Watch Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox mlb live stream baseball scores updates online tv 7/9/2010

A potentially pivotal series against the current AL East leaders awaits when they return home next week. The Tampa Bay Rays, though, are just trying to get through their nine-game trip.

Tampa Bay looks to avoid its first four-game losing streak in nearly a month Tuesday night when it continues its series against the Boston Red Sox.

After poor efforts from starters James Shields and Wade Davis in losses at Baltimore over the weekend, the Rays' bullpen logged another 6 1/3 innings in Monday's 12-5 loss after Jeff Niemann walked three and was tagged for six runs.
7:10 PM ET, September 7, 2010
Fenway Park, Boston, Massachusetts 
Watch Tampa Bay Rays vs Boston Red Sox mlb live stream baseball scores updates online tv 7/9/2010

WATCH LIVE NOW

"(Niemann is) just having a hard time commanding his fastball, which truly is his strong point. That is just going to take some time," said manager Joe Maddon, whose team has been unable to take advantage of consecutive losses by the East-leading Yankees.

Sign Up Now

A three-game series against New York begins Monday in St. Petersburg, but the Rays (83-54) are more focused on preventing their first four-game skid since a season-high five-game slide Aug. 4-8.

Giving the ball to David Price (16-6, 2.92 ERA) could give Tampa Bay's overworked bullpen a break. The left-hander struck out seven and threw eight innings of one-run ball in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Toronto. It was Price's first victory since recor

Watch Texas Rangers vs Toronto Blue Jays mlb live stream baseball scores highlights online tv 7/9/2010

The Texas Rangers would probably like to have Cliff Lee on the mound as they look to end a four-game losing streak. Scott Feldman, though, will take the ball and try to help them snap out of their funk.

With Lee suffering through a back injury, the AL West-leading Rangers will look to avoid dropping five in a row for the first time since the first month of the season when Feldman faces the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.
7:07 PM ET, September 7, 2010
Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Watch Texas Rangers vs Toronto Blue Jays mlb live stream baseball scores highlights online tv 7/9/2010 

WATCH LIVE NOW

Lee recently got a cortisone shot in his back after going 0-3 with an 8.28 ERA in his last five starts, and the Rangers decided that he wouldn't make his scheduled start Tuesday.

"We're going to err on the side of caution," general manager Jon Daniels told the Rangers' official website.

Feldman (6-9, 5.43) has had a disappointing season after going 17-8 for the Rangers (75-62) last year and was sent to the bullpen shortly after Texas acquired Lee from Seattle prior to the trade deadline.

The right-hander will have a chance to redeem himself as he comes off the disabled list to start against Toronto (71-66). Feldman, who hasn't pitched since Aug. 21 at Baltimore due to a right knee injury, allowed two runs over four innings in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday.

Feldman's last win as a starter came June 18 at Houston, and he has not started a game since July 24.

Watch Atlanta Braves vs Pittsburgh Pirates mlb live stream online baseball tv 7/9/2010

A lack of production at the plate continues to plague the Atlanta Braves during their current rough stretch. However, even a little support could be enough to help Tim Hudson continue his recent dominance over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Hudson tries to win his fourth straight start against the Pirates and help the NL East-leading Braves avoid a third consecutive loss Tuesday night at PNC Park.
7:05 PM ET, September 7, 2010
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Watch Atlanta Braves vs Pittsburgh Pirates mlb live stream online baseball tv 7/9/2010

WATCH LIVE NOW

Since winning five in a row, Atlanta (79-59) has scored 12 runs while losing four of five -- half of which came in a 7-6, 10-inning defeat at Florida on Sunday. The Braves, who opened this three-game series with a 3-1 loss Monday, hold a slim lead over Philadelphia in the East.

Atlanta has led the division since May 31.

"We're not losing confidence at all," said outfielder Matt Diaz, who had two of the Braves' eight hits Monday. "We know we control our fate. That's the beauty of being the team that the other team's chasing -- whether it's one game or 10 games."

Omar Infante, who batted .372 in July and August, is 5 for 22 in his last four games after going 0 for 4 on Monday. He is 2 for 14 against Pittsburgh this season.

Watch Florida Marlins vs Philadelphia Phillies mlb live stream baseball transmission tv 7/9/2010

Less than two months ago, the Philadelphia Phillies didn't appear to be a factor in the NL East race. Now, they're on the brink of taking sole possession of first place.

Another offensive burst may put the Phillies alone atop the division for the first time in over three months when they face the Florida Marlins on Tuesday night.
7:05 PM ET, September 7, 2010
Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Watch Florida Marlins vs Philadelphia Phillies mlb live stream baseball transmission tv 7/9/2010 

WATCH LIVE NOW

Philadelphia (79-60) has won consecutive NL pennants, and adding a third appeared unlikely as late as July 21 with the club third in the division, seven games behind first-place Atlanta.

