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Seattle Mariners (41-41, first in the AL West) vs. Cleveland Guardians (42-39, second in the AL Central)

Cleveland; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Mariners: Luis Castillo (2-6, 5.22 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 69 strikeouts); Guardians: Joey Cantillo (6-3, 4.05 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 76 strikeouts)

LINE: Guardians -115, Mariners -106; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Guardians open a three-game series at home against the Seattle Mariners on Friday.

Cleveland has a 42-39 record overall and a 19-17 record in home games. The Guardians have the sixth-best team ERA in baseball at 3.79.

Seattle has a 41-41 record overall and a 19-22 record on the road. The Mariners have hit 100 total home runs to rank fifth in the AL.

The teams meet Friday for the fifth time this season. The season series is tied 2-2.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brayan Rocchio has 12 doubles, two triples and five home runs for the Guardians. Travis Bazzana is 11 for 36 with two doubles, three home runs and seven RBI over the last 10 games.

Josh Naylor has 10 doubles, eight home runs and 33 RBI for the Mariners. Dominic Canzone is 8 for 30 with a triple and three home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Guardians: 4-6, .200 batting average, 3.80 ERA, outscored by three runs

Mariners: 4-6, .177 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored by 25 runs

INJURIES: Guardians: Angel Martinez: 10-Day IL (foot), Chase DeLauter: 10-Day IL (rib), Jose Ramirez: 10-Day IL (hand)

Mariners: Cooper Criswell: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Carlos Vargas: 60-Day IL (lat), Brendan Donovan: 10-Day IL (groin), Will Wilson: 60-Day IL (thumb), Matt Brash: 15-Day IL (lat), Logan Evans: 60-Day IL (arm)

Arizona Diamondbacks (41-39, third in the NL West) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (45-33, second in the AL East)

St. Petersburg, Florida; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Diamondbacks: Zac Gallen (3-6, 6.10 ERA, 1.63 WHIP, 52 strikeouts); Rays: Nick Martinez (6-2, 2.73 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 55 strikeouts)

LINE: Rays -142, Diamondbacks +117; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Tampa Bay Rays host the Arizona Diamondbacks after Junior Caminero hit three home runs on Thursday in a 13-2 win over the Royals.

Tampa Bay has a 28-12 record at home and a 45-33 record overall. The Rays have a 30-7 record in games when they scored five or more runs.

Arizona has a 17-22 record on the road and a 41-39 record overall. The Diamondbacks have a 19-8 record in games when they did not give up a home run.

Friday’s game is the first time these teams match up this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jonathan Aranda has 12 doubles, 12 home runs and 54 RBI for the Rays. Caminero is 14 for 37 with a double and four home runs over the past 10 games.

Corbin Carroll leads the Diamondbacks with 39 extra base hits (17 doubles, nine triples and 13 home runs). Ketel Marte is 14 for 39 with three doubles, two home runs and seven RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Rays: 4-6, .269 batting average, 3.31 ERA, outscored opponents by five runs

Diamondbacks: 6-4, .249 batting average, 4.85 ERA, outscored opponents by two runs

INJURIES: Rays: Jesse Scholtens: 15-Day IL (wrist), Steven Matz: 15-Day IL (ankle), Gavin Lux: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Steven Wilson: 60-Day IL (back), Manuel Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jon Heasley: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jake Fraley: 10-Day IL (groin), Ryan Pepiot: 60-Day IL (hip), Edwin Uceta: 60-Day IL (shoulder)

Diamondbacks: James McCann: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Ryne Nelson: 60-Day IL (elbow), Mike Soroka: 15-Day IL (lower body), Jordan Lawlar: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Corbin Burnes: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cristian Mena: 60-Day IL (shoulder), A.J. Puk: 60-Day IL (elbow), Blake Walston: 60-Day IL (elbow), Andrew Saalfrank: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Justin Martinez: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Chicago Cubs (44-37, second in the NL Central) vs. Milwaukee Brewers (49-29, first in the NL Central)

Milwaukee; Friday, 7:45 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Cubs: Colin Rea (5-5, 4.99 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 59 strikeouts); Brewers: Jacob Misiorowski (8-3, 1.45 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, 138 strikeouts)

LINE: Brewers -277, Cubs +220; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Chicago Cubs will try to continue a four-game win streak with a victory against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Milwaukee has a 25-15 record in home games and a 49-29 record overall. Brewers pitchers have a collective 3.38 ERA, which ranks second in MLB play.

