OAKLAND, Calif. -- The Oakland Athletics have a chance to overtake the Houston Astros in the American League West when the division's top two teams go head-to-head in a three-game series that begins Friday night.

The San Francisco Giants, still hanging around in the National League West race, are coming off a meaningful series against a big rival that turned out very good. But not quite good enough.

LOS ANGELES -- The all-lefty series at Dodger Stadium will roll into Game 2 on Tuesday as the Los Angeles Dodgers play host to the San Francisco Giants.

Robinson Cano's 80-game suspension is over and the Seattle Mariners are expected to have the eight-time American League All-Star in the lineupTuesday night when they play the Oakland A's in the second game of their three-game series at Oakland Coliseum.

The Houston Astros have been here previously, and their reluctance to panic now that adversity has yielded unfavorable results reflects their championship DNA.

The two teams currently battling for the second American League wild-card playoff spot go head-to-head in a three-game series that begins Monday.

SAN DIEGO -- Teams with far differing agendas open a three-game series at Petco Park on Friday night.

DENVER -- Properly motivated and fully in sync, the new-look Jon Gray will take the mound again for the Colorado Rockies on Friday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

TORONTO -- The Toronto Blue Jays could not avoid playing the surging Boston Red Sox because the schedule said they must, but they were able to prevent being swept in the three-game series at the Rogers Centre.

DENVER - First place in the National League West has been changing hands in recent days and placement in the standings might only get more volatile when the Los Angeles Dodgers meet the Colorado Rockies for four games in the Mile High City.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Two teams that haven't taken advantage of a stretch of games against fellow National League playoff contenders square off in an important four-game series when the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants duel Thursday night.

The Houston Astros confirmed in San Francisco that their tenacity stands on par with their talent.

The Oakland Athletics have acquired Detroit Tigers pitcher Mike Fiers in exchange for two players to be named later or cash considerations.

MILWAUKEE -- Jordan Lyles won't have to go far to meet his new team and won't have to wait long to see his old one.

In what has been a slow rebuilding process, the Chicago White Sox have stressed patience, which requires its fair share of waiting for things to happen.