Major League Baseball enters the final weekend of April with a full slate of action over the next three days, including a Mexico City showcase between the Padres and Diamondbacks. There's a clash of first-place teams as the Tigers travel to Cincinnati to face the Reds that will serve as an early measuring stick. The Mets, winners of two straight after snapping a 12-game losing streak, have a solid opportunity to keep momentum going with the Rockies coming into the Big Apple. Out on the West Coast, the Cubs will take their red-hot brand of baseball out to Los Angeles to face the defending champion Dodgers.
Meanwhile the Phillies are desperate to snap their own nine-game slide and preparing for what is shaping up to be a very important three-game set against the soaring Braves. With Atlanta already holding a 9.5-game lead in the National League East, this is a golden opportunity for Philadelphia to shave a few games off that deficit. If things go the other way and the losing continues, it will be that much harder to claw back into the playoff picture.
The Athletics and Rangers also have a chance to fight it out for top position in the American League West.
Updated MLB standings
American League East
| Team | Record | Games Behind |
|---|---|---|
| Yankees | 16-9 | -- |
| Rays | 13-11 | 2.5 |
| Orioles | 12-13 | 4.0 |
| Blue Jays | 10-14 | 5.5 |
| Red Sox | 9-16 | 7.0 |
American League Central
| Team | Record | Games Behind |
|---|---|---|
| Guardians | 14-12 | -- |
| Tigers | 14-12 | -- |
| Twins | 12-13 | 1.5 |
| White Sox | 10-15 | 3.5 |
| Royals | 8-17 | 5.5 |
American League West
| Team | Record | Games Behind |
|---|---|---|
| Rangers | 13-12 | -- |
| Athletics | 13-12 | -- |
| Angels | 12-14 | 1.5 |
| Mariners | 11-15 | 2.5 |
| Astros | 10-16 | 3.5 |
National League East
| Team | Record | Games Behind |
|---|---|---|
| Braves | 18-8 | -- |
| Marlins | 12-13 | 5.5 |
| Nationals | 11-15 | 7.0 |
| Mets | 9-16 | 8.5 |
| Phillies | 8-17 | 9.5 |
National League Central
| Team | Record | Games Behind |
|---|---|---|
| Cubs | 16-9 | -- |
| Reds | 16-9 | -- |
| Cardinals | 14-10 | 1.5 |
| Pirates | 14-11 | 2.0 |
| Brewers | 13-11 | 2.5 |
National League West
| Team | Record | Games Behind |
|---|---|---|
| Padres | 17-8 | -- |
| Dodgers | 17-8 | -- |
| Diamondbacks | 14-11 | 3.0 |
| Giants | 11-14 | 6.0 |
| Rockies | 10-16 | 7.5 |
Friday's MLB games
All times ET
Tigers vs. Reds, 6:40 p.m.
Red Sox vs. Orioles, 7:05 p.m.
Guardians vs. Blue Jays, 7:07 p.m.
Rockies vs. Mets, 7:10 p.m.
Twins vs. Rays, 7:10 p.m.
Phillies vs. Braves, 7:15 p.m.
Angels vs. Royals, 7:40 p.m.
Nationals vs. White Sox, 7:40 p.m.
Pirates vs. Brewers, 7:40 p.m.
Athletics vs. Rangers, 8:05 p.m.
Yankees vs. Astros, 8:10 p.m.
Mariners vs. Cardinals, 8:15 p.m.
Cubs vs. Dodgers, 10:15 p.m.
Marlins vs. Giants, 10:15 p.m.
Saturday's MLB games
Mariners vs. Cardinals, 8:15 p.m.
Guardians vs. Blue Jays, 3:07 p.m.
Red Sox vs. Orioles, 4:05 p.m.
Rockies vs. Mets, 4:10 p.m.
Twins vs. Rays, 4:10 p.m.
Nationals vs. White Sox, 4:10 p.m.
Padres vs. Diamondbacks, 6:05 p.m.
Atheltics vs. Rangers, 7:05 p.m.
Angels vs. Royals, 7:10 p.m.
Yankees vs. Astros, 7:10 p.m.
Pirates vs. Brewers, 7:10 p.m.
Tigers vs. Reds, 7:15 p.m.
Cubs vs. Dodgers, 7:15 p.m.
Phillies vs. Braves, 7:15 p.m
Sunday's MLB games
Red Sox vs. Orioles, 1:35 p.m.
Phillies vs. Braves, 1:35 p.m.
Guardians vs. Blue Jays, 1:37 p.m.
Tigers vs. Reds, 1:40 p.m.
Rockies vs. Mets, 1:40 p.m.
Twins vs. Rays, 1:40 p.m.
More MLB from Sports Illustrated
- Red Sox’ Offensive Blackout Reaches New Depths During Yankees Sweep
- Phillies’ Release of Taijuan Walker Cements His Unfortunate Place in Franchise History
- Mets Survive Bizarre Moment Where Two Pitchers Tried to Take Mound for Ninth Inning
- The Red-Hot Yankees Are Getting Electric Starting Pitching
This article was originally published on www.si.com as MLB Weekend Schedule and Updated Standings: First Place Up for Grabs in Multiple Series.
