Several key series are set to begin on Thursday as MLB reaches the midway point of the season. The All-Star Game is just over a week away, and teams have to gear up now for the second half of the season.

Miami Begins Four-Game Series In New York

The Miami Marlins travel to face the New York Mets in the first of four games. The Mets are 5-2 versus the Marlins this season and are in first place in the NL East. They are winners of the previous two series against the Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds coming into tonight’s matchup. 

Miami’s six-game winning streak was snapped last night against the Anaheim Angels. They split two games after completing a four-game sweep of the Washington Nationals on the road. Now, the Braves sit 11 games behind the Mets in the standings. Daniel Castano is 1-1 with a 2.42 ERA and gets the start for the Marlins, while the Mets will send Trevor Williams and his 1-5 record and 4.34 to make his eighth season start. 

The Mets get the win for their second straight home victory. 

Yankees Face Red Sox in AL East Clash

The New York Yankees begin a four-game home series with the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night at Fenway Park. This is their first meeting since the opening series of the season in which the Yankees took two of three games. New York just split a pair of games with the Pittsburgh Pirates and is coming off a 16-0 road victory over them last night. 

Competition is tight in the best division in baseball. Boston is trying to snap their two-game losing streak and is tied with the Tampa Bay Rays for second in the division, 14 games behind the Yankees. The Toronto Blue Jays are just a half-game behind them in fourth place in the standings. Gerrit Cole is 7-2 with a 2.99 ERA and makes the start for New York, while Josh Winckowski gets his sixth start and is 3-2 with a 3.12 ERA for Boston. 

New York wins to hand the Red Sox their third loss in a row. 

Mariners Host Blue Jays In Seattle

The Seattle Mariners try for their fifth straight win as they face the Toronto Blue Jays at home to begin a four-game series. Toronto is fourth in the AL East and is in a battle with the Rays and Red Sox for second place behind the Yankees. They are a half-game behind their two division rivals, who are 14 games behind New York in the standings. 

The Mariners have been playing solid baseball recently and have won eight of their last nine games. They are second in the AL West and have made up some ground to sit 13 games out of first place. 

They most recently swept the San Diego Padres in two games and have won their last five series overall. Unfortunately, Toronto hasn’t settled on a starter for tonight’s game, while Seattle sends Marco Gonzalez to the hill to make his 17th start. He’s 4-9 with a 3.29 ERA this season. 

Seattle gets the win at home to extend their streak to five games.