There's one afternoon game on today's schedule, and a number of mismatches. All times Eastern.
2:20 p.m., WGN, FSN Ohio: Reds at Cubs. The defending NL Central champions find themselves clinging to the periphery of the race, 7.5 games behind entering Friday's action.
7 p.m., MLB Network, YES Network, NESN: Yankees at Red Sox. The winner of this game will be in first place in the AL East. The loser will lead the wild card race. So it doesn't really matter, does it? MLBN viewers in New York and Boston will see Athletics/Rays.
8 p.m., FSN Wisconsin, FSN Houston: Brewers at Astros. The magic number for Milwaukee to eliminate Houston from the division race is 27. But this may not be as much of a mismatch as you think; the Brewers are 21-35 on the road and have already lost a series in Houston this year.
10 p.m., CSN Philadelphia, KNTV: Phillies at Giants. The Phillies won the first game of this series Thursday night; the Giants' lead in the NL West was cut to half a game.