would give the National League West leaders their first series victory in their past three series. They dropped three of four games at home to the Atlanta Braves and then went to Miami, falling in two of three games to the Marlins.

Right-hander Trevor Williams (6-9, 5.21 ERA) will start for the Nationals on Sunday. He’ll try to make amends for his most recent start, which came Sept. 2 when he gave up nine runs (eight earned) in four innings in a loss to the Marlins.

“When he’s down (in the zone), he’s pretty effective,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “Everything he plays with is down: changeups, sliders, breaking balls. When he gets the ball up is when he gets in trouble.”

Giving up home runs has been troublesome for Williams, who has surrendered 33 this year.

“I’m learning again on the fly what works best for my body and how to prepare my body every five days to do this,” he said. “I’m thankful that my body has held up, and I know there’s still work to be done.”

Martinez said there’s reason to appreciate the workload that Williams has endured. He has thrown 134 2/3 innings, his highest total since 2019 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“This is obviously a lot for him. We’ve got to try to manage that as well with him,” Martinez said. “Hopefully, he can bounce back for us in his next start, but we’ve got to keep an eye on him as well. I want him to be ready to go again next year.”

Williams had a different kind of misery in a May 29 loss at Los Angeles as he gave up six unearned runs in five innings. In seven all-time outings (six starts) against the Dodgers, he has never won. He’s 0-2 with a 4.78 ERA across 32 innings.

Roberts has not named a starting pitcher for Los Angeles.

–Field Level Media

After pulling off two late rallies, the visiting Milwaukee Brewers will attempt to widen their lead in the National League Central and finish a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees on Sunday afternoon.

Milwaukee outscored New York 17-4 in the first two games of the series and produced 27 hits. In the seventh inning or beyond, the Brewers have scored 13 runs on 17 hits.

The Brewers followed an 8-2 win Friday with a 9-2 victory Saturday. Tyrone Taylor hit a go-ahead homer off Jonathan Loaisiga to start a three-run eighth inning in the latter game, and William Contreras hit a two-run single in the ninth after getting a go-ahead single on Friday.

Taylor homered after being inserted into Milwaukee’s lineup for Christian Yelich, who was held out with back soreness that manger Craig Counsell said he did not think was serious.

The Brewers (79-62) are 5-5 since their nine-game winning streak Aug. 18-28 and lead the Chicago Cubs by four games in the Central. They have scored at least six runs 13 times in the 19 games since being swept in a three-game series by the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 15-17.

“It’s been so much fun,” Milwaukee shortstop Willy Adames said. “When you’re scoring a lot of runs, it’s great for us and for the pitchers, too, so they can rest. We’ve used them a lot this whole year. I feel like it’s really important for the whole team for the hitters to get that confidence going for this last month of the season. That’s when you need it the most.”

Trying to avoid its first losing season since 1992, New York (70-72) has been outscored 27-7 in a three-game losing streak. The Yankees had won five straight and eight of nine after falling six games under .500.

The Yankees were held to four hits Saturday after getting three in the series opener.

“It’s tough,” Yankees captain Aaron Judge said. “We kind of got on a little roll there and obviously a little skid here, but that’s baseball.”

Right-hander Gerrit Cole (13-4, 2.90 ERA) will start for the Yankees as he attempts to win four straight starts for the second time this year. Since allowing six runs in an 8-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox, Cole is 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA.

Cole has given up two runs or less in 22 of his 29 starts and allowed one run on eight hits in six innings of a 5-1 win over the Detroit Tigers Tuesday night.

Cole is 4-4 with a 3.62 ERA in 14 career starts against the Brewers. He most recently faced them last Sept. 18 when he allowed four runs on four hits in five innings during New York’s 12-8 win.

Corbin Burnes (9-8, 3.63) will attempt to halt an eight-game winless skid as he makes his first career appearance against the Yankees. Since pitching eight innings of two-hit ball in a win at Philadelphia on July 20, the right-hander is 0-3 with 3.99 ERA.

Burnes is attempting to avoid dropping three straight starts. He was on the losing end of a 1-0 game against the Cubs on Aug. 29 and allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings of Monday’s 4-2 loss at Pittsburgh.

–Field Level Media

A series win will be up for grabs Sunday when the Atlanta Braves and visiting Pittsburgh Pirates meet.

After the Braves (92-49) were dominant Friday in an 8-2 win, the Pirates (66-76) proved feisty on Saturday, racking up their own eight-run game in an 8-4 victory.

That delayed, at least for a day, Atlanta’s shot at becoming the first team this year to clinch a playoff spot. They can do that Sunday with a win.

The Pirates seemed to get under the Braves’ skin on Saturday. The benches and bullpens emptied after Pittsburgh starter Johan Oviedo threw a fastball in tight on Atlanta leadoff hitter Ronald Acuna Jr. in the first inning, although there were no punches thrown or ejections.