Chicago has gone 21-20 on the road and 44-37 overall. The Cubs have the 10th-ranked team batting average in the NL at .243.

Friday’s game is the fourth time these teams square off this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brice Turang has 16 doubles, three triples and 11 home runs while hitting .265 for the Brewers. William Contreras is 13 for 34 with a double and two home runs over the last 10 games.

Ian Happ has 15 doubles, two triples, 16 home runs and 38 RBI for the Cubs. Pete Crow-Armstrong is 18 for 41 with two doubles, a triple and five home runs over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Brewers: 7-3, .243 batting average, 2.53 ERA, outscored opponents by 15 runs

Cubs: 7-3, .271 batting average, 4.70 ERA, outscored opponents by 24 runs

INJURIES: Brewers: Jared Koenig: 15-Day IL (elbow), Brandon Lockridge: 10-Day IL (knee), Brian Fitzpatrick: 60-Day IL (elbow), D.L. Hall: 15-Day IL (pectoral), Quinn Priester: 60-Day IL (wrist), Carlos Rodriguez: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Coleman Crow: 15-Day IL (forearm), Logan Henderson: 15-Day IL (back), Rob Zastryzny: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Angel Zerpa: 60-Day IL (forearm)

Cubs: Justin Steele: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hunter Harvey: 60-Day IL (tricep), Riley Martin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Jameson Taillon: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Ben Brown: 15-Day IL (neck), Edward Cabrera: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Christopher Austin: 60-Day IL (knee), Cade Horton: 60-Day IL (forearm), Daniel Palencia: 15-Day IL (elbow), Porter Hodge: 60-Day IL (elbow), Shelby Miller: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Cincinnati Reds (37-42, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Pittsburgh Pirates (41-40, fourth in the NL Central)

Pittsburgh; Friday, 6:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Reds: Andrew Abbott (5-4, 3.83 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 64 strikeouts); Pirates: Paul Skenes (6-7, 2.86 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 107 strikeouts)

LINE: Pirates -223, Reds +180; over/under is 7 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Pittsburgh Pirates open a three-game series at home against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.

Pittsburgh has a 41-40 record overall and a 22-20 record at home. The Pirates have the seventh-best team slugging percentage in MLB play at .411.

Cincinnati has an 18-20 record on the road and a 37-42 record overall. The Reds are fifth in the NL with 97 total home runs, averaging 1.2 per game.

The matchup Friday is the seventh time these teams square off this season. The Pirates hold a 5-1 advantage in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Brandon Lowe leads the Pirates with 19 home runs while slugging .515. Bryan Reynolds is 17 for 36 with four doubles, four home runs and 11 RBI over the past 10 games.

Sal Stewart has 17 doubles, 14 home runs and 54 RBI for the Reds. Noelvi Marte is 7 for 36 with three doubles, three home runs and four RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Pirates: 5-5, .285 batting average, 3.00 ERA, outscored opponents by 11 runs

Reds: 4-6, .210 batting average, 3.30 ERA, outscored opponents by six runs

INJURIES: Pirates: Spencer Horwitz: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Konnor Griffin: 10-Day IL (flexor tendon), Jared Jones: day-to-day (arm), Oneil Cruz: 10-Day IL (hand), Chris Devenski: 60-Day IL (illness), Wilber Dotel: 15-Day IL (lat)

Reds: Ke’Bryan Hayes: 10-Day IL (back), Emilio Pagan: 15-Day IL (hamstring), Nick Lodolo: day-to-day (wrist), Graham Ashcraft: 60-Day IL (forearm), Brandon Williamson: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Hunter Greene: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Washington Nationals (41-41, fourth in the NL East) vs. Baltimore Orioles (38-44, fourth in the AL East)

Baltimore; Friday, 7:05 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Nationals: Andrew Alvarez (1-0, 3.34 ERA, 1.39 WHIP, 37 strikeouts); Orioles: Trevor Rogers (4-7, 5.30 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 54 strikeouts)

LINE: Orioles -139, Nationals +115; over/under is 9 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Washington Nationals aim to break a three-game slide with a victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

Baltimore has gone 22-19 at home and 38-44 overall. The Orioles have a 21-38 record in games when they have given up a home run.