The Phillies haven't been alone atop the division since May 30, but winning 31 of 45 has them within one-half game of the Braves.

The offense has played a vital role in Philadelphia's surge, averaging 5.6 runs during those victories compared to scoring 2.0 runs per game in the defeats.

Those trends were evident in a doubleheader split with the Marlins (70-67) in the start of this four-game series Monday. The Phillies were held to three hits in a 7-1 loss before collecting 10 in a 7-4 victory in the second game.

Watch New York Mets vs Washington Nationals mlb live stream major league baseball transmission tv 7/9/2010

For teams like the New York Mets and Washington Nationals that are out of the playoff picture, September is a time to call up minor leaguers to give them some major league experience.

Tuesday night's game at Nationals Park features two pitchers making their major league debuts when New York's Dillon Gee and Washington's Yunesky Maya square off.
7:05 PM ET, September 7, 2010
Nationals Park, Washington, D.C
Watch New York Mets vs Washington Nationals mlb live stream major league baseball transmission tv 7/9/2010

WATCH LIVE NOW

This will be just the fifth time since 1980 two starting pitchers make their big league debut in the same game. The last time it happened was April 9, 2009, when Detroit's Rick Porcello and Toronto's Ricky Romero opposed one another.

The Mets (67-71), losers of six of eight, called up Gee from Triple-A Buffalo to take the place in the rotation of staff ace Johan Santana, who left Thursday's win over Atlanta after five innings with a strained left pectoral muscle.

Gee went 13-8 with a 4.96 ERA in 28 starts for the Bisons after appearing in just nine games last season because of a torn right labrum. The 24-year-old right-hander set a

Watch Baltimore Orioles Vs New York Yankees mlb live stream online baseball broadcast tv 7/9/2010

Despite losing their last two games, the New York Yankees have done plenty of winning lately as they chase another AL East title.

A victory Tuesday night could have special significance for their ace.

CC Sabathia has an excellent chance for his first 20-win season as he faces the Baltimore Orioles -- a team he's dominated throughout his career -- at Yankee Stadium, where he's won his last 16 decisions.
7:05 PM ET, September 7, 2010
Yankee Stadium, New York, NY
Watch Baltimore Orioles Vs New York Yankees mlb live stream online baseball broadcast tv 7/9/2010

WATCH LIVE NOW

"It'd be cool," Sabathia said of the potential feat last week. "We're still trying to wrap up the division. It's hard to think about personal accomplishments."

The major league leader in wins, Sabathia (19-5, 3.02 ERA) is a big reason why the Yankees are atop the East, becoming a top contender for his second AL Cy Young Award by going 15-2 with a 2.40 ERA since the beginning of June.

He's 11-0 with a 2.27 ERA this season in the Bronx, where he hasn't lost since July 2, 2009 -- tying Whitey Ford's franchise record by making 21 straight home starts without a loss.

The big left-hander also won 19 games in 2007 and 2009, getting one chance at a 20th victory last year. But he lasted 2 2/3 innings in a 13-4 loss to Tampa Bay on Oct. 2.

He should have several opportunities this season, but he may only need one. He has won each of his last eight starts against Baltimore, improving to 13-1 with a 2.59 ERA in his career versus the Orioles.

Watch Chicago White Sox Vs Detroit Tigers mlb live streaming online baseball major league 7/9/2010

Since hitting the road more than a week ago, the Chicago White Sox haven't lost.

They appear to have the right man on the mound to keep the winning streak intact.

Freddy Garcia looks to win his ninth straight decision at Comerica Park as the White Sox try to improve to 8-0 on their road trip Tuesday night against the Detroit Tigers.
7:05 PM ET, September 7, 2010
Comerica Park, Detroit, Michigan 
Watch Chicago White Sox Vs Detroit Tigers mlb live streaming online baseball major league 7/9/2010

WATCH LIVE NOW

After sweeping three-game series in Cleveland and Boston, Chicago (77-60) opened this four-game set with a 5-4, 10-inning victory Monday. The White Sox, who remained 3 1/2 games back of AL Central-leading Minnesota, tied it at 4-all on Alexei Ramirez's two-out single in the eighth and took the lead in the 10th on a hit by A.J. Pierzynski.

"Keep battling, not giving away at-bats. Nobody is panicking," said Pierzynski, who is batting .411 with 13 RBIs during a 13-game hitting streak.

Chicago's sudden surge on the road is somewhat surprising, considering it had lost six of its previous eight away from U.S. Cellular Field.

This is the first time the White Sox have reeled off seven straight victories on a single trip since June 12-18, 2000. They haven't won eight in a row on a trip since a 10-game run Aug. 14-22,