Braves batters continued to show some frustration on inside pitches, and manager Brian Snitker got ejected in the fourth after Austin Riley was hit by a pitch.

“I would be (upset), too,” Snitker said of Acuna. “He holds his composure pretty well, and that’s the first time I’ve seen him react like that. And he’s had a lot of opportunity to take a little umbrage in what guys are trying to do to him.”

In addition to the three-game series being on the line, the season series is, too. Atlanta and Pittsburgh have split the six games they have played entering their season series finale.

The Pirates have made no secret of the fact that they are trying to make a push to go from rebuilding to being fully competitive as soon as next year. Their parade of rookies and young players proves that.

But lately they also have been able to play spoiler, taking two of three against the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers entering the series against the Braves, the top team in baseball.

That doesn’t mean Pittsburgh expects it to be easy to take the series.

“(Atlanta) is a great team, and it’s a tough place to play. We did a bunch of things well (Saturday). We’ve just got to build on it (Sunday),” Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds, who was 3-for-5 with a home run Saturday, told AT&T Sportsnet.

The Braves have 24 hits in the series.

“Definitely the best lineup in baseball,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said.

Atlanta got one component of its lineup back Saturday — Riley, the team’s third baseman, who went 1-for-4 with a strikeout after missing two games because of an illness.

Sunday, Pittsburgh’s Luis Ortiz (4-4, 4.90 ERA) and Atlanta rookie Allan Winans (1-1, 5.17) are scheduled to start in a matchup of right-handers.

Neither has faced the opposing team before.

Ortiz is coming off a win Monday against Milwaukee when he allowed two runs and five hits in six innings.

Winans’ last start, Aug. 21 against the New York Mets, was a loss. He gave up seven runs and nine hits, including two homers, in 4 1/3 innings.

Atlanta appears to be reserving two of its better starters, Charlie Morton and Spencer Strider, for a doubleheader Monday against Philadelphia.

–Field Level Media

The Detroit Tigers acquired right-handed pitching prospect Sawyer Gipson-Long from division rival Minnesota last season, and he’ll make his major league debut on Sunday against another American League Central team, the Chicago White Sox.

The teams have split the first two games of the three-game series in Detroit.

Gipson-Long was the player the Tigers (65-77) received for another pitcher, reliever Michael Fulmer. Gipson-Long has split his time between Double-A Erie and Triple-A Toledo this season.

In Erie, Gipson-Long went 6-5 with a 3.74 ERA in 14 appearances, including 13 starts. After his promotion to Triple A, he posted a 2-3 record and 5.45 ERA in eight outings, including six starts. Gipson-Long doesn’t have an overpowering fastball but mainly due to an effective slider, he’s notched 126 strikeouts in 99 2/3 innings.

His best outing with the Mud Hens came on Aug. 18, when he held Omaha scoreless for six innings and had 12 strikeouts.

“I’m really excited to see him pitch,” Tigers manager A.J. Hinch said. “This is a great organizational win for a guy who came into the organization with, we think, untapped potential. We made him better. He buys in. He’s changed a little bit of everything from his attack plans to some of his pitch shapes.”

The 25-year-old has logged 338 minor league innings after the Twins drafted him in the sixth round in 2019.

“I let him know his best is good enough,” Hinch said. “The fastball he’s been executing at Triple-A will still play at this level. The sweep on his slider will play at this level. He just has to experience it to truly believe it.”

He’ll be opposed by another rookie, 29-year-old right-hander Jesse Scholtens (1-7, 4.38 ERA), who will make his 10th start and 24th appearance this season for Chicago (55-87).

He has faced the Tigers once, giving up two runs in 4 2/3 innings on May 27.

In his most recent outing last Monday, Scholtens allowed five runs and nine hits in 3 2/3 innings at Kansas City.

“Just seemed like anytime he made a mistake, they made him pay for it,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said.

His only victory came on June 25 when he threw four innings of scoreless relief against Boston.

Yoan Moncada went 0-for-4 on Saturday after homering in the previous three games.

“The truth is I feel very good right now,” Moncada told the Chicago Sun Times. “Being healthy is the most important thing. If you’re healthy, you can do the things I’ve been able to do.”

Detroit clinched the season series with a 3-1 victory on Saturday. The Tigers are 7-5 against the White Sox with one game remaining.

Detroit has won the season series from all of its American League Central Division opponents.

Miguel Cabrera, who will retire at the end of the season, didn’t play Saturday but is expected to be the Tigers’ designated hitter in the series finale.

“I just want to make sure the last few weeks are exactly what he wants,” Hinch said. “He’s grinding right now, both performance-wise and health-wise.”

Chicago has gone 2-3 on its six-game road trip. The White Sox will begin a seven-game homestand on Monday against Kansas City. The Tigers will continue their six-game homestand against the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday.

–Field Level Media