Washington is 41-41 overall and 24-16 in road games. The Nationals are 32-18 in games when they record at least eight hits.

Friday’s game is the fourth meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Pete Alonso has 14 doubles, 18 home runs and 55 RBI for the Orioles. Taylor Ward is 11 for 45 with two doubles, two home runs and two RBI over the past 10 games.

James Wood has 19 doubles and 20 home runs for the Nationals. Nasim Nunez is 15 for 30 with a double, two triples and five RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Orioles: 4-6, .229 batting average, 3.23 ERA, outscored opponents by five runs

Nationals: 4-6, .243 batting average, 5.42 ERA, outscored by nine runs

INJURIES: Orioles: Dean Kremer: 60-Day IL (quadricep), Cade Povich: 15-Day IL (elbow), Yaramil Hiraldo: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Dylan Beavers: 10-Day IL (oblique), Jackson Holliday: day-to-day (groin), Adley Rutschman: 7-Day IL (concussion), Ryan Mountcastle: 60-Day IL (foot), Chris Bassitt: 15-Day IL (back), Zach Eflin: 60-Day IL (elbow), Felix Bautista: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Colin Selby: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jordan Westburg: 60-Day IL (ucl)

Nationals: Jake Irvin: 15-Day IL (shoulder), C.J. Abrams: day-to-day (side), Josiah Gray: 60-Day IL (elbow), Max Kranick: 60-Day IL (elbow), Trevor Williams: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ken Waldichuk: 60-Day IL (forearm), DJ Herz: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Atlanta Braves (48-31, first in the NL East) vs. San Francisco Giants (33-47, fourth in the NL West)

San Francisco; Friday, 10:15 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Braves: Reynaldo Lopez (3-1, 3.50 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 39 strikeouts); Giants: Trevor McDonald (2-5, 4.93 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, 42 strikeouts)

BOTTOM LINE: The San Francisco Giants open a three-game series at home against the Atlanta Braves on Friday.

San Francisco is 33-47 overall and 16-21 at home. The Giants have the fourth-best team batting average in MLB play at .256.

Atlanta is 48-31 overall and 24-17 in road games. Braves pitchers have a collective 3.44 ERA, which ranks fourth in MLB play.

Friday’s game is the third meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Jung Hoo Lee leads the Giants with a .332 batting average, and has 19 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 13 walks and 30 RBI. Casey Schmitt is 17 for 39 with a home run and four RBI over the past 10 games.

Michael Harris II leads the Braves with a .306 batting average, and has 13 doubles, 14 home runs, 12 walks and 42 RBI. Mauricio Dubon is 12 for 41 with two home runs and six RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Giants: 5-5, .241 batting average, 3.41 ERA, outscored opponents by one run

Braves: 3-7, .213 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored by 20 runs

INJURIES: Giants: Keaton Winn: 15-Day IL (elbow), Luis Arraez: day-to-day (foot), Heliot Ramos: 10-Day IL (quadricep), Daniel Susac: day-to-day (back), Jose Butto: 60-Day IL (arm), Harrison Bader: 10-Day IL (plantar fasciitis), Joel Peguero: 60-Day IL (hamstring), Hayden Birdsong: 60-Day IL (forearm), Jason Foley: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Randy Rodriguez: 60-Day IL (elbow), Rowan Wick: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Braves: Kyle Farmer: 10-Day IL (forearm), Spencer Strider: 60-Day IL (elbow), Sean Murphy: 60-Day IL (finger), Ronald Acuna Jr.: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Spencer Schwellenbach: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hurston Waldrep: 60-Day IL (elbow), AJ Smith-Shawver: 60-Day IL (elbow), Danny Young: 60-Day IL (elbow), Joe Jimenez: 60-Day IL (knee), Joey Wentz: 60-Day IL (knee)

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New York Yankees (48-32, first in the AL East) vs. Boston Red Sox (33-46, fifth in the AL East)

Boston; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Yankees: Will Warren (7-2, 3.45 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 84 strikeouts); Red Sox: Payton Tolle (3-5, 3.08 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 62 strikeouts)

LINE: Yankees -119, Red Sox -102; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Boston Red Sox take a 1-0 advantage into the latest game of the series against the New York Yankees.

Boston has a 33-46 record overall and a 13-25 record at home. Red Sox pitchers have a collective 3.81 ERA, which ranks seventh in the majors.

New York has a 48-32 record overall and a 26-17 record in road games. The Yankees have a 24-11 record in games when they did not give up a home run.

The teams play Friday for the seventh time this season. The Yankees are ahead 4-2 in the season series.

TOP PERFORMERS: Wilyer Abreu has 16 doubles, two triples and 10 home runs for the Red Sox. Caleb Durbin is 13 for 34 with three doubles and three home runs over the last 10 games.

Ben Rice has a .281 batting average to lead the Yankees, and has 15 doubles, two triples and 22 home runs. Paul Goldschmidt is 13 for 40 with five home runs and nine RBI over the past 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Red Sox: 4-6, .228 batting average, 3.10 ERA, even run differential

Yankees: 5-5, .258 batting average, 3.17 ERA, outscored opponents by three runs

INJURIES: Red Sox: Romy Gonzalez: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jovani Moran: 15-Day IL (elbow), Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 10-Day IL (forearm), Johan Oviedo: 60-Day IL (elbow), Triston Casas: 60-Day IL (knee), Nick Sogard: 10-Day IL (oblique), Garrett Crochet: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Roman Anthony: 10-Day IL (wrist), Trevor Story: 60-Day IL (abdomen), Kutter Crawford: 60-Day IL (wrist), Patrick Sandoval: 60-Day IL (elbow), Tanner Houck: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Yankees: Giancarlo Stanton: 10-Day IL (leg), Max Fried: 15-Day IL (elbow), Ryan McMahon: 10-Day IL (throat), Trent Grisham: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Aaron Judge: 10-Day IL (rib), Clarke Schmidt: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Houston Astros (40-43, second in the AL West) vs. Detroit Tigers (34-47, fourth in the AL Central)

Detroit; Friday, 6:40 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Astros: Spencer Arrighetti (7-3, 3.13 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 68 strikeouts); Tigers: Keider Montero (3-5, 3.68 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 53 strikeouts)

LINE: Tigers -122, Astros -100; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Detroit Tigers are looking to break their three-game home skid with a victory over the Houston Astros.

Detroit has gone 22-19 at home and 34-47 overall. The Tigers have the eighth-best team ERA in MLB play at 3.82.

Houston has gone 20-22 on the road and 40-43 overall. The Astros are 24-9 in games when they scored at least five runs.

The teams meet Friday for the fifth time this season. The Astros lead the season series 3-1.

TOP PERFORMERS: Riley Greene has a .292 batting average to lead the Tigers, and has 16 doubles and nine home runs. Dillon Dingler is 14 for 40 with three home runs and seven RBI over the last 10 games.

Yordan Alvarez has 16 doubles and 25 home runs for the Astros. Isaac Paredes is 13 for 37 with three doubles, a home run and eight RBI over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Tigers: 5-5, .236 batting average, 2.83 ERA, outscored opponents by five runs

Astros: 7-3, .236 batting average, 3.36 ERA, outscored opponents by one run

INJURIES: Tigers: Bailey Horn: 60-Day IL (elbow), Burch Smith: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Parker Meadows: 60-Day IL (head/arm), Wenceel Perez: 10-Day IL (face), Gleyber Torres: 10-Day IL (oblique), Jack Flaherty: 15-Day IL (leg), Javier Baez: 60-Day IL (ankle), Trey Sweeney: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Brant Hurter: 60-Day IL (back), Justin Verlander: 60-Day IL (hip), Reese Olson: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jackson Jobe: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Astros: Braden Shewmake: 10-Day IL (groin), Bennett Sousa: 15-Day IL (elbow), Nick Allen: 10-Day IL (hamstring), LaMonte Wade: 10-Day IL (hamstring), Cristian Javier: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Lance McCullers: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Carlos Correa: 60-Day IL (ankle), Brandon Walter: 60-Day IL (elbow), Ronel Blanco: 60-Day IL (elbow), Hayden Wesneski: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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Texas Rangers (39-42, fourth in the AL West) vs. Toronto Blue Jays (39-42, third in the AL East)

Toronto; Friday, 7:07 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Rangers: Nathan Eovaldi (7-7, 4.24 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 92 strikeouts); Blue Jays: Patrick Corbin (2-3, 4.73 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 47 strikeouts)

LINE: Rangers -115, Blue Jays -106; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Toronto Blue Jays aim to break their three-game home skid with a victory over the Texas Rangers.

Toronto has a 22-21 record in home games and a 39-42 record overall. The Blue Jays have the eighth-ranked team ERA in the AL at 4.13.

Texas has gone 20-24 on the road and 39-42 overall. The Rangers have a 31-16 record in games when they record at least eight hits.

The matchup Friday is the second meeting between these teams this season.

TOP PERFORMERS: Kazuma Okamoto leads the Blue Jays with 29 extra base hits (11 doubles and 18 home runs). George Springer is 12 for 41 with a double, two home runs and five RBI over the last 10 games.

Brandon Nimmo has 19 doubles, three triples, eight home runs and 28 RBI for the Rangers. Wyatt Langford is 14 for 41 with two doubles and five home runs over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Blue Jays: 5-5, .246 batting average, 4.55 ERA, outscored by 11 runs

Rangers: 4-6, .265 batting average, 5.46 ERA, outscored by 19 runs

INJURIES: Blue Jays: Lenyn Sosa: 10-Day IL (wrist), Ernie Clement: day-to-day (hip), Addison Barger: 10-Day IL (elbow), Max Scherzer: 15-Day IL (back), Joe Mantiply: 60-Day IL (knee), Jose Berrios: 60-Day IL (elbow), Yimi Garcia: 60-Day IL (elbow), Cody Ponce: 60-Day IL (knee), Anthony Santander: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Bowden Francis: 60-Day IL (elbow)

Rangers: Carter Baumler: 60-Day IL (ribs), Cody Freeman: 10-Day IL (disc), Jalen Beeks: 10-Day IL (back), Evan Carter: 10-Day IL (oblique), Cody Bradford: 60-Day IL (elbow), Robert Garcia: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Jack Leiter: 15-Day IL (ankle), Danny Jansen: 10-Day IL (forearm), Michael Helman: 60-Day IL (hand), Chris Martin: 15-Day IL (shoulder), Jordan Montgomery: 60-Day IL (elbow)

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Kibiwott Kandie initially faced an eight-year ban split evenly across two violations, but received a one-year reduction.

Former half-marathon world-record ‌holder Kibiwott Kandie has been banned for seven years by the ⁠Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) ⁠for two anti-doping violations, the body has said.

The 30-year-old Kenyan, a 2022 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, was provisionally suspended in ⁠March 2025 for refusing to provide a sample and was later charged with an additional violation of tampering or attempted tampering with doping control.

“This ⁠case serves as a reminder that no athlete is above the rules in the sport of athletics. If an athlete refuses a test, it places the integrity of the sport at risk,” AIU head Brett Clothier said in a ‌statement on Thursday

“The AIU has a strong forensic capability and will thoroughly investigate such cases to ensure the truth comes out,” he added.

Kandie, who initially faced an eight-year ban split evenly across the two violations, received a one-year reduction after accepting the sanctions early.

His ban is backdated to March 14, 2025, the date of his provisional suspension, and ⁠will run until March 13, 2032, when he ⁠will be 36.

On March 1, 2025, Kandie delayed and ultimately refused an out-of-competition test at his home in Kenya, citing an urgent payment before leaving despite being warned of ⁠the consequences.

AIU analysis of his phone and financial records showed multiple calls and payments linked to a ⁠nurse, with 11 transfers identified in the 12 ⁠months prior to the test, after coordination with the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya.

Kandie’s initial explanations for refusing to provide a sample were later found to be false, while Kenyan authorities ‌confirmed that documents he submitted were fake.

Kandie, a three-time Valencia Half Marathon champion, set a then-world record of 57:32 in 2020 and ‌remains ‌the third-fastest man in history over the distance, with two of the six quickest performances of all